Hillary Davis Travels's Blog

Please Don't Squeeze The Cotton Candy

    I lived in France for many years, starting when I was a newlywed in Paris. It was hard then to find American foods in France like peanut butter, oreos (my husband's favorite), bagels, and maple syrup---so I had them shipped over to supplement my pantry. When I later moved to the South of France and had loads of American friends flying over to visit, I would recruit them to pack (hide) some things for me in their suitcases. 

    My biggest treasure was receiving maple syrup.

    One weekend in the South of France, I had guests from Paris and wanted to serve them something fun for Saturday breakfast. But when they put a mouthful of pancakes and maple syrup into their mouth they very politely froze. Then they shook their head. Then they swallowed and blushed. Pushed for an answer of how they liked it, they responded that they did not have a taste for sweet things for their breakfast. 

    I tried maple syrup on some other French friends down from Bordeaux and they loved it. So I decided maple syrup in another country is a hit or miss proposition.

    But here in New Hampshire we get really excited about it. It is a rite of spring to wait for the sap to run and find new maple syrup.

    Just minutes from my village, a young couple has a maple business in a chalet-style barn on a pond with ducks and geese scurrying about---so perfect a setting that the thought occured to me their building would make a great house, with sunsets on the pond and high ceilings and a vast great room.

    I found them by accident as I was hurtling down the highway one day. A sign out front caught my attention.

    Never a lover of cotton candy, the sign stayed in my thoughts for days. Should I go back? What did it taste like?

    So I went back today and was swept away by how good their maple cotton candy tastes. I pulled off a fluffy bit, placed it delicately on my tongue and closed my mouth. It was gone. All that was left was the taste of not-too-sweet maple syrup. Divine!!!!!! Magical!

    I was hooked. I bought some of their maple cotton candy and some of their homemade maple pecan fudge. It was the best fudge I have ever eaten. Seriously. Not too sweet. Just perfect. 

    So I wanted to share with you my journey to Morning Star Maple Sugar House in Dublin, NH. This is what it looks like when you enter through their front door.

    They really have their act together. A gift store with every imaginable product made with maple syrup. Below are the packages of their homemade maple sugar candies shaped into bears, turtles, chicks, owls, and maple leaves...........

......and they make maple caramel popcorn.......

 ...........great looking lollipops............ 

..............and of course, their own golden maple syrup............

    If you are in New England this summer traveling about, visit Morning Star Maple. Your kids will love it. You will be able to tour their maple making facility............which is huge and ultra modern and clean.....

.....taste samples, sit by the pond,  savor some of their maple cotton candy......
.....and take some home. Just remember, don't squeeze the cotton candy!

Morning Star Maple Sugar House, Route 101, Dublin, NH 

603.563.9218   Order online at:  www.morningstarmaple.com

 

Farmers' Market NYC

Even on a rainy day in New York you can still find outdoor farmers' markets throughout the city. This one is called the 67th Street Farmers' Market.

    I visited this weekend and it was almost empty of people but filled with fresh produce dewy and glistening from the rain.

    Super fresh (and super seriously huge) carrots. The Easter bunny better be a big one this year!

    I like going to this market because it is just a few block's from my friend's apartment and they always have lots of samples of everything. The added attraction is that inside the building next door is a flea market that often has amazing finds.

    
    Do you know how, when you go to the sea when it rains, everything is grey or white? Here in the city when it rains, everything is in technicolor.

    I spotted the perfect gift for my friend, but then I realized she really didn't have enough sun for this wonderful little salad bowl planter. What a great idea. A city garden salad mix.

    Frank Sinatra came from Hoboken. So does Hoboken Farms! I loved their sign with a cow rising up amongst the high rises...........

    I love this pickle guy. I stop for his horseradish pickles, but they are all superb. Artisan pickles, pickled with love.

    .....and the Polish stall always has a good variety of fresh pirogi I can take back and heat up for dinner.....this one is a winner.

    .....okay, so this stall tells me that this honey is local. It is from beekeepers who keep their bees on the rooftops of the city....I couldn't figure out where they would find enough flowers to produce all this honey, but it was worth a try!

....and what do I love on my toast with my honey? Fresh butter!




    So even though it was pouring, even though it was a bit cold this weekend in NYC, I went home with arms full of wonderful food. Love NYC. Love farmers' markets.