March is for Maple and at the Meadowmere Resort we’re making it with Maple!  With Maine Festivals and Celebrations during the maple harvest season local farms open their doors for Maine Maple Sunday and we’re cooking up some great ways for you to enjoy the sweetest product from our woods.

Maple Syrup has been a Maine staple for years and we’d like to share our Top 3 recipes for you to enjoy during this Maine Festival Celebration

#1 No’Easter – Adult Beverage

Combine 1 ½ ounces of Maker’s Mark with ½ ounce each of fresh lime juice and Maine Maple Syrup.  Shake over ice, strain into a rocks glass filled with ice add a splash of ginger beer and garnish with a wedge of lime

#2 Gluten Free Maple Walnut Bread

Heat the oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl combine 2 ¼ cups gluten free flour blend, 2/3 cup tapioca flour, 2/3 cup potato starch, 1 tbsp baking powder, ½  tsp baking soda, 1 ½ tsp xanthan gum, 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon and 1 tsp salt

In a small sauce pan heat 1 stick unsalted butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns a nut brown color.  Remove from heat and set aside

In a large bowl combine 1 cup of Maine Maple Syrup, 1 cup of buttermilk (at room temperature) and two large eggs.  Stir in the browned butter.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry, stir until just combined

Fold in ¾ cup of chopped walnuts

Pour the mixture into a well greased 9×5 inch loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick placed into the middle comes out clean

#3 Traditional Maple Snow Sticks

Heat the desired amount of syrup until it begins to bubble. A favorite at many Maine Festivals and Celebrations the tradition of Maple Snow Sticks is easy to recreate with your family:

Pack clean snow down and pour a thing coating of the syrup onto the snow (or shaved ice)

Use Popsicle sticks and twist the taffy around them for easy eating.

At our hotel in Ogunquit Maine we’re always trying to sweeten up your vacation!  Here are a few stories from our staff:

Michelle was checking in a repeat guest who had purchased a winter escape for her best friend’s birthday celebration.  Upon check in the birthday girl was so excited and shared the details of the surprise with our staff, stating that she was blindfolded the whole way here with no idea where she was going or how long!  She was so excited to learn that she had arrived in Ogunquit for a relaxing retreat.  As these guests arrived to our Ogunquit hotel prior to arrival time we were only able to offer an early arrival on one of their rooms, once the second room was ready for them to enjoy Michelle personally delivered the keys along with a Happy Birthday Card & Harbor Candy Chocolates from the Meadowmere Staff.

Crystal overheard one of our front desk agents give directions to the public restroom in the indoor pool, she noticed the little boy seemed a bit intimidated by the other guests using the pool and offered to escort him through the area.  He was very happy for the support!