What can I do with Maple syrup?

A friend from Montréal gave me a can of pure maple syrup. Since I don't care much for pancakes, this inspired me to attempt making a cake out of maple syrup. Though I didn't know how it would taste (never once heard of a maple syrup cake), I was pretty pleased with the result.

Ingredients:

For the cake

3 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 Tsp salt

1/2 cup (or 1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature

2 Tbsp non-hydrogenated solid vegetable shortening at room temperature (or lard, I personally use bacon fat)

2 cups pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B)

3 egg yolks

1 egg

1 1/4 cups whole milk

1 cup walnuts

For the frosting

3 cups powdered sugar

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 cup (or 1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature

2 Tbsp pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B)

A few walnut haves (for garnish)

Note: One suggested ingredient for the cake batter is shortening (like Crisco), though in truth I don't ever cook nor bake with shortening. Instead, I chose to substitute it with bacon fat. Now it may sound like "yuck" it may give it a meat flavor, well it does not. I buy hormones free smoked bacon all natural (it is pricey), when ready to cook/fry it, I cut the extra fat and collect it. I then cook separately the fat and let it cool down before storing it into a glass jar (Bonne Maman empty jam jar) into the fridge. Let's keep an open mind, I am not telling you to use lard or bacon fat, I am simply sharing how I substitute shortening. You could also use butter otherwise. This is simply a matter of preference. 

Instructions:

Preheat oven at 325 F. Butter two 8-inch diameter cake pans (2 inch high sides). Line bottom of pans with parchment paper then butter parchment. Dust pans with flour and tap out excess. 

In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and lard (or shortening) until light and fluffy, add gradually the maple syrup and beat until mixture is smooth (about 3 minutes). Add the egg yolks and the egg, one at a time, beating after each addition until well blended. Add the flour mixture gradually then the milk, while beating with each addition. Fold in walnuts.

When batter is ready, divide as best you can equally among both pans, smooth the tops. Then place pans in oven and bake until toothpick or knife inserted into center comes out clean. (Baking time can vary  around 40-55min). Let the cakes cool completely. (I suggest running a knife along the sides to loosen cakes)

For the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter into smooth. Add powdered sugar and maple syrup and keep beating until smooth but still somehow thick (you do not want frosting to be too soft and runny).

If you wish to trim off the domed top of each cake layer, I suggest using a serrated knife, as to create a flat surface. Then spoon about a cup of frosting over top of one cake and spread evenly then top cake with second cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of both cakes. For garnish, arrange the walnut halves around top edge of the cake or play with them as to arrange them as you'd like. I personally enjoy walnuts, hence I wouldn't mind covering the whole top with them. I also suggest refrigerating cake (and cover it with cake dome) so frosting can set better. Once ready to be enjoyed, I suggest removing cake a hour or less before serving so can be at room temperature. 

Enjoy! Though on a personal note, I personally found this cake to be too sweet for my taste. So, I do think this is a recipe that may only appeal to some. 

Morels

Growing up, my parents would take us kids to the forests to pick up wild mushrooms. Little, I didn't always enjoy it as it was sometimes cold and rainy out on these excursions, though I always enjoyed the hunt. My parents enjoyed it and "trained" me well. My dad gave me my own fishing basket to store these finds, I was so proud and couldn't wait to fill it up as to say: "Look at me, I can do it too". I wanted to make my parents and more so my dad proud. In many ways, I did. Not to brag though like my sister just reminded me, I certainly was good. I was rumored to have the sight. I would often find the one when no one could. I enjoyed it. Still to this day, I enjoy mushrooms hunting. My friend and I went about it at several instances. Last year, I found chanterelles, this spring I found morels.