TAKE A BREAK
The Majestic Maple Biography of the Sugar Maple Tree
The most gracious and beautiful tree in New England is a mature sugar maple tree. Growing up to 100 feet tall and 300 years old, its leaves are luscious and green, and in fall, the leaves famously turn gorgeous shades of yellow and burnt orange. The tree is so classically beautiful (and abundant) that it is Canada’s national tree, with the maple leaf adorning the flag. There are many traditional uses of the wood. Premium
Vegan Red Velvet Cake Inspired by LovingItVegan.com
furniture, butcher’s block, and high-end flooring and trim. Historically, late February and March are the best times to harvest the maple syrup sap from the trees. The trees are tapped to retrieve the sap that is then
Ingredients
• 2 cups flour • 1 cup white granulated sugar • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup soy milk • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 cup canola oil • 1 tbsp distilled white vinegar • 1 tsp red food coloring (gel works best) • Frosting of choice
boiled down into a syrup. It is said that one sugar maple tree will produce enough sap to make 1 quart of syrup. So, if you’re looking to make syrup at home, one big tree will get you enough to share with the family over breakfast.
Directions
Newly planted trees are fairly easy to grow, tolerant of shade or sun, severe heat and cold hardy. There are several designer varieties of the native sugar maple, including Apollo, Green Mountain Maple, and Fall Fiesta. Each variety is bred to be even more beautiful than the next and would make a wonderful addition to your front yard.
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease baking pans of choice. Line bottoms with parchment paper. (Two 8-inch round pans work best.) 2. In a large bowl, sift flour and mix in sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. 3. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and soy milk. Leave the mixture to sit for about a minute so it can curdle into buttermilk. 4. Add milk mixture, vanilla, oil, vinegar, and food coloring to the flour mixture, stirring well to break up large clumps. 5. Pour batter into pans and bake for 20 minutes. 6. Cool cakes completely before frosting with icing of choice.
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