Barnard, Vermont and The Sugarbush Maple Syrup Farm

I LOVE all of New England- OK, I said it- it's just really special.  Before coming to New England, I did some reading and learned that unemployment in Vermont is some of the highest in New England.  That made me really sad...what a lovely place.  I know it has its 'mud' season, lots of snow, lots of dirt roads, but so does Colorado.  As of this writing, today it was 72 degrees F. in CO, but we're expected to have cold and snow next week.  We've also had some tornadoes and unless you pay a bunch to water a lawn, there isn't grass.  All places have their good things and bad things about them....there is something just so peaceful in New England...

well, 'nuf bout that already- sniff, sniff. 

We had a bunch of fun- I mean really- like I kid, I'm telling you! Barnard, Vermont is small but it's close to lots of other cute places....like Woodstock and Queechee and Burlington....

so, let's start with day 1- Sugarbush Farm:  If you click on the word, you can see their link and find out lots more about it.  They make maple syrup, cheese; they do weddings there and they have farm animals! I love cows.  I mean I LOVE COWS!!!!  so when I saw a little one there that I could pet, I was all over that cow- you can see below!  There are at least 15 pictures of me and that cow, but now really....do you want to see that?  I didn't think so.  Yes, it had a really runny nose, but it was such a cute nose.  And those eyes......

Sugarbush Farm is worth a trip- it's a working farm and we were able to see them package the cheese, dip it in the wax---the whole thing.  Of course, it's not maply syrup season, but you can go into the barn and see the whole process- pretty special that this hasn't changed much over the years.  I kinda like that...

And, in case you're interested, here's some statistics/information about Barnard, VT.

The following information in BLUE is from:  http://bit.ly/aZm0iT 

Windsor County
Chartered: July 17, 1761 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 31,060 Acres = 48.53 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 38* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 43° 44' W 72°37'
Altitude: 1,334 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2000): 958 [ Population Rank: 168* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 19.7 [ Density Rank: 193* ]
Full Census Info: Town  County  State

*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Barnard's relative position among Vermont's 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.

Spelled Bernard in the charter, but changed to its present spelling sometime before 1810. The misspelling is commonly chalked up to poor orthography, but that is simply not the case. Sir Francis Bernard, governor of the New Jersey Colony and later of Massachusetts Bay colony was the second-listed grantee of the town named for him (as well as five other towns in "The Grants"). Although Bernard seemed to understand the colonial view better than most royal officials, he rigidly enforced British policies, such that his nine-year tenure in Massachusetts is thought to have hastened the outbreak of war.

That reputation could have influenced the change in spelling, but there is no documented explanation.

pretty small...but oh so quaint

one of the local barns

white fences

some really large farms/homes

Entrance to Sugarbush Farm

there's the baby!

she really liked the scratching

just a minute....I'm getting you something

there...now not my fingers!

Can we take her home? or is it a him? ???

Dipping the cheese in wax- different varieties got different colors

Pumpkin/cream cheese rolls and Zucchini rolls - recipe below!

Help yourself!!

Maple sugar candy, lollipops, and more

Jams and Jellies....love the little fabric toppers

and all the cheeses!! LOVED the horseradish cheese

and candy--more on THAT in upcoming blog

And of course, the Maple Syrup!!

the colors around the farm were really pretty

love the 'ol sign

Fall decor at the farm

There was SO MUCH wood stockpiled for the upcoming winter

I adore this lil pumpkin on the overturned bucket

they had a few 'characters' 'round the barn

some 'ol farm equipment

the roof of the barn with the colors in the distance

the side of the barn- for hanging what's needed!

the main barn where all the hay was stored for the cows

I hope you enjoyed it just a bit- I LOVED coming here- of course, my hands needed a good washing after the cow-ie slobber, but that's ok--it was worth it!

Next UP:  Woodstock, Vermont!

OH YES....the recipe!!

                                     

Pumpkin Pinwheels

3 eggs3/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup cooked pumpkin or canned pumpkin

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Powered sugar

Cream Cheese Filling:

3 ounces cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

4 teaspoons butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat the eggs for 3 minutes. Gradually add the sugar, then stir in the pumpkin and lemon juice.

Sift the dry ingredients together and fold them into the egg mixture.

Spread the batter evenly over the bottom of a greased 13 x 9 cookie sheet or jelly roll pan and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake at 375° until done, about 15 minutes.

Turn the cake out onto a clean cloth sprinkled with powdered sugar. Starting with a long edge, roll the cake in the cloth and cool completely. While the cake is cooling, beat the filling ingredients together until smooth.

Unroll the cake, spread the filling to the edges, then re-roll it without the cloth. Trim the ends and chill.

Cut into 1/2" slices. Makes 24 to 26 pinwheels. 

Recipe courtesy of: http://bit.ly/bYW01O  AND it's GOOD!!