SAVORY DISHES

Birch & Cheddar Crostini
This simple and delicious appetizer is a great way to introduce the flavor of birch syrup.

Ingredients
•    Crostini (bread crisps, we like Ace Bakery)
•    Extra Old Cheddar Cheese, sliced
•    Birch Syrup

Directions
Place crostini topped with a slice of cheddar on an oven proof plate. Drizzle with birch syrup and broil in oven until cheese is melted.

Birch Honey Squash
The combination of birch syrup and honey is a delicious addition to the flavour of baked squash.

Ingredients
•    1 medium sized acorn squash
•    1 tsp honey
•    1-2 tsp birch syrup
•    1⁄4 tsp cinnamon

Directions
Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Place squash cut side down in a microwave proof dish with 1⁄4 inch of water and cover. Cook on high for approximately 10 minutes. When done, scoop out squash and mash until smooth. Add birch syrup, honey and cinnamon stirring until combined. Serve hot.

*Thanks to Louise Baxter for this recipe.

Sauteed Birch Brussel Sprouts
This is an extremely delicious way to enjoy those tiny cabbages.

Ingredients
•    1 onion sliced thin
•    1 tbsp olive oil
•    1 lb brussels sprouts washed and cut length wise
•    1⁄4 cup water
•    1⁄4 cup sliced toasted almonds
•    1-2 tbsp birch syrup

Directions
Heat olive oil in a medium sized frying pan. Sauté onions until soft and start to caramelize. Add brussels sprouts and sauté until they turn bright green. Add water and cook until sprouts are tender. Add almonds and birch syrup to pan. Stir to coat, heating through, then serve.

Birch Baked Onions

Ingredients
•    3 large onions sliced 1⁄2 inch thick
•    1 tbsp birch syrup
•    1⁄4 cup butter, melted

Directions
Grease baking dish and preheat oven to 425°F. Layer onions in an overlapping pattern in the greased baking dish. Mix birch syrup and butter and pour over onions. Bake uncovered for approximately 25 minutes or until tender.

*Makes 4 servings.
*Thanks to Louise Baxter for this recipe.

Birch Glazed Carrots

Ingredients
•    4 cups carrots, washed, peeled and sliced
•    1 tbsp butter melted
•    3 tbsp honey
•    2 tbsp birch syrup

Directions
Cook carrots in microwave until tender crisp
(3-4 minutes). In a separate bowl combine melted butter, honey and birch syrup. Pour 2/3 of mixture over carrots and return to microwave for another 3 minutes or until tender. Toss remaining 1/3 of mixture with carrots

*Makes 4 servings.

Diane’s Birch-Lime Vinaigrette

Ingredients
•    1/4 cup birch syrup
•    1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
•    1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
•    1/4 cup lime cordial
•    Fresh ground sea salt and pepper + any herbs available (dill, mint, basil, oregano, etc.)

Directions
Add all ingredients to a jar with tight fitting lid & shake.

*Makes 1 cup.
*Thanks to Diane Kolaritsch for this recipe.

Pork Chops with Birch Tomato Chutney

Ingredients
•    4 large butterfly pork chops
•    1 medium onion diced
•    1 tbsp butter
•    1 19 oz. can diced tomatoes
•    1⁄4 cup diced celery
•    4 mashed garlic cloves
•    1 tbsp Birch Syrup

Directions
Melt butter, add onions and cook until tender. Add pork chops and brown each side. Combine juice from tomatoes, garlic, birch syrup and pour over chops Simmer covered for 8 minutes or until pork is no-longer pink. Remove pork chops, add tomatoes and celery and simmer uncovered until mixture is thickened to make a chutney. Serve chutney over pork chops.

*Thanks to Barb Duffin for this recipe.

Birch Glazed Salmon
This glaze is good on salmon, rainbow trout & lake trout.

Ingredients
•    2 tbsp birch syrup
•    2 tsp whole grain dijon mustard
•    1/2 tsp olive oil
•    Canola oil for grill

Directions
Heat grill and brush with canola oil. Mix together birch syrup, mustard and olive oil. Grill salmon skin side up for 2 minutes then flip. Brush fish with birch glaze and cook 5 more minutes. When fish flakes it is done - do not overcook. Brush once more with glaze and serve.

Birch Bourbon BBQ Sauce (For Chicken and Steak)

Ingredients
•    ½ cup bourbon
•    1 cup ketchup
•    ½ cup birch syrup
•    ¼ cup veg oil
•    2 tbsp cider vinegar
•    2 tbsp Dijon mustard

Directions
In a large sauce pan, reduce the bourbon by half, over medium high heat (careful if using open flame). Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients.

Desserts

Hot Maple Birch Sundae

Ingredients
•    1/4 cup of maple- birch syrup
•    2 pinches of kosher salt
•    1 tbsp butter
•    1 tsp vanilla extract
•    1 big glug of Grand Marnier liqueur
•    Roasted peanuts
•    Vanilla ice cream

Directions
Combine maple-birch syrup, butter, salt, vanilla, & Grand Marnier in a small sauce pan and reduce by 50% over low heat. Spoon over vanilla ice cream and top with roasted peanuts.

Birch Caramel Corn

Ingredients
•    10 cups popped popcorn
•    1⁄2 cup unsalted butter
•    1 cup brown sugar
•    1⁄4 cup birch syrup
•    1⁄2 tsp salt
•    1 tsp vanilla
•    1⁄4 tsp baking soda

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 200° F. Prepare a cookie tray by lining with parchment paper. Place popcorn in a large bowl. Melt butter in a medium sized saucepan. Add birch syrup, brown sugar & salt. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and add the vanilla and baking soda. Pour mixture over popcorn tossing to coat with a heat proof spatula. Pour popcorn onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Allow to cool and break into pieces.

Birch Crispy Cookies

Ingredients
•    1/2 cup butter at room temperature
•    1/2 cup brown sugar
•    1/2 cup white sugar
•    1 egg
•    1/8 - 1/4 cup birch syrup (adjust to your own liking)
•    1 1/4 cup Rice Krispies
•    1 1/4 cup oats
•    1/2 cup coconut
•    3 tbsp flour
•    1/2 tsp baking soda
•    1/2 tsp salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a stand mixer, cream butter & both sugars together until well blended. Add egg, vanilla, birch syrup & beat until smooth. Stir in Rice Krispies, oatmeal, coconut, flour, baking soda & salt. Scoop batter (2 tsp per cookie) onto parchment lined baking sheet, 6 cookies per sheet. Press down lightly with a fork dipped in water. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until light brown. After 2 minutes, use a thin spatula & carefully remove to a cooling rack.

NO BAKE! BANANA BIRCH PIE

Cocktails

Bourbon and Birch

Ingredients
•    1.5 oz Bourbon (Buffalo Trace)
•    2 tsp Birch Syrup
•    1 Orange Slice
•    Dash Angostura Bitters
•    2 Cherries

Directions
Place orange slice in glass, add bitters and birch syrup. Muddle gently, expressing the juices only, not making pulp. Then add ice and bourbon. Stir gently until combined and garnish with an additional orange slice and cherry.

Icelandic Birch Cocktail

Ingredients
•    1 part Birkir Snaps
•    1 part Blood Orange Juice
•    1/2 part Dark Simple Syrup
•    Few Drops Angostura Bitter
•    A Dash of Sparkling Water

Directions
Fill a Cocktail Shaker with Ice Cubes and add Birkir, blood orange juice and syrup. Shake well. Strain into a glass, fill up with sparkling water and add few drops of Angostura Bitter.

Punch Atlantique

Ingredients
•    1 oz. Rum
•    1/4 oz.  birch syrup
•    3/4 oz. ginger liqueur
•    3/4 oz. apple cider

Directions
Shake well with ice and strain over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with candied ginger and fresh cranberries (when in season).

*Can be served in large punch bowl for groups.

Birch & Pina

Ingredients
•    1 1/2 oz. tequila
•    1/4 oz. birch syrup
•    1 tsp. maple syrup
•    3/4 oz. pineapple juice
•    1/4 oz. fresh lime juice

Directions
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with smoked salt and lime wedge.

Northern Lights

Ingredients
•    1 1/2 oz. espresso vodka
•    3/4 oz. blueberry juice
•    1 tsp. birch syrup
•    1/4 oz. each fresh lemon juice and simple syrup (or 1/2 oz. good quality lemonade)

Directions
Shake well with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

The Birch Beaver

Ingredients
•    1 oz Canadian whiskey
•    1tsp Birch Syrup

Directions
Combine in Shooter Glass. Yeehaaa!

The Tintina Toddy

Ingredients
•    ½ oz Kahlua
•    2 oz Rum, overproof/151 proof to fillWater
•    1 tbsp Butter
•    1 oz Birch Syrup

Directions
Mix water, butter and birch syrup in beer glass. Heat in microwave. When heated through add rum and Kahlua. Stir to mix.