Newcastle Inn

French toast on a white plate with ham and garnished with orange slices.

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Maine Maple Tour

Fear not, all you maple syrup lovers. Though Maine Maple Sunday was postponed this year, the Maine Maple Tour is set to begin on Columbus Day weekend. Timed to coordinate with peak foliage season in Maine, you best make reservations early if you want to visit us at the Newcastle Inn during this popular event.

Taking place from October 9 through the 18th, maple syrup producers around the state will be showcasing all things maple. Think maple candy, maple cream, maple-coated peanuts, maple taffy, maple donuts, maple whoopie pies, and, of course, the beloved maple syrup. Though maple sugaring begins in late winter/early spring depending on the weather, sugar shacks around the region plan to open their doors to the public to demonstrate how maple syrup is made and all the wonderful things you can create with it.

A Maple Recipe Contest, new for this event, is sure to spice things up. Dusting off their favorite recipes that include maple syrup as a key ingredient, contestants will vie for the best in each of 3 categories: beverage, entrée, and dessert. Winners will be determined by members of the Maine Maple Producers Association, but celebrity judges will hand out the awards.

Speaking of recipes, our guests love it when they see “Marnie’s French Toast” on the menu for breakfast. Using only the freshest of ingredients and the finest maple syrup, we’re happy to share our secret for this well-loved dish.

Marnie’s French Toast

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • ½ c. orange juice
  • ½ c. milk
  • ½ tsp. vanilla
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • ¼ c. maple syrup
  • 1 loaf Italian Bread – cut in 1” slices – you should get 10 slices
  • Toasted pecans
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Whisk together first six ingredients
2. Dip bread slices into egg mixture and place in pan (13×9 dish works fine). If there is egg mixture left after every slice has been dipped once, then pour extra over bread slices in pan. It’s ok to place a second layer on top of first layer in pan if they don’t all fit in a single layer.
3. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. In morning, preheat griddle (350 – 375) or large frying pan, add butter and when it stops bubbling add bread slices, but don’t crowd.
5. Cook until golden on bottom and flip over. Continue cooking until golden on both sides.
6. Serve with a dusting of powder sugar and toasted pecans, if desired.

Though dozens of sugar shacks will be participating this season, 5 are within an hour’s drive of the Newcastle Inn. Can there possibly be a better way to enjoy fall foliage than traveling from one sugar shack to the next? Check out these nearby maple producers and map a route for the Maine Maple Tour coming soon.

Cooke’s Maple Farm
Brunswick, ME

Maple Hill Enterprises
Durham. ME

Maple Rush Sugar House
Sabattus, ME

Pep’s Pure Maple Syrup
Sabattus, ME

Blais Maple Syrup
Greene, ME

For background on Maine’s maple sugar industry, check out our previous blogs on Maine Maple Sunday and our local sugar shacks.

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