MMmmmmm...maple syrup. I love that sweet smokey flavour.

We can buy it in all the supermarkets over here in the UK(even my local Asda does it - the super cheapo chain owned by Wal-Mart) so I don't know why people think it would be such a mystery to us.

I generally have it on waffles and/or ice-cream.

I know someone who has it on bacon for breakfast.

And we're both Brits who have never been to America. Somehow we've managed to figure out the mystery that is maple syrup anyway!

What a fun thread.......

I don't think it is wise to buy something in the US, take it with you and try to sell it here....
There are virtually no products which are not available here in the EU. And if not available in a store; the internet (ebay, amazon, etc etc)!
The only things I can think of are some food-products which have different varietys or brands available in the US. For instance the jellybeans by Starbust I always take home with me from the US. An other thing I take home from the US: books (much cheaper compared to englisch language books sold here).

And to get back to the hot-topic; maple-sirup......
In the Netherlandas it is available in the larger supermarkets (and yes, most people now what to do with it....). But expensive. Plus we have a fine alternative; 'stroop', a sirup made from apples and/or pears with a lot of sugar. We use it on our own version of pancakes (pannenkoeken).

One other thing I saw metioned on this thread; peanut-butter.
The US and the Netherlands are among the few countries where this is eaten. But the dutch version isn's as smooth ast the US-version.

Oh and it's always an option at crepe/pancake stalls here.

Fabian (Bruce Willis' girlfriend) who was going to have the blueberry pancakes with maple syrup (and five sausages). Then Bruce Willis goes off to get his watch, drama ensues, Zed's dead, and when he gets back to Fabian, they have a chat about the blueberry pancakes with maple syrup (which she didn't have).

funny that there was a recent thread about how EVERYTHING in evil america is sweetened with manufactured high fructose corn syrup.

now we have a thread about the beautiful, sweet nectar of the north american maple. much of it hand crafted in relatively small batches from their local maple trees. never associated with slave labour like carribean sugar cane. no high fructose corn syrup. pure and simple sweetness. but it is called a 'peculiar product' and 'a very unusual-tasting syrupy sugar product that isn't good for much of anything'.

and the american europhiles actually think that we, in europe would be baffled by it. why? because we couldn't possibly consume anything so ordinary? how out of touch is this?

is canadian maple syrup also evil or is that ok?

nona, that's blasphemy...how dare you ruin a perfectly good french crepe with north american maple syrup. are you out of your mind? you should use nutella (never mind the fact that it's loaded with oils, emulsifiers, re-constituted ingredients, flavourings, and other strange things).

And let's not forget that Nutella isn't French.......it is made by an Italian company.....Ferrero...

I can remember having breakfast in the US.
We were travelling but wouldn't normally have had breakfast away from home. I ordered pancakes and Canon Chasuble ordered french toast with bacon.
We each got a little jug of maple syrup.
The Canon refused to believe me when I said that he was expected to pour it over his bacon.
I ended up with two lots of syrup on my pancakes ;-)

I would say that 95% of the syrup used on pancakes in the U.S. is "maple flavored" syrup -- Log Cabin, Aunt Jemima, etc., sometimes containing as much as 5% maple syrup. Not to be confused with maple syrup.

Walkinaround, you seem to be confused about my origins. I may have been born and raised in the U.S. but it was as a foreign national. I am not an expat but a repat.

Hey Bonise,

> an ethnic dish that reflected her heritage to school for a potluck. I asked her if she wanted to take Velveeta on Wonder Bread with Miracle Whip.<

That or Oscar Meyer Bologna on Wonder Bread with Miracle Whip.

((I))

I know somebody who still takes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to work for lunch at the age of 58!

On the advice of people on here I once ate peanut butter and jam sandwiches. As a public service announcement to my fellow limeys: It's not big and it's not clever. It remains the single most vile thing I have ever eaten - and I've eaten jellied eels.

ps I also know what to do with maple syrup: Rub it over Kim Bassinger. I learned that from a film.

Yes, peanut butter is horrible.
It's the American equivalent of Marmite.
You have to be immunised to it in childhood.
I haven't tried it with jam, but it sounds revolting.

Peanutbutter is eaten by both children and adults in the Netherlands, but not in combination with jelly! It isn't as smooth as the US version, but I think that is what makes it less of a specific childrens thing here in the Netherlands.
Btw. a peanut based sauce is also very popular here ('pinda'-sauce or 'saté'-sauce)with meat-skewers.

Another acquired taste from the Netherlands: 'drop' (licorice).

I am 32 and I still eat PB&J sandwiches - and I see no reason why I wouldn't still be eating them when I am 58 :)

I am quite picky about my PB and my J. The PB has to be crunchy and made from nothing but peanuts and salt and the jam has to be good quality stuff, homemade if possible. No Skippy and grape jelly for me - LOL.

I think peanuts are great in just about any form - eaten straight out of the shell, boiled, in sauces, salads, crushed up in a vietnamese vermichelli bowl... Peanuts are just good.

MissPrism: The syrup was for the French toast, although it's good on bacon also.

J_Correa: I had a toasted bagel with PB&J for supper last night and I'm 37! :)

For me the peanut butter has to be smooth. LOVE a pb&j on wheat bread.

Has anyone ever had peanut butter on hot toast with bacon. We had that occasionally when I was a child and I loved it.

Peanut butter, little bit of butter, little bit of honey and bananas...yum

Peanut Butter on toast with bacon, oh yes, that is good! So is peanut butter on toast with a layer of tomato slices on top. Then put under the grill in the oven for a quick time (keep an eye on it). Remove when the peanut butter is sort of bubbly.

And PB&J sandwiches? Well I am not going to give my age but I still love them.

Split a banana and fill with peanut butter. Also, slice an apple and spread with peanut butter. Both fabulous.

Wow, I unexpectedly started a whole peanut butter thread. Walkinaround is going to have a field day with that.