We’ve just returned from a conference in Dubai and London where we took gifts to fellow attendees and relatives in England. Peoples’ eyes lit right up when they saw what we had brought: ice wine and maple syrup, two iconically Canadian food products.

Yesterday I recieved a Twitter notification that @PureCanadaMaple was following me. I did what every Tweeter does (I think?): I scoped out their profile and clicked on the link to their website. I figured out that PureCanadaMaple is the social media name used by The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, a federation that represents, defends and promotes over 7,000 maple businesses. Rifling through their website and looking at all the mapley goodness transported me back to Mom’s kitchen. There I was again, snorfing down a stack of her syrup-drenched pancakes (best in the world, hands down), and watching her make Dad’s favourite birthday cake–maple chiffon.

So thanks, Federation of Maple Syrup Producers, for taking me down memory lane. It was nice, but it also made me very hungry.

I was happy to notice, then, the Federation’s recipe database with loads of enticing recipes and tantalizing food porn. One look at their Maple Potato Pancake–all hot and steamy and glistening and covered in cream–and I was a goner; I had to make them.

If you have a Thermomix, this recipe is perfect for it. If not, follow the website recipe instructions by clicking on the link provided.  Here’s what you’ll need to make Maple Potato Pancakes:

• 2 potatoes, grated
• 1 red onion, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tbsp. flour
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp. maple sugar ( I didn’t have any and used maple syrup instead. Worked, but a little runny)
• 1 tbsp. chives, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp. olive oil

Step 1 (using Thermomix): Peel and halve one onion, put in Thermomix and pulverize ( 1 or 2 pushes on the Turbo button, that’s it).

Step 2: Add halved potatoes, pulverize with 4 to 6 pushes. (I think hand grating would be better because the Thermomix is like Thor of the Small Appliance World.)

Step 3: Add remaining ingredients (except olive oil).

Pretty easy. Three steps and you’re almost done. Add oil to a frying pan and heat just over medium. (Next time, I would use canola oil as the olive oil I used was too fruity and imparted too strong a flavour.)