I heard from a friend recently that maple might be the new pumpkin spice. It’s been reported in a few places that, while pumpkin spice is not necessarily finished, interest in maple is on the rise. It may be the new flavor that helps us get into a fall mood. I think that is great news. I have always loved maple syrup, and like Buddy the Elf, I consider it a staple of my diet and baking. It’s great on lots of foods of obvious foods (pancakes, waffles, oatmeal) and some less obvious ones (butternut squash, carrots, salad dressing sweetener).