I love Honey!
Honey, a gift of sweet elixir from Nature
Ancient peoples used honey for medicines, intoxicants, metallurgy and magic. There's still magic in this sweet elixir made, wonderfully, by Nature from nectar.
Honey was once regarded as sacred for its wonderfully sweet properties and only the rich could afford it. We once gave honey to the Gods in the hope of gaining favour, and also to embalm our dead.
Athletes in the Ancient Olympics drank lots of honey in water to enhance their sports performance and we still use it as an energy source to maintain optimal blood sugar levels for some hours.
Honey raises your blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds, a daily dose will promote general well-being as well as giving you an instant energy hit . It's also one of the oldest and most effective beauty aids ever. I often wash my hair with honey to keep myself blonde without chemicals.
I have honey almost every day for antioxidant reasons, but mainly because it tastes wonderful and I love it!
Where does honey come from?
Bees of course!
Yes, of course, bees. Bees make honey.
Bees have sophisticated tastes and, from the different flowers available to them, they'll choose one that has a higher concentration of sugars. Then, with the proboscis, (something like a long tongue), a bee will suck out the nectar.
In the proboscis the nectar mixes with the bees' enzymes and the resulting sweet stuff is passed to the house bee at the hive, a bee whose sole job it is to deposit the nectar in the honeycomb. Here the nectar is dried and concentrated to become honey.
Amazing process when you think about it.
Different Flowers make Different Honey
What's your favourite?
One of the greatest pleasures of honey is getting to know the different floral varieties, their appearance and quality. I love to experiment with new honey tastes and learning which floral variety of honey is most perfect for which kind of foods.
Different flowers give the honey different flavours. For example, thistle honey produces a thick, molasses-style honey, while orange blossom produces a light, sweet, citrus-flavoured result. Eucalyptus honey is a sheer pale glistening gold, rich in flavour, and a little less sweet than other varieties.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp liquid honey
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp wine vinegar
- 1 large shallot peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
- 4 -5 sprigs rosemary
- Grated zest and juice of a large lemon
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in saucepan and saute the shallot until soft.
- Add garlic and saute for a further 2 minutes.
- Add all the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Allow to cool before using as marinade.
Honey Roasted Rutabaga Recipe
We call rutabagas 'Swedes' in Australia
Ingredients
- 1 large rutabaga peeled
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice the rutabaga horizontally into 3/4 inch rounds. Slice each round into 3/4 inch pieces. Cut pieces in half horizontally if large.
- Combine butter and honey in a medium-large bowl. Heat for 30 seconds or so until butter is melted. Stir to combine. Add rutabaga slices and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread rutabaga pieces onto a lightly oiled baking pan. Roast 35-40 minutes until slices have golden brown spots and crispy edges.
Moist Honey Cake Recipe
Make the moist of the moisture
Honey is hygroscopic (meaning it attracts water) so it is good for baking cakes as it keeps them moister for longer.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup oil
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- 1 cup self rising flour
- 1 cup plain flour
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
- Mix eggs with sugar.
- Add remaining ingredients in the following order: oil, honey,baking soda, cloves, cocoa and flour.
- Lastly, add boiling water.
- Bake for 1 to 1-1/4 hours.
- After about halfway though, ,lower heat to 350 degrees F. (180 deg. C.)
Cooking with Honey - Cookery Books
Honey for Beauty
Bath and Moisture Mask
There's simply no sweeter way to bring a smooth glow to your skin and hair than with glorious golden honey.
Skin Softening Bath
Add ¼ cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.
Moisture Mask
Just like Madame du Barry, the last mistress of Louis XV, mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water
More Beauty Tips with Honey
Avocado & Honey Face Mask
What you need
2 tablespoons of avocado flesh
2 tablespoons honey
1 egg yolk
Either put all the ingredients in a blender, or mash by hand in a bowl. Use your fingers to spread the mask over your face and neck and leave it on for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, before removing.
Australian Honey
Australian honey is the most chemical-free and disease-free honey in the world.
Seventy percent of our honey is produced in eucalypt forests in the regions of the vast mountain ranges. The dew fall is heavier in these areas, producing a superior class of clear, crisp and flavoursome honey.
Eucalyptus honey can be used for healing burns, cuts and abrasions. (I can swear to its quick and effective relief for common insect bites and stings). It's also analgesic and anti-inflammatory and can be massaged onto the skin to help relieve muscle and joint pains.
It tastes simply heavenly too.
Honey for Breakfast
Make a Morning drink
Flush out your system and give yourself a daily boost with a cleansing honey tonic.
Mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast.
Honey and Bread
Spread some glowing golden honey over bread, either fresh or toasted.
Cereal
Drizzle delicious honey over your oats, muesli or corn flakes.
Tea and Coffee
Use honey as a sweetener for your morning pick-me-up instead of sugar.
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All comments, sweet or otherwise. are welcome.
