Honey Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Valentines Day just got sweeter. Chocolate covered strawberries are a classic go-to this time of year, but have you tried adding a honey twist? These sweet morsels are sure to be your new go-too treat.

Instructions:

1. After lining a sheet with wax paper, rinse strawberries in cold water and dry with a paper towel.

2. If your coconut oil is solid, warm it in the microwave until it becomes a liquid.

3. Pour the Love-A-Bee honey and the vanilla into the coconut oil and whisk until completely mixed.

4. Slowly add the Cocoa to the oil mixture as you mix it.

5. Stir the chocolate mixture until it is smooth.

   For a thicker chocolate place it in the fridge for 5 minutes until it begins to thicken just a little bit

6. Hold the strawberry by the top and dip it into the chocolate, let it drip before placing it on the parchment paper to set.

7. For a thicker chocolate layer, dip the strawberry in the chocolate again after a few minutes.

8. Refrigerate until the chocolate is solid!

Optional: immediately sprinkle coconut flakes or chopped nuts onto the chocolate before cooling

Recipes adapted from: https://overthebigmoon.com/best-chocolate-covered-strawberries/

Honey & Blackberry Crostini w/ Blue Cheese

A delicately crisp baguette, fruitful blackberry, sweet honey, and tangy blue cheese crumbles come together to form your new favorite hors d’oeuvre. Simple ingredients come together into a sophisticated presentation, all of which is made sweeter which our Bodega Blackberry Honey.

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 Baguette

• Olive Oil (for brushing)

• 1 cup fresh blackberries

• 1/4 cup fresh honey comb

• 3 tablespoons Bodega Blackberry Honey

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

• 1 sprig fresh basil, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Slice the baguette into thick 1 1/2” thick pieces, and place on baking sheet. Brush each slice with olive oil and bake for about 6-8 minutes.

3. In a small saucepan on low heat, cook down the blackberries, cornstarch, honey comb and honey. Let simmer until the mixture has thickened and the berries are completely cooked down. Remove from heat and let cool.

4. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the blackberry preserve over each piece of sliced crostini. Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles, basil and walnuts. Drizzle with honey and put it in the over (on low broil), for 3 minutes.

5. Serve warm & enjoy with loved ones!

Recipe adapted from: https://livingthegourmet.com/2015/12/blackberry-honey-crostini-with-blue-cheese.html

Caramelized Honey, Nut, & Seed Tart

When the hostess brings out dessert post-dinner, how are you going to impress? The holidays are right around the corner, and you know what that means… you need a dish to bring to the celebration. You won’t find a more show-stopping option than this caramelized honey, nut, & seed tart. Rich nutty flavors are balanced by sweet vanilla, and complimented by the flavor and texture of caramelized honey. Enjoy more crunch, and less calories than your traditional slice of pie. Bonus: The crust is easier-than-average.

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Ingredients:

Crust-

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup powdered sugar

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ½ cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

• 2 large egg yolks

Filling-

• ¼ cup honey

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• ¼ cup heavy cream

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups mixed unsalted, roasted nuts (such as pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, and/or sliced almonds)

• ⅓ cup unsalted, roasted seeds (such as pumpkin and/or sunflower)

Tools-

• A 9-inch-diameter spring-form pan

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Instructions:

1. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter and pulse to work in until mixture is slightly clumped.

2. Beat egg yolks with 1 Tbsp. water in a small bowl to combine. With the motor running, slowly pour into food processor. Continue until the dough starts to come together

3. Using lightly floured fingers, press dough about 1 inch up sides and then evenly into bottom of your pan, forming sides slightly thicker than the bottom layer. Use a floured flat, straight-sided glass to compact and smooth dough; freeze until solid, (15–20 minutes).

4. Preheat oven to 350˚. Prick bottom of dough with a fork and bake until golden all over, (20–25 minutes). Transfer pan to a wire rack. (Leave oven on if you’re not making the crust ahead and are making the filling next.)

   *Crust can be baked 1 day ahead. Let cool; store tightly wrapped at room temperature*

5. Bring honey and 1 Tbsp. water to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat, swirling pan often, until mixture is darkened in color and nutty smelling, about 2 minutes. Add granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter, corn syrup, salt, and vanilla and carefully stir until mixture is smooth. Increase heat to medium, bringing it to a boil.

6. Cook, swirling in the pan, until caramel is slightly darkened in color and thick enough to coat a spoon, (5–8 minutes). Remove from heat, add nuts and seeds to caramel, and stir to coat.

7. Scrape filling into warm or room-temperature crust, filling it evenly

8. Bake until filling is deep golden brown and caramel is bubbling, 25–30 minutes. Cool, wrap up, and enjoy!

   *Tart can be made 1 day ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature*

*Recipe adapted from https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/caramelized-honey-nut-and-seed-tart*

Honey Candy Apples

It’s that time of year again! The temperatures are chilling, the leaves are falling, and the apples… are being candy coated. The recipe puts a healthy spin on a classic recipe, and incorporates our favorite ingredient… honey of course! Whip up a batch to wow trick-or-treaters, or bring along with you to the costume party on your calendar!

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Instructions:

1. Prep the apples: Cover a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and generously coat the paper with nonstick spray or you can brush it with oil. This is a must to prevent the apples from sticking to the paper. Remove stems from the apples and insert skewers, Popsicle sticks, or chopsticks as shown. 

*As mentioned above, if your apples are natural or organic, you're all set. But if they have WAX coating their skins, you MUST REMOVE THE WAX or the candy coating will not stick. To remove wax, dip the apples very briefly in boiling water, dry completely, and chill in the refrigerator (to prevent mushiness) before continuing with the recipe.*

2. Make the candy coating: Combine sugar, water, honey (we recommend Hay Honey!), cinnamon sticks, and food coloring in a nonstick saucepan. (The red food coloring will darken as the candy cooks, so don't go too heavy on it. I suggest 1/4 teaspoon and 4 or 5 extra drops, not much more than that.)

Stir the mixture over medium-high heat only until the sugar is completely melted. Once it’s melted, you’re safe to boil it. DO NOT STIR AGAIN AT THIS POINT. Turn the heat up and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. After about 10 minutes of a continual, rolling boil, the candy should be ready or very close. 

3. Coat the apples: Be careful with this step because the candy-coating is very hot and will hurt like the dickens if it splashes on you. Turn the heat off under the pan and allow the boiling to stop. Tip the pan slightly and dip a skewered apple in the coating. Twirl the apple for an even coat. Lift and allow the excess to drip back into the pan. Place your newly dipped candy apple on the greased wax or parchment paper.

4. Enjoy: Enjoy the apples as is, or roll them in your favorite candy apple topping!

Recipe from: https://www.cleocoylerecipes.com/2015/10/Candy-Apples-with-Honey.html?m=1

Citrus Salad with Pomegranate Seeds and Honey

This Recipe is incredibly simple but cutting the fruit can take time. I had fun playing with the different shapes and experimented with different ways of plating and drizzling.

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Instructions:

1. Cut 3 Pink Grapefruit(s) horizontally, then use a knife to peel the skin. Remove the seeds and slice horizontally in 1/4" slices.

2. Cut 3 Oranges horizontally, then use a knife to peel the skin. Remove the seeds and slice horizontally in 1/4" slices.

3. Cut 2 Pomegranates horizontally and cut 1 of (2) in 1/4" (thereabouts) slices. Cut the second pomegranate into quarters and remove the seeds for placing around the plate.

4. Mix 1 teaspoon of Love A Bee Honey, (Smokey Sage is a good choice as it seems to brighten the Orange and temper the tart of the Grapefruit) with 3 teaspoons of Premium Balsamic Vinegar. I used Amphora's Black Mission Fig.  Mix the honey and Balsamic Vinegar together (I almost beat the dressing like I would an egg) and drizzle over fruit in whatever pattern you like.

Enjoy! 

Honey Sweet Potato Dog Biscuits

Peanut Butter, Honey, & Sweet Potato

Rolling the dough

Ingredients:

• 1 large (or 2 medium) Sweet Potato

• 1 large Egg

• ½ cup Coconut Flour

• ½ cup Potato Flour

• ¼ cup Peanut Butter

• 3 tbsp Love A Bee Honey

Instructions:

1.  Slice the sweet potato in half lengthwise.  Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for 25 minutes at 400 degrees F.  When they prick easily with a fork, remove them from the oven and allow to cool.  Turn oven down to 350 degrees.

2.  When the sweet potato is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh into a bowl and discard the skins (or use them for another recipe).  Mash well.  

3.  Add the eggs, coconut flour, potato flour, peanut butter and honey and stir well (either by hand or with a hand mixer) to combine.  

4.  Roll batter into balls (how big depends on the size of your dog and what size treats you prefer) and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.  Press the center of each ball using the back of a clean spoon.

For shaping biscuits using cookie cutters:  roll out the ‘dough’ between two sheets of parchment paper to ¾ inch thick.  Using the shape(s) of your choice, cut out the cookies, and re-roll the excess until all the batter is gone.  Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

5.  Place biscuits in the oven at bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

6.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool before storing or serving.  

Dog biscuits will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge, and for 4 weeks if kept sealed in the freezer.

Radicchio Salad with Honey Vinaigrette and Bee Pollen

Radicchio is one of my favorite cold season vegetables, and a perfect candidate for this honey vinaigrette. The sharp (but not bitter) taste of fall radicchio is paired with the sweetness of honey and Asian pears, and brightened with the earthy, floral taste of California bee pollen.  Any wildflower honey varietal would make this match up sing; however, I chose Love a Bee Hay Honey for it’s richer color and depth of flavor.  I serve this salad much like the classic tumbleweed, with beautiful purple wedges of radicchio, well dressed with vinaigrette and adorned with golden bee pollen.

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Ingredients:

• 2 small to medium heads Radicchio (¾ lb each)
• 2 medium sized Asian Pears (or 1 extra-large Asian Pear or 2 European Pears)
• 4 tbsp O Honey White Balsamic Vinegar or honey vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
• 4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Love a Bee Hay Honey
• 4 tbsp Love a Bee Pollen
• 1½ tsp Sea Salt
• Ground pepper to taste

Instructions:
1.  To make the vinaigrette, combine honey balsamic vinegar, honey, salt and ground pepper (to taste) in a bowl.  Mix vigorously (either by hand or with a hand mixer/blender) until honey is dissolved and well incorporated.  While mixing, slowly add the olive oil.  Add the bee pollen and mix gently to combine.

2.  Peel back outer leaves of radicchio heads and discard.  Slice each head of radicchio into quarters and cut out the small core at the base.  

3.  Slice the Asian pear in half and – using a teaspoon – scoop out the seeds and the core.  Cut into ¼ inch slices.

4.  Arrange 2 of the radicchio quarters on each plate, surrounded by the slices of pear.  Generously drizzle with vinaigrette. Serves 4.

Recipe by Ellie W. for Love A Bee

Baked Pecorino Cheese with Almond Honey

In California, most bee aficionados and honey lovers know about the importance of honeybees for agricultural crop pollination.  One of these “bee-pendent” crops that has drawn media attention of late?  Almonds.  According to an interview with Gene Brandi on NPR’s All Things Considered, between 80 and 90 percent of the nation’s total commercial bee population is required for almond pollination just in California. 

 
Almond honey is not a varietal one would find on the supermarket shelves and there are a couple reasons why this is.  First, while almond blossoms are loaded with pollen, they don’t provide much nectar, which the bees need in order to make honey.  Bees have two sources of nourishment: flower pollen (their protein) and nectar (their carbohydrate); without both of these, their diet is incomplete.  This fact brings up yet again why it is so important for beekeepers concerned about the health of their hives to rotate their bees and provide them access to diverse forage.

The second reason why almond honey is not something you’d see at the market is because of its unique taste.  Almond honey could be considered a type of what the Italians call miele amaro, or bitter honey.  On the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Italian beekeepers harvest miele amaromade from the nectar of wild strawberry trees.  These trees produce little nectar, like the blossoms of the almond tree, and this miele amaro requires the bees to make more than twice the number of trips to produce the same amount of honey.  Sardinians traditionally serve this bitter honey with roasted cheese – pecorino cheese, as the region is famous for it.  

This recipe is inspired by this classic dish, which presents the flavor of the honey beautifully, and is a breeze to put together.

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Ingredients:

• ½ pound Pecorino cheese
• 3 tablespoons sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons Love a Bee Almond Honey
• Fresh thyme for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  While the oven heats, toast the sliced almonds in a frying pan over medium low heat – stirring frequently - until the nuts are fragrant, about 6 minutes.
2. Cut the cheese into ¼ inch slices and arrange in an oven-safe pan or dish.  Place in the oven and bake until cheese is melted and begins to turn golden, about ten minutes.
3. Remove the cheese from the oven and sprinkle with the toasted almonds and fresh thyme.  Drizzle the honey over the cheese.  Serve immediately with flatbread crackers and fresh fruit. Serves 3-4 as an Appetizer.

Rocket Rum

Inspired by classic Hot Buttered Rum, this cool weather cocktail marries the sweetness of honey with the caramel notes of light rum, and is further accented by the warmth of fresh vanilla.  This recipe can be made dairy-free, and is sure to be a favorite among every one this winter.

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Ingredients:

• 3 oz Light Rum
• 2 cups Hot Water
• 1 Vanilla Bean, split
• Pinch Ground Nutmeg
• Pinch Salt
• 6 tablespoons Honey, such as
• Love a Bee Sweet Clover or Bottle Rocket
• 4 tablespoons Butter or Coconut Oil

Instructions:

1. Combine rum, honey simple syrup, apple cider and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. 
2. Add a dash of ground cinnamon to taste and a small scoop of ice. 
3. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. 
4. To make a sugared rim:  mix 3 tablespoons fine white sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon on a shallow plate. 
5. Wipe the juiced lime along the rim of a glass or mason jar and swirl (rim-down) on the plate. 
6. Strain and pour using the cocktail shaker. 
7. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

Apple Honey Rumtini

If apple picking, bonfires, and cozy blankets were a drink, it would be our Apple Honey Rumtini. Use up the rest of that apple cider sitting in your fridge, by mixing up this white rum cocktail. We’re confident that it’s citrus and spicy nature will make it your go-to fall drink.

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Ingredients:

• 3oz (about 100 ml) White Rum

• 1 oz (about 2 Tablespoons) Honey Simple Syrup*

• 8 oz (1/2 cup) Cold Pressed Apple Cider

• Juice of 1 Lime

• Ground Cinnamon

• Ice

• Sugar (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine rum, honey simple syrup, apple cider and lime juice in a cocktail shaker.

2. Add a dash of ground cinnamon to taste and a small scoop of ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

3. To make a sugared rim: mix 3 tablespoons fine white sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon on a shallow plate.

4. Wipe the juiced lime along the rim of a glass or jar and swirl (rim-down) on the plate.

5. Strain and pour using the cocktail shaker.

6. Serve immediately.

Panna e Miele Cotta

An amazingly simple Italian dessert: panna meaning cream and cotta meaning cooked, that's almost all there is to it. The minimal time spent over the stove makes it a perfect summer choice, although it requires some forethought - 12 hours of chilling time in the fridge. The richness of this lightly-sweetened cream dish pairs wonderfully with another Italian delicacy, miele cotta - cooked honey sauce. Any high quality honey makes a beautiful miele cotta, and it is a great recipe for reviving crystallized honey.

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Panna Cotta

*Panna cotta recipe inspired by Saveur's Italian Comfort Food cookbook.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream

• 1 1⁄2 tsp. powdered gelatin

• 1⁄4 cup sugar

• 1⁄2 split vanilla bean

Instructions:

1. Place 3 tablespoons of the chilled heavy cream in a small bowl.

2. Sprinkle with powdered gelatin, and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla bean. Bring just to a boil, whisking frequently, over medium-high heat.

3. Vigorously stir the gelatin mixture before adding it to the saucepan. Remove from heat, and whisk for 1 minute.

4. Strain mixture through a fine sieve. Evenly divide between four 1-cup custard molds (or old jam and honey jars), cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.

5. If you prefer to serve without molds: gently pull panna cotta away from the sides, using a paring knife or your fingers. Invert onto a small plate and shake to loosen.

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Miele Cotta

Although the panna cotta must be prepared in advance, the miele cotta is better made just before serving. Make the sauce one to two hours before so that it may cool before drizzling it over the dessert.

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup honey, any varietal

Instructions:

1. Place honey in a small saucepan and heat over low flame.

2. Allow the honey to come to a boil - be careful not to burn it - then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for another minute.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

4. Serve spooned over panna cotta with fresh fruit or berries.

Grilled Lamb with Sweet & Sour Honey Glaze

This recipe looks more involved than it is in actuality.  Cooking lamb racks on the grill is especially easy, and the glaze requires more patience than preparation.  The acidity of the vinegars cut through the fattiness of the lamb, and a dark flavorful honey marries all the flavors together.  Serve with grilled brussels sprout and leeks.

Serves 2-3                        Total Preparation Time:  Approximately 1 hour

Ingredients:

For the glaze

• ¾ cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/3 cup Dark Honey, such as Love a Bee San Joaquin Flame

For the lamb

• 1 full rack of lamb, frenched (removing the meat, fat and membranes that connect the individual rib bones
  ) and halved between bones 4 and 5
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons of Fresh Thyme, plus more for garnish
• 2 teaspoons Coarse Sea Salt
• ½ teaspoon Fresh Cracked Pepper
• 2 teaspoons Honey
• 3 tablespoons Pine nuts

Directions

1.  Combine honey and vinegars in a small saucepan and stir with a wire whisk.  Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 40 minutes, or until the mixture has more of a syrup-like consistency.

2. Light grill and cover.  Allow to heat to approximately 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. While the grill is heating and the sauce is reducing, prepare the lamb marinade and toast the pine nuts.  Combine and mix olive oil, thyme, salt, black pepper and honey in a large shallow bowl.  Add the lamb to the bowl – half a rack at a time – and massage the marinade into the meat.  

   To toast the pine nuts, place in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir frequently to avoid burning.  When the nuts have received a light golden brown color, remove from heat and transfer to a plate.

4. Place the lamb, meat side down, on the hottest part of the grill.  Replace grill cover and allow to cook for 5 minutes. Turn and cook covered for another 8 minutes, being careful not to burn the glaze on the fat cap.  Move lamb to the cooler area of the grill and cook covered for another 7 minutes, or until the meat at the thickest point reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit (for medium rare).  Remove from heat.

5. Allow the racks to cool for 5 minutes.  Carve between each bone and arrange on serving dishes.  Generously spoon and drizzle honey vinegar glaze over the meat, and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and fresh thyme.  Serve immediately.

Grilled Chicken with Honey Stone Fruit

Sumac is a Mediterranean spice made from the dried berries of the plant.  It is a beautiful, reddish-purple color.  It impacts a slightly sour flavor, as well as amazing color, to the dish

This is a modified version of Melissa Clark’s Roast Chicken with Plums recipe from the New York Times. The grill eliminates the need to turn on the oven in the summer months, while still taking advantage of all the amazing stone fruit varieties available at the market right now. 

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Ingredients:

• 2 whole chicken legs, skin-on/bone-in
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons sumac*
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 garlic clove, grated or minced
• 1 bunch thyme
• 1½ cups various stone fruit (plums, apricots, pluots, peaches), halved and quartered
• 2 tablespoons dark or amber honey, such a Love a Bee Hay Honey or San Joaquin Flame
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pinch allspice
• 1 bay leaf, halved
• ¼ of a large red onion, sliced

Directions

1.  Turn the grill on high – when hot, the temperature inside the grill should be between 400-450 degrees.
2.  Zest the lemon into a bowl.  Set lemon aside.  Add the sumac, salt, pepper, garlic and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to create a rough paste. Thoroughly rub the chicken legs with the spice paste.  Allow to sit for 15 minutes.
3. Grease a casserole dish, Dutch oven or cast iron skillet with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Place chicken skin side down in the dish with the thyme on top, divided between each leg.  Transfer to the grill.  Let cook with the grill covered for 25 minutes – until the skin is golden brown and crisp - before turning.  
4. Meanwhile, prepare the fruit in a medium bowl.  Combine fruit slices with the cinnamon, allspice, onion slices and both halves of the bay leaf.
5. When it is time, turn the chicken and arrange the seasoned fruit alongside it in the dish.  Replace the lid of the grill and cook another 35 minutes, or until the chicken is firm and pulling away from the bone.
6. Let cool for five minutes before serving.  Pairs well with a rice or quinoa pilaf, and a fresh cucumber salad. Serves 2-3.