I love honey! Honey is sticky sweet all gooey and happy making! Honey soothes when we are feeling under-the-weather. Honey makes us feel like kids again. Honey is innocent- the stuff from our childhoods.

Did you know that there are more than 300 varieties of honey in the United States? The color and taste of the honey comes from the flowers that the bees visit. Honey ranges from pale and mildly flavored (like clover and orange-blossom) to deep amber brown and rich tasting (like buckwheat and avocado). In general, the darker the hue, the bolder the flavor of the honey.

Honey can be the star ingredient in anything from a savory glaze for a roast (just remember back to that HoneyBaked Ham from last Christmas) to a fabulous dessert like ice cream. Pale honeys are popular in drinks and desserts. While, bolder flavored honeys are more suited to glazes and marinades.

And, honey is good for you! It’s packed with vitamins & immune boosting antioxidants. And, the darker the honey, the more antioxidants it will contain. Raw honey also contains some pollen; localy produced raw honey may lessen your sensitivity to hay fever, due to the fact that consuming local pollen may bring up your allergy tolerances (how awesome is that)!

Honey can be used to soothe a sore throat by gargling with hot water mixed with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of  vinegar. The vinegar works as an astringent to clear secretions and restore pH balance, and it discourages bacteria growth. The honey is an anti-inflammatory. (see Natural Cures for more ideas)

Honey can be used as a substitute for sugar, but it is sweeter than sugar. If you wish to exchange it in a recipe, begin with an amount of honey equal to half of the amount of sugar in the recipe. For baked goods, reduce the oven temperature by 25° to avoid excess browning, and add ½ teaspoon baking soda for every cup of honey. Also, reduce the liquid in your recipe by ¼ cup for every cup of honey used.

If crystals form in your honey jar, place the jar in warm water for a few minutes, then stir until all the crystals dissolve.

Here are some ways to use honey. And, please enjoy!

Mild honey ideas and recipes:

Vanilla Honey Bee Martini

1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream

1 oz Honey liquor

1 oz milk or cream

Dip the rim of the glass in mild honey. Mix ingredients, serve & enjoy!

Honey Nut Squares

Honey Ice Cream

5 egg yolks
1 pint whole milk
1/2 pint heavy cream
1/2 cup mild honey
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat the egg yolks and honey together in a medium bowl, and set aside.


Heat the milk in a saucepan until it reaches boiling point, then simmer. While it’s simmering stir in the egg yolks and honey mixture. Continue to stir until it thickens, and coats the back of a wooden spoon.


Remove from the heat, strain and leave to cool.


Stir in the cream and the vanilla, and transfer the mixture into an ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Darker & bolder honey ideas and recipes:

Burricotti with Chestnut Honey and Candied Spicy Walnuts

Roasted Pears with Chestnut Honey