Recipes

I’m not much of a baker. All the precise measurements and exactitude of baking scares me. I’m much more of a taste-as-you-go cook, adding spices and mixing until I get it right. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised to find this recipe for Easy No-Bake Key Lime Bites; no baking means easy preparation during busy summertime days and few ingredients makes this recipe appropriate for even the most novice dessert-maker (like me). These tasty, simple bites are perfect for your next outdoor get-together! Best part is, no baking means a cool house on a hot summer day!

As the days get longer and our schedules fill with outdoor outings, barbecues and vacations, I find myself returning to my tried and true recipes to please the masses – the ones whose pages in my recipe book are stained and crumpled with years of enjoyment and satisfaction. This year though, I promised to mix it up a bit. Rather than relying on my old standbys (delicious as they may be) I sought out a few new kitchen creations to rejuvenate my tired summer-time repertoire. I’ll be sharing the findings here with you on the blog, all featuring our raw honeys, of course.

Consider this the first of the installment of #summerhoneylove!

We all know that in order to feel beautiful on the outside, topical application of non-toxic products isn’t enough! Focusing on what we put into—not just onto our bodies is crucial. As our skin is a direct reflection of our internal health, treat yourself right with this skin-loving smoothie. Due to the high amount of prebiotics, antioxidants and electrolytes, the Manuka included in this smoothie is a real nutrient powerhouse. It’s the perfect way to kick-start your day.

Let’s get our glow on. Ongoing alternative research shows manuka honey to be both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which makes it a perfect remedy for problem skin! But, this amazing honey’s benefits don’t stop there. Remnants of New Zealand honeys like Beechwood add softness, moisture and balance to the skin due to a high concentration of live enzymes and antioxidants. The fats in the avocado and whole milk yogurt are moisturizing to the skin, while lactic acid in the yogurt help to smooth your skin, even out skin tone and diminish the appearance of pores.

Though newly concocted, artificial sweeteners fill grocery store shelves these days, honey has been a staple food for humans for centuries. Bees were often the subject of hieroglyphs in Egyptian times and a rock painting dating back to 2400 BC in Cairo serves as one of the earliest evidence of honey harvesting and bee keeping. In fact, archaeologists discovered still-edible honeycomb buried in an Egyptian tomb! The Greeks and Romans saw honey as a crucial food and medicine as well; cheese was mixed with honey to create cheesecakes, used as an offering to the gods and to treat wounds post-battle. Bees themselves were venerated as they were thought to hold unique powers and gifts. As shown in an important collection of Roman-era cooking recipes, the Apicius, we see one of the first uses of honey – honey cakes or enkhytoi, made from honey, eggs and flour. Even though enkhytoi is delicious, I wanted to share a more modern use of honey in cooking, Wedderspoon Lavender Oat Shortbread Cookies Drizzled with Lemon Honey.

Looking for a healthy baklava recipe? Made with cinnamon, walnuts, hemp seeds, and Wedderspoon Raw Fir Honey, this baklava will melt in your mouth!

For a more elegant and healthy dessert, try this poached pears and honey recipe that is delicious and will wow all of your dinner guests!