Honey is another miracle of the nature. Its has so many medicinal
properties (and yet doesn't taste yucky). Honey should be introduced
into our healthy lifestyles.
First lets look at - What is honey?
Honey
is made up from fructose, glucose, water and other sugars. It also
contains many enzymes, vitamins, minerals and amino acids that our body
needs. Honey contains many antioxidants that are used by the body to
eliminate free radicals - molecules which zip around in healthy cells
and have the potential to damage them. Honey therefore makes a good
alternative to sugar in food and drink. Care must be taken though, as
honey does contain lots of sugars and it must be eaten in moderation.
Sugars should not generally represent more than 10 percent of your total
calorie intake.
How honey can healResearch
being carried out around the world suggests that honey helps in the
healing and sterilising of wounds and ulcers, in the growth of new skin,
and, has many antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. The reason
for this is the unique combination of properties that honey has.
As Medicine: One to two tsps full of honey in a glass of hot milk is said to be a good sedative.
For
children the use of honey as a general tonic has been known from time
immemorial.The reason being that honey acts as a disinfectant and an
antiseptic.So a judicious internal administration of honey would render
the digestive system aseptic and disease-causing germs would fail to
thrive.
Honey is good for sore throats,coughs and colds.An
age-old cough mixture still used in many homes consists of honey and
limejuice in equal parts.
Honey is also reputed to be a good stimulant for a weak heart.
As far as constipation is concerned,honey is a very popular laxative.
Now for some HONEY recipes. YUM YUM (Got the recipes from National HONEY Board)
Curried Chicken Wings- Makes 13 servings -
Ingredients 1 cup honey
2/3 cup Dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
4 teaspoons curry powder
2-1/2 lbs. chicken wings
Directions In
a small saucepan, combine honey, mustard, butter and curry powder; cook
and stir over medium heat until blended. Arrange chicken in a
13x9x2-inch baking dish; drizzle with honey mixture. Cover with foil and
bake at 350° F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 30 minutes longer;
turn after 15 minutes.
Honey Roasted Nuts - Makes 3 cups -
Ingredients 3 cups nuts
1/2 cup honey
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions Combine
all ingredients; mix well. Microwave at HIGH (100%) in 600 to 700 watt
microwave oven 4 to 7 minutes or until nuts are toasted, stirring
halfway through cooking time. Spread nuts on foil to cool.
Honey-Glazed Sweet Potatoes - Makes 4 servings
Ingredients 2 lbs. sweet potatoes or yams
2/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
Directions Wash
and pierce potatoes or yams. Place on a piece of heavy-duty foil and
bake at 375°F for 40 to 50 minutes until just tender. Cool, peel and cut
into 1-1/2 inch pieces. Spray 8x8-inch baking dish with nonstick
cooking spray. Place cooked potatoes or yams in dish; set aside. In
small pan, combine orange juice, honey, cornstarch, ginger, nutmeg and
salt. Stir until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat stirring until thick
and mixture begins to boil. Stir and cook for one minute. Remove from
heat and stir in butter. Pour over potatoes or yams stirring to coat.
Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes until hot and potatoes are tender.
Pear Cheese Tarts with Honey and Hazelnuts- Makes 18 tarts -
Ingredients 1 box (17.3 oz.) frozen puff pastry
1 pear, cored and quartered
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons Sage honey, divided
8 oz. cream cheese
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
Baking spray
Directions Remove puff pastry from freezer 30 minutes before using. Preheat oven to 400°F.
Cut
pear into thin slices. In small bowl, combine pear, 1 Tablespoon lemon
juice and 1 Tablespoon honey. Reserve another 1 Tablespoon honey in a
small heatproof bowl.
Use a mixer to beat the cream cheese until
smooth. Scrape down the sides and add the honey, flour and lemon zest.
Mix until smooth. Add the eggs, scrape down the sides again and mix
until very smooth.
Cut half of the pastry sheets into 9 squares.
Spray a muffin tin with baking spray. Carefully fit 1 square into each
muffin cup. Fill each cup with 2 Tablespoons cheese mixture. Cut pear
slices to fit muffin tin. Fan 3 or 4 slices of pear over each cup and
sprinkle with 1 teaspoon hazelnuts. Freeze 10 to 15 minutes to firm
pastry.
Bake cold tarts until pastry is lightly browned and
cheese is puffed, about 20 minutes. Cut 9 more pastry squares and repeat
filling and baking. Microwave reserved honey 5 seconds on High and
drizzle tarts with warm honey.
Let tarts sit 10 to 15 minutes before serving or refrigerate and reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.
Tortilla Crisps with Honey Dip - Makes 6 servings -
Ingredients 1/2 cup honey
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1 small cinnamon stick
1 piece (1-1/2 x 1/2-inch) orange peel
6 (6-inch) flour tortillas
Vegetable oil
Directions Combine
honey, butter, cinnamon stick and orange peel. Cook over low heat at
least 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and peel before serving. Cut
each tortilla into six wedges. Deep-fry tortillas, smooth-side up, at
375°F about 30 seconds. Turn and deep-fry 30 seconds longer or until
golden brown. Tortillas should puff as soon as they are put in hot oil.
Remove from oil to paper towel-lined tray. Serve crisp tortilla with
honey dip or spoon dip over chips.
Oven Method: Brush both sides
of whole tortillas with vegetable oil. Cut into wedges before baking,
if desired. Place on baking sheet and bake at 325°F about 12 minutes or
until crisp and browned but not hard.
Apricot Honey Bread- Makes 12 servings -
Ingredients 3 cups whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/4 cups 2% low-fat milk
1 cup honey
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts or chopped almonds
1/2 cup raisins
Directions Combine
dry ingredients in large bowl. Combine milk, honey, egg and oil in
separate large bowl. Pour milk mixture over dry ingredients and stir
until just moistened. Gently fold in apricots, sunflower seeds and
raisins. Pour into greased 9 x 5 x 13-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for
55 to 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out
clean.
Apple Honey Tart- Makes 4 servings -
Ingredients 1 (17-1/4 oz.) puff pastry dough
1 egg, well beaten
1 cup white zinfandel wine*
1/2 cup honey
1 stick (3-inch) cinnamon
3 whole cloves
1 slice (1/4-inch) fresh ginger root
3 medium apples, pared, cored and sliced
Whipped cream or low-fat dairy sour cream
Directions Cut
two 5-inch hearts out of puff pastry. Cut 1/2-inch wide strips of
pastry from remaining dough. Brush edges of hearts with beaten egg.
Twist and line edges of hearts with dough strips, joining ends of strips
with egg mixture as necessary. Bake according to package directions.
When golden and baked, remove or push down puffy centers of hearts to
allow space for apple filling. Bring wine, honey and spices to boil in
9- to 10-inch skillet; reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes.
Add apples in one layer, return mixture to boil and simmer 10 to 15
minutes or until apples are tender. Carefully remove slices from liquid
and drain thoroughly. Reduce liquid until syrupy; cool. Brush bottom of
crust with syrup; arrange poached apples over syrup. Serve with dollops
of whipped or sour cream.
*If desired, apple juice may be substituted for wine.
Apricot Honey Oat Bar Cookies- Makes 8 servings -
Ingredients 1-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, uncooked
1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
2 egg whites
2 Tablespoons wheat germ
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions Spray
8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine all
ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Spread mixture evenly into prepared
pan. Bake at 325°F about 25 minutes or until center is firm and edges
are lightly browned. Cool and cut into 2-inch squares.
