Cooking with Honey

By: Ann Harman

The Spring months are famous for the pick-your-own strawberry patches and for ripe blueberries. Use some of your honey to enhance the flavor of those berries.  Both of these berries benefit from honey bee pollination.

 

 

STRAWBERRY HONEY PARFAITS

Servings: 4

1-1/3 cups low-fat sour cream

1/4 cup honey

2 teaspoons lime juice or 1 teaspoon grated lime peel

4 cups strawberries

1/4 cup coarsely chopped biscotti or amaretti (Italian crunchy almond cookies)

4 mint sprigs (optional)

Mix sour cream, honey and lime juice in a medium bowl until well blended. Reserve 4 strawberries for garnish. Coarsely chop remaining strawberries, about 3-1/2 cups. Gently fold chopped strawberries into cream mixture. Spoon into 4 (10- to 12-ounce) goblets or bowls. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cookie crumbs. Garnish with strawberries and mint sprigs, if desired.

Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 6 hours.


BERRY HONEY MILKSHAKE

Servings: 4     

1 pint nonfat vanilla ice cream or nonfat frozen yogurt

2-1/2 cups strawberries, hulled or an assortment of berries

1/2 cup nonfat milk

1/4 cup honey

4 small mint sprigs (optional)

In blender, combine all ingredients except mint. Blend about 30 seconds until smooth and creamy.

Serve immediately in tall, chilled glasses. Garnish with mint sprigs if desired.


 

HONEY AND SPICE  BLUEBERRY SYRUP

MAKES 2–2/3 CUPS      

1-1/2 cups honey

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1-3/4 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine honey, water and cinnamon in large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens. Cool to warm. Stir in blueberries, lemon juice and vanilla. Use syrup to top waffles, pancakes or French toast or spoon over granola or yogurt.


BLUEBERRY BUTTER

MAKES 2–2/3 CUPS    

1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or thawed frozen)

1/4 cup honey, divided

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened to room  temperature

Bring blueberries and 2 tablespoons honey to boil over medium-high heat, stir constantly. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes or until mixture thickens and is reduced by half. Cool. Blend in remaining honey. Beat in butter.