Honey, which is nature's original sweeter, is a natural source of energy and has many nutritional benefits.
Honey is sweet and delicious. In addition to the natural sugar, honey contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. Eating honey regularly makes good nutritional sense.
There are about 300 varieties of honey in the United States. The mild tasting honey is lighter colored, while dark, deep colored honey is bolder in flavor. This is due to which nectar source (blossoms) are visited by the honeybees. A few varieties you may have tried are: Alfalfa, Clover, Eucalyptus, Orange Blossom, Tupelo, and Avocado.
Experience the wonderful taste of honey in these recipes below that can be made with children.
Fruit & Honey Nuggets
Ingredients:
- One-quarter cup dried pitted prunes
- One-quarter cup dried apricots
- One-quarter cup dried figs
- One-quarter cup pitted dates
- One-third cup wheat flakes cereal (which is one cup uncrushed)
- One-quarter cup honey
- One-half square unsweetened chocolate; melted
- Non-stick vegetable oil cooking spray
- Chopped nuts and/or coconut flakes for rolling
Directions:
- Soak the prunes and apricots in a bowl of boiling water for about 5 minutes. Drain.
- Put all the fruit through a food chopper and chop fine.
- Blend with the crushed cereal.
- Combine with honey and melted chocolate.
- Spray your hands with the non-stick vegetable oil spray and shape this mixture into one-inch balls.
- Roll in the chopped nuts and coconut.
- Chill in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
- Makes about 20 nuggets.
Banana Honey Pops
Ingredients:
- Four bananas, peeled
- Eight wooden Popsicle sticks
- One-half cup honey
- One and one-third cups of toppings such as: toasted coconut, finely chopped nuts, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate candy sprinkles.
Directions:
- Cut the bananas in half crosswise and insert a craft stick into each cut end.
- Assemble these pops over waxed paper to catch any drips.
- Spread honey all over the banana and then roll it in a dish full of toppings.
- Place the finished pops onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator till serving time.
Beehive Snacks
Ingredients:
- One and one-half to two cups popped rice cereal
- One-cup peanut butter
- One-third cup honey
- Empty Styrofoam egg carton
- One-half cup raisins
Directions:
- Mix these ingredients together (it will be sticky).
- Grease your hands first and then press this mixture into the sections of the egg carton.
- The raisins can be placed on top (pressed in) to represent the bees.
- Chill in the freezer until firm and then pop out each beehive from the carton.
- Enjoy these fun snacks!
Honey Dip
Ingredients:
- One-half cup peanut butter
- One-quarter cup honey
Directions:
- Mix these two ingredients together to make a delicious dip to use with carrot and celery sticks, and/or apple and pear slices.
- Children love the action of dipping. Think of other foods children may like to dip into this peanut butter/honey dipping sauce.
The copyright of the article Honey is Nature's Sweetener in Recipes is owned by Tania Cowling. Permission to republish Honey is Nature's Sweetener in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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