Fresh from the honeycomb....

For the past several years, we have been purchasing large quantities of honey directly from local beekeepers.  This past summer, we bought about 10 quarts.  We haven't used it all up yet and I still have about 4 jars left so I have decided I need to get crackin' and finish our supply......so I'm planning on making honey based recipes (about one a day) for the next week.  I got this book at the library and it had a bunch of good recipes.

I've been wanting to make some homemade ginger ale for awhile now and this book had a recipe for a ginger honey soda so now was my chance.  Easy to make and it turned out great.  If you like Reed's Ginger brew...it tastes about the same, which is good because I LOVE that stuff.  Here is the recipe if you want to try it out yourself. 

Ginger Honey Soda

for the syrup...

4 oz fresh ginger (a 6" piece of gingerroot)
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup honey
2 T lime juice
2 T lemon juice    
     Ice
     Seltzer or sparkling mineral water
     Lime or lemon wedges

Peel ginger and cut into thin julienne strips.  Simmer ginger in water, covered, for 15 min.  Remove from heat and add honey.  Let steep, uncovered, for 20 min.  Strain, pressing ginger solids against strainer to extract as much liquid as possible.  Discard solids.  Add lime and lemon juices to ginger liquid.  Let cool, then pour into a clean bottle and refrigerate.  To make soda, fill a tall glass with ice.  Pour in 1/2 cup of syrup and top with sparkling water.  Stir and garnish with a wedge of lemon or lime.

Yield:  4 cups syrup, enough for 8 servings

Although it calls for a 1/2 cup of the concoction per serving, I just added a dash to my glass and it tasted really good.  Perfect for a hot summer day....

What's next?  Probably some muffins, granola, bread, honey cake and possibly some baklava.  Man, I love baklava....but I'd eat it all myself.  I need to make this for sharing.  They also have recipes for face scrubs and body polishes.  Might try one of those as well.  I'm open to suggestions if you have any good recipes.......let me know!

Comments

[Tj Pini]

My only suggestion is that whatever you make, you give me half. Thats all.

[sabine]

Carrie, I received your presents today... You are way too kind! The cats love their treats, I still have to try their collars on, and all the rest: the yarn, the lovely tissue holder, the card!
Thanks, and thanks again!
I'll do a post about it all tomorrow.

[odelsa]

Yummy, That looks wonderful!
Yes, please post more recipes!

[beth]

How about honey vanilla ice cream? Although, you probably need an ice cream maker...