Honeyflow Farm Home Page
The Vineyard      The Honey Farm      The Candle Shop


 

Articles from
The Tattler

"Tales from the Farm"

August, 2002  Vol. 2, No. 8

Stories From This Months Newsletter:

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

August with the honeybees.

We have just finished the final round of adding extracting honey supers to all of our colonies. Putting honey supers on in July involves a lot of moving boxes around. Adding the supers will give the honeybees a lot of room for them to store honey in. This is the last supering that I do before we start to harvest the honey in Mid August. The colonies can become quite tall at this time of the year, sometimes I need an extra box or two to stand on to reach the top. Occasionally they can become unstable and when I return in the fall I find some that the wind has blown over. Sometimes there is 200 to 300 lbs. of surplus honey on some of these large colonies.("Surplus Honey" is honey that the bees have harvested in addition to the 80 lbs of honey that the bees need to leave in the hive to feed on over the winter.) They are not always that strong, if I can average 100 lbs per colony I figure I am having a good year.

We also start to take off comb honey in july and usually continue every two weeks until Mid September. By now the honeybees have stretched and added beeswax to the combs we have inserted and have filled them with honey. Each hive is checked, new supers are added and full ones are taken off. The honey supers are pried up and laid on their side on top of an "outer cover." The honeybees are "blown" out of the comb honey super with a gas operated blower. (I call it a "bee blower" - other people call it a "sidewalk grass blower".)

Here is a picture of my new trailer, It really works great for hauling large amounts of honey supers to the bee yards. (Since I don't have new baby pictures, I thought I would show you my new trailer pictures)

Click here for larger images of adding supers and comb honey from our "Year in the Bee Yards" pictorial.


Quick Ways to Sweeten Every Meal

Work. School. Family activities. Chores. Everyone seems to be "busy as a bee" these days. Yet, despite the hectic schedules, Americans are committed to providing their families with delicious and nutritious meals. Keep a honey jar or squeeze bear within easy reach on the kitchen counter or table. That way, you'll never forget to use honey when you're busy as a bee and need a little sweetness and a lot of flavor. To save time in the kitchen, here are some ways to add the golden touch of honey to ordinary, store-bought and convenience foods to add sweetness, flavor and variety.

Breakfast - Bread Spreads - Anytime Snacks
Dressings and Dips - Main Dish Sauces - Dessert Sauces

Finishing Touches - Super Quick Honey Tips


Breakfast

  • GF & H - Drizzle honey on fresh grapefruit halves. Eat cold or brown halves under the broiler for two minutes.
  • Honey Power - Mix 2 Tbsp. honey with 1/4 cup each nonfat yogurt and applesauce. Add 1/4 cup orange juice and stir for a power shake without the blender.
  • Sweet Surprise - Spread toasted bread, bagels or English muffins with low fat cream or ricotta cheese. Sprinkle with almonds and drizzle with honey.
  • Sunshine Smoothie - In a blender or food processor container, combine 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 cup cut-up fresh fruit and 1/2 cup crushed ice; process until smooth.
  • Honey-Orange Yogurt - Mix together 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons undiluted frozen orange juice concentrate. Use as a topping for frozen waffles or stir into hot oatmeal for a hearty and healthy treat.
  • Five-a-Day Toss - Mix together 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey and a pinch of ground ginger. Toss with 3 cups cut-up mixed fruit.
  • Citrus Times Two - Combine 2 tablespoons honey and1 tablespoon undiluted frozen orange juice concentrate; drizzle over grapefruit halves and broil, if desired.

Bread Spreads

  • Mix creme honey with a splash of brandy. Spread on quick breads, fruitcake or toasted bread.
    Mix 2 Tbsp. each honey and dried fruit bits into 1/3 cup cream cheese. Keep it on hand to top bagels and toast.
    Cream ½ cup butter with 1/3 to ½ cup honey. Add in ¼ cup blueberries or ½ cup ground nuts. Use to top warm scones and quick breads.

 

Anytime Snacks

  • Layer yogurt, granola and fresh fruit in parfait glasses. Drizzle with honey. Repeat twice more, ending with a drizzle of honey on top.
  • Mix 2 Tbsp. honey with ½ cup of sour cream. Pour over a bowl of fresh blueberries or strawberries.
  • Mix equal parts honey and peanut butter. Use as a quick sandwich filling or celery topper.

 

Dressings and Dips

  • Combine ¼ cup each white wine vinegar and honey with 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil and 1 Tbsp. minced green onion. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Toss with mixed greens.
  • Mix 2 Tbsp. each minced onion, red wine vinegar and warm honey with ½ cup mayonnaise and ¼ tsp. paprika. Use as a salad dressing or vegetable dip.
  • Combine equal parts Dijon-style mustard and honey. Spread on sandwiches, use as a dip for vegetables and pretzels, or brush on grilled meat and sausages.
  • Mix ¾ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup honey, 2 Tbsp. Dijon-style mustard and 1 tsp. prepared horseradish. Use as a dip for chicken or turkey nuggets.

Main Dish Sauces

  • Combine ½ cup peanut butter with ¼ cup each honey and rice wine vinegar, 3 Tbsp. soy sauce and 1 tsp. each minced jalapeño pepper, minced garlic and grated fresh ginger. Mix until blended. Use to baste chicken or pork.
  • Cook 2 Tbsp. chopped onion in ¼ cup butter until onion is translucent. Stir in ¼ cup honey, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice and 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil. Bring to a boil; serve over fish or poultry.
  • Combine ¼ cup each Dijon-style mustard and dark beer, 3 Tbsp. honey, ½ tsp. minced garlic and ¼ tsp. each crushed dried thyme leaves and salt. Mix well. Serve over cooked vegetables.
  • Stir 2 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate into 1/3 cup honey. Use as a glaze to refresh store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Dessert Sauces

  • Combine 1 cup nonfat sour cream, ½ cup each honey and unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Cover and refrigerate. Serve with fresh fruit and chunks of angel food cake.
  • Combine 1 cup honey, ¼ cup fresh or frozen blueberries and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 quart fresh or frozen sliced peaches. Serve over waffles, pancakes or ice cream.
  • Reserve ¼ cup liquid from 1 can (16 oz.) of tart red cherries. Purée cherries in blender; add reserved liquid and ¼ cup honey. Boil in large saucepan; simmer 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Cool; stir in ¼ cup chilled champagne. Serve over custard, sliced fruit or ice cream.

Finishing Touches

  • Mix honey with melted butter. Drizzle over angel food cake or pound cake for a sweet shiny glaze.
  • To top carrot cakes and cupcakes, soften an 8-ounce package of cream cheese and mix with ¼ cup of honey and a pinch of salt. Cream until smooth.
  • Beat 1 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3 Tbsp. honey and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1 tsp. vanilla.
  • Combine ½ cup honey, ¼ cup each lemon juice and orange juice. Stir until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Use to sweeten tea and glaze fruit.

Super Quick Honey Tips

  • Sweeten coffee and tea with honey.
  • Stir a spoonful of honey into fruit juice or nonfat yogurt.
  • Drizzle warm honey over pancakes, cornbread and ice cream.
  • Dip apple slices or other fresh fruit in honey.
  • Dress up a snack of crackers and cheese with a dab of honey.
  • Perk up bottled Italian dressing by adding a splash of honey.
  • Mix 2 Tbsp. honey into prepared barbecue sauce - add more to suit your taste.

August Honey Recipe - Honey Sweet 'n Sour Wings

Honey Sweet 'n Sour Wings
Makes 1-1/2 pounds
(18-24 wings).

3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup diced red sweet peppers
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1/3 cup pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 pounds fried or baked chicken wings

Combine honey, peppers, vinegar, pineapple juice and seasonings in small saucepan; mix well. Cook and stir until mixture begins to thicken. Pour over chicken wings in baking dish. Bake at 350 ºF 12 to 15 minutes or until wings are glazed with sauce.

From National Honey Board


 

View Last Months Newsletter

July 2002 Newsletter

Bloom time in the vineyard
Weed control
Soap Bars
New Red Wine Health Benefits!!!
Vineyard Pictorial
July Grape Recipe - Seedless Grape Coffee Cake

Adding Honey Supers
Comb Honey
July Honey Recipe - Hard Honey Cookies

Go to our Newsletter Archive Page

 


Honeyflow Farm
4939 Mill Rd.    PO Box 275
Dryden, Michigan 48428
(810) 796-2344 (Phone & Fax)

Comments or questions concerning Honeyflow Farm
should be addressed by clicking on the link: