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Honey, You’ll Love this Natural Sweetener.

October 1, 2015 By Lena

It’s been called “liquid gold”, and I concur – I love honey for its complex taste and amazing versatility. No matter how you enjoy it, honey is nature’s perfect sweetener!

(Psst! Recipe for Strawberry, Honey and Mascarpone Tartlets coming up – featuring my favourite, Billy Bee honey!)
DSC_1364Did you know: Honey is an organic, natural sugar alternative with no additives. It’s easy on the stomach, adapts to virtually all cooking processes, and has an indefinite shelf-life when stored in optimal conditions. What more could you ask for? 

(It’s also a term of endearment. I reserve “Honey” for only the sweetest people in my life!)

Billy Bee honey is bringing sweet tips and recipes to your kitchen to celebrate the fall season. Opting for a natural sweetener, like Billy Bee honey, is a great way to add an extra drizzle of sweetness (and unique taste) to all your favourite meals, from breakfast to late night snacks.

Who can resist honey drizzled over a firm, salty cheese? Or brushed with mustard over a barbecued chicken breast? I especially love spreading creamed honey on toast, or enjoy it stirred into a hot mug of camomile tea. Honey truly is a great pantry staple and makes excellent combinations with other flavours due to its truly unique flavour and natural character.

True story: I actually consider myself quite the expert when it comes to cooking and baking with honey. Here are my best tips for making the most of this sweet treat!

1. Substituting honey for granulated sugar in your recipes is super easy. Visit billybee.ca and check out their Sugar-Honey Converter, where you can use the table as a reference when exploring different ways of cooking with honey instead of sugar.

2. Honey is a great emulsifier for salad dressings and adds a touch of sweetness to your greens. It pairs particularly well with dried herbs such as mint, oregano and dill, and perfectly balances the acid in a red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

3. I’m pretty good at eyeballing honey measurements, but if you do need a precise amount, coat your measuring cup or spoon with non-stick cooking spray before adding the honey. The honey will slide right out, no fuss, less mess!

4. Because honey retains moisture, it lends richness and moistness to cakes and pastries. We all have a favourite, handed-down-through-generations cake recipe that is delicious – but dry. Substitute honey for a more moist and flavourful cake!

5. Ready to enjoy the smooth, sweet taste of honey? For a whole bunch of buzz-worthy Billy Bee honey recipes and more, check out Flavour.ca.

Of course, I just had to share a quick and easy dessert that is my go-to when company’s coming – try these delicious Strawberry, Honey and Mascarpone Tartlets! With the goodness of honey and the smooth, creaminess of mascarpone, they’re the perfect end to a great meal, and they’re ready in under 30 minutes!
DSC_136312 frozen tartlets, thawed
1 cup mascarpone cheese
¼ cup heavy cream
¼ cup Billy Bee honey, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish
5-6 ripe strawberries, sliced
lightly toasted coconut, for garnish (if desired)

Bake tartlets according to manufacturer’s directions; cool.

In a medium bowl, mix mascarpone, heavy cream and honey. Spoon approximately 1½ tablespoons of the mixture into cooled tartlet and top with a slice of strawberry. Drizzle with Billy Bee honey and sprinkle toasted coconut, if desired. Enjoy!
DSC_1367Tell me: Do you find honey buzz-worthy? What’s your preferred way to enjoy honey?

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Billy Bee Honey, natural sweetener, recipe

Previous Post: « On Being a Spectator and Rediscovering Nature
Next Post: Fall into Better Digestive Health: Take Control and #OwnTheThrone »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Treen Goodwin

    October 1, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Oh yummy these look and sound delish thanks for sharing the recipe , i will def be trying it out , drooling and its only 9:30 lol :p

  2. Judy Cowan

    October 1, 2015 at 11:37 am

    I love honey and it all the time as a sweetener in baking and in my tea! Thanks for the yummy recipe.

  3. Marissa

    October 1, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I love adding honey to my oatmeal cereal and of course in my tea as well. Most of all I crave honey when I have a sore throat. Diluted in hot water I drink sip by sip and find it very soothing. Looking forward to making those yummy tarts this weekend. Thanks Lena!

  4. Lynda Cook

    October 1, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    I love honey and especially creamed honey I will have that on my toast, bagels and rice cakes, I love the tarts you made they look so good!!

  5. Athena

    October 1, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    I love honey, and I’ve been known to put it in my smoothies, tea etc

  6. sarah sar

    October 2, 2015 at 2:25 am

    Totally a honey lover here! I love it for sweetening my tea instead of sugar.

  7. Angela Massis

    October 8, 2015 at 8:40 am

    These look so delicious! Mascarpone cheese and Honey is very YUMMY!!!

  8. Stephanie LaPlante

    October 10, 2015 at 3:11 pm

    I love honey and these tarts look scrumptious.

  9. Anne Taylor

    October 11, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Oh, how I love honey! Did you know, its also good for bedsores!

  10. Wanda Tracey

    October 18, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    Oh these little tarts look delightfully decadent! I know it’s fall but now I am craving strawberries and want to make these. LOL :)

  11. Melinda L.

    October 22, 2015 at 7:22 am

    I love using honey in my baking. It tastes just as good! Your tarts look delicious and mouthwatering

  12. tasha may

    November 2, 2015 at 11:52 am

    These look super simple to make and look very tasty! Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to try!

  13. kathy downey

    November 20, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Oh these little tarts look delightfully delicious,they would be great for the holidays

  14. DebH

    January 10, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    These look really yummy; can’t wait till strawberry season!

  15. Melinda Jana

    January 20, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    I love using honey or maple syrup to sweeten certain dishes. Nothing like natural sweeteners :)

  16. Judy Cowan

    January 22, 2016 at 10:31 am

    Going to make these tartlets for Valentine’s Day! Who doesn’t love honey!

  17. kathy downey

    February 29, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    I just love those tarts you made they look so good,bookmarking this for an Easter treat

  18. Susan T.

    March 8, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    I love honey! I put it in my tea every morning and it just doesn’t taste the same if I have to use sugar.

  19. kathy downey

    July 20, 2016 at 9:30 am

    We finally got to make these on the weekend past when my sister was home,they certainly are tasty little tarts

  20. Debbie White Beattie

    December 15, 2016 at 11:06 pm

    I love honey and with these tarts I bet it tastes even better

  21. kathy downey

    June 18, 2017 at 11:06 am

    I have never tried substituting honey for granulated sugar in my recipes,i will now thanks for the tips

  22. Debbie White Beattie

    July 24, 2018 at 4:57 am

    These tarts are actually pretty and I bet they’re delicious

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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