Friday, March 15, 2013

Spring Already?

I'm not sure how this year got started and into spring already.  I feel like I just got over Christmas, and now I'm staring Easter right in the face.
And of course that means we are right in the midst of the RED ZONE in our bee business.  This is the time of year for customers to order their bees, get their hive and equipment supplies ordered, and take classes.  So we are busy as bees, and happy, happy, happy to be doing so!

We have had a lot of classes this late winter, and a quite few yet for the rest of the year.  In the classes, we talk about cooking with honey, and many ask me how to convert recipes using sugar. With honey, of course!

Here's a cute little graphic I found that explains baking with honey really well.  Thanks to the people at ruralspin  for sharing it.
If you are cooking (on the stove top that means fellas) then there's no real conversion to adding honey.  If you are like me, I just throw it in and have at it.  So experiment and see if you like more or less because you can taste-test as you go along. 

Which brings me to breakfast.  Why breakfast, you say? Because breakfast is the meal our family loves the most.  We aren't crack-of-dawners by any means, but we love to get up, get the coffee going, head out to the coop and find what eggs the dogs hadn't gotten to yet, and come in and whip up some pancakes, eggs, and bacon.  And yes, we drink sweet tea with our breakfast.

I found this simple but really good pancake recipe.  I hope you like it:


 2 cups complete buttermilk pancake mix
 1 tablespoon French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
 2 tablespoons cinnamon 
 1/4 cup water
 1/2 cup soy milk
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 2 tablespoons honey
butter
big 'ol quart jar of honey to put on table cause everyone will want to drizzle more over their pancakes, and add to their coffee

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together the pancake mix, coffee creamer, and cinnamon. Add the water, soy milk, honey and vanilla; mix until just blended, but do not over mix.
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Melt butter in pan. Ladle your pancake mix into pan.  Cook until bubbles form, then flip and brown on the other side.

I hope you enjoy your family (and breakfast) as much as we do. And enjoy the spring!