tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69448002312158459972024-03-12T23:55:54.183-05:00Sheri's Sweet LifeWe raise three things here: Bees, chickens, and children. And we eat...a lot. Country cooking. No fancy, smancy foodie stuff here, just regular food that comes right out of your own yard.Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-1613151128883947802015-07-10T22:23:00.000-05:002015-07-10T22:23:10.758-05:00A New Website - Beekeepingchicks.com<br />
July 10, 2015<br />
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I am so excited! We are proud to announce the newest venture here at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms: Beekeepingchicks.com! Our new website is slated to open July 25, 2015.<br />
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David didn't want me girling up his website, so the girls and I decided to venture out on our own and start our own website. What I like about it is that we can source things like suits and jackets to really fit women--instead of bag-ladying it around in a big old man's suit. And hot pink hive tools! What do you say to that?<br />
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We will have some great jewelry, t-shirts, bags, hats and some wonderful balms that have beeswax, honey and royal jelly. Wow! I hope you ladies will check it out, and guys--your lovely beekeeping wives will enjoy these items. I've also been told that if you're having trouble convincing your woman to join in the beekeeping with you, if you get her a pink suit or jacket, she's hooked! (this fall we'll have other colors as well!)<br />
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But we're serious about beekeeping too. We have hives, tools, extractors and books. Our prices include shipping already, so you won't be surprised when you get to check out at how much shipping prices are now (they are outrageous!). Be looking for classes at our Fairmount (IL) Training Center just for ladies only, and we're going to incorporate the kids in someway soon too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hive Kits with our Signature Pink Hive Tool</td></tr>
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Hope to see you then!<br />
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<br />Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-47542218115380749772013-03-15T20:27:00.002-05:002013-03-15T20:27:39.600-05:00Spring Already?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's a cute little graphic I found that explains baking with honey really well. Thanks to the people at ruralspin for sharing it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NB_jlqEvXyk/UUPG7E8k-aI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/IXChqgt5-jQ/s1600/530588_496286487088142_708844430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NB_jlqEvXyk/UUPG7E8k-aI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/IXChqgt5-jQ/s320/530588_496286487088142_708844430_n.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found this simple but really good pancake recipe. I hope you like it:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 2 cups complete buttermilk pancake mix</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 1 tablespoon French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 2 tablespoons cinnamon </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 1/4 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 1/2 cup soy milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 2 tablespoons honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Directions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qK8cIkM3OiI/TD_wrRo9uAI/AAAAAAAAABg/2hVLomfPPl4/s1600/DSCN0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qK8cIkM3OiI/TD_wrRo9uAI/AAAAAAAAABg/2hVLomfPPl4/s320/DSCN0099.JPG" width="320" /></a>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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you enjoy your family (and breakfast) as much as we do. And enjoy the spring!</span><br />
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Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-3387341447839338152012-11-09T09:08:00.001-06:002012-11-09T11:48:28.023-06:00A Burns Family Blessed YearThis year has been extraordinary for the Burns family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVRTXTyXrqk/UJ0bCRFm3RI/AAAAAAAAAYk/BGwlkVB77Nw/s1600/zzbros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVRTXTyXrqk/UJ0bCRFm3RI/AAAAAAAAAYk/BGwlkVB77Nw/s320/zzbros.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our son David, about to be a parent for the first time<br />
and our son Seth, US Marine</td></tr>
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It has been hectic, with a lot of work, but also some big changes to our family. Our business nearly tripled this year, and while that certainly is a blessing, also meant hiring and training new employees, some of whom are family members, and others who have become lifelong friends.(It's always a blessing to hire family members but presents unique situations of its own.) We had one daughter get married, one son become a US Marine, and another son announce a new grand baby for us on the way. (That will be 6 total!). We have been able to take a couple of short trips to Chicago and Iowa, David got to participate in this year's EAS in Vermont, and we spent a week in beautiful San Diego, California and saw the Pacific ocean for the first time. Our family reunion was held in July in Southern Illinois, and we also held a record number of weekend classes and workshops for our business. Customers have been great (as usual) and while most of our business is online, have been able to meet quite a few of them who venture out here to corn land to see us on our farm. We are currently building a new classroom/learning center facility here at our farm to house our classes for this coming year and getting ready to plan the holidays coming up soon (with 6 children, and (almost) 6 grandchildren, plus spouses, we can fill up a house fast!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new Learning Center</td></tr>
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We are looking at a few weeks here at the end of the year to be quiet, calm and peaceful--and then the RED ZONE time for us starts --from about mid January to July when the bee season blasts off.<br />
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I hope you find the rest of 2012 to be peaceful and relaxing. Have fun with your family.<br />
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<br />Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-1621748958972679402012-05-01T13:48:00.000-05:002012-05-01T13:48:19.245-05:00No Honey Extractor? No Worries!Honey is the world's<i> first sweetener</i>. Honey made the world's <i>first alcoholic beverage</i>, called mead. Honey was one of the world's<i> first medicines</i>, used for everything from sore throats to wounds.<br />
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So, it's been around since the beginning of time. And those folks had to learn to get the honey out of the hive without the use of modern equipment, <i>called extractors or centrifuges</i>. Back then, it was common that most had their own beehive and there were very few big operations where large machines would have been needed to extract honey to haul off to companies like Sue Bee.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1930's Price for Extractors</td></tr>
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Extractors can be expensive. The cheapest plastic ones with shipping costs can run up to $150.00. A nice American made, high quality extractor can start at around $300 before shipping. So what can you do if you can't afford one?<br />
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One thing you can do is to borrow an extractor or rent one. Many bee clubs have them available for their members, all you have to do is sign up for a date and sometimes put down a small deposit that you will get back if the equipment is returned in good condition. There are also places where you can rent an extractor, or buy time in someone's honey house. You'll have to be the judge on this, because sometimes paying the rental fees aren't a good deal, so think wisely on this one. Some areas have commercial kitchens that you can rent by the hour, and some of those kitchens may have the equipment you need.<br />
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Manual extraction is another option, sometimes called the "destruct" method. Back in the old days, women would walk out to the beehive, open it up and take out one frame. Upon returning to the kitchen, she would open up the cappings with a fork, suspend it above a bucket, and let it drip out. It's a very slow method, but an effective one if you keep a frame hanging all the time.<br />
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If you have plastic foundation, another way to extract is to pull out all the honeycomb, placing it in cheesecloth suspended over a bucket (use food grade please, not paint buckets). Squeeze the comb and allow to drip through the cheesecloth into a strainer fitted over the bucket. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8sMv8SndzrQ/TRFCBXCJU_I/AAAAAAAAAL8/_NK_X99Km20/s1600/honeysales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8sMv8SndzrQ/TRFCBXCJU_I/AAAAAAAAAL8/_NK_X99Km20/s1600/honeysales.jpg" /></a>If you have bees-made wax, or fitted your frames with wax foundation, you could use the method above, or you could just cut out honeycomb sections, placing directly into a tupperware container with a lid. Some folks will now freeze it (in case there were any other little critters in there) and use upon having been frozen for 24-48 hours.<br />
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<br />Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-3812121746844608572012-04-03T23:17:00.000-05:002012-04-03T23:17:55.385-05:00Plants and Flowers for BeesWe are having a very busy time right now! Honey bee season is fast upon us. The weather warmed up extra early this year which sent even more people into a beekeeping frenzy than usual and consequently swamped us. We are grateful for our customers this year-- we tripled our business in the month of February. We had no idea this would happen --no projections would have prepared us for that. Perhaps a 10 percent increase in business, maybe even 20--but triple? Thank you to those of you who are now our new customers, those of you returning again, and for those of you who go out of your way to tell people about us and send more on to us.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4BOnv9k8pQ/T3vHxJAAmQI/AAAAAAAAAYA/an_HN6rsC24/s1600/563929_3610789153204_1377994055_3352272_647293934_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4BOnv9k8pQ/T3vHxJAAmQI/AAAAAAAAAYA/an_HN6rsC24/s320/563929_3610789153204_1377994055_3352272_647293934_n.jpg" width="213" /></a>In the middle of our busiest season, our youngest daughter Karee eloped to Montana with our IT guy Jesse, who is also one of our shop carpenters. We've also had our shop shut down for weekends on end now so we can teach classes, vend at other classes, or be at conferences in the tri-state area. We hired four new people to help us out this year, so I won't be the only one you talk to on the phone anymore, but please make the other gals (and guys) as happy and blessed as you have made me over the years.<br />
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This year I noticed a different pattern in the students in our classes. Typically we get only people wanting to start beekeeping, or wondering if they can do it or have enough money. But this year I noticed many folks who come just to learn more about this incredible creature and find out what they can do to help without becoming a beekeeper.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gA0TF4cvbZc/T3vKcJztcrI/AAAAAAAAAYI/kyERee8a8ms/s1600/08-04-11+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gA0TF4cvbZc/T3vKcJztcrI/AAAAAAAAAYI/kyERee8a8ms/s320/08-04-11+007.JPG" width="320" /></a>Here are some of the best ways you can help: 1) <b><i>Try to limit or completely stop using pesticides</i></b> on your lawn, gardens and flowers. If you absolutely have to use something, try something more organic (although if it's still claiming it's a pesticide, it doesn't really matter if it's organic or not, right?) or try using a liquid late in the evening after the bees are back home that can dry before daylight. Stop spraying those dandelions! Bees LOVE dandelions and it makes the best honey. Don't use a powder pesticide. 2) <b><i>Let wild areas grow up in your yard,</i></b> and stop mowing ditches and fence rows. I know it doesn't always look that great, but bees have less and less area to forage now, and this is one thing you can do to help. Try to persuade your farmer neighbors to leave the edges of their fields and ditches alone too. I know it looks more tidy when they mow from the edge of their field down to the road, but think of all the wild flowers that get mowed down. 3) <b><i>Advocate for the bees if you can</i></b>. You need a little bit of knowledge for this--but some ideas would be to have a showing of a movie like Vanishing of the Bees, or Nicotine Bees at your local library or school and invite the public; ask your local nature center if they would hold a bee workshop (many, many of them do) either for adults or in their children's summer camps; donate books on bees to your local library--both for adults and children and 4) <b><i>plant flowers and plants that bring bees and other beneficial insects into your yard</i></b>.<br />
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I don't often see bees on plants like daffodils, tulips, roses or lilies, but early plants they love include boxwood, dandelions, clover, borage and many budding and flowering trees. Mid summer plants and flowers include mint, catnip, flowering herbs, cilantro, and of course vegetables flowering in your garden. I also let some items in my garden flower that typically we eat before it flowers--like the lettuce for example, just so the bees will use some of it. Late in the year, my bees love my cosmos, sunflowers, lavender, sage, coneflowers and seedum.<br />
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You can help even if you don't want to be a beekeeper!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s320/Image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-77223374704350549972012-02-22T08:27:00.000-06:002012-02-22T08:27:04.542-06:00Are Your Bees Hungry?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7vVGuL7WWQ/Tz_kOd0p2UI/AAAAAAAAAXw/L4aBZeDHk4E/s1600/Winter+Cluster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7vVGuL7WWQ/Tz_kOd0p2UI/AAAAAAAAAXw/L4aBZeDHk4E/s320/Winter+Cluster.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A winter cluster of bees</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winter in the north can be any extreme. We can experience temperatures of around 0 for days at a time; or several days of 50 degree weather. The snow can be very deep, or barely nothing at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here in Central Illinois we have experienced a bizarre winter. Now, I realize I have a lot to do with that. Last August I got my motorcycle license, and after getting it so late in the year, I realized that I wouldn't be able to ride for very long before putting my bike up for winter. So I wished and prayed and kept my fingers crossed for a mild winter, and I got it! I have been out on my bike a number of time in December and January, and today --February 18--the temperature has hit around 50 degrees again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of this to say that this kind of weather does strange things to the nature around us too. Trees or plants blooming too early can be cut down as we get a freeze, which is still likely in the next month or so. The honeybees are out looking for something to devour and not finding a thing. Which leads them to eat an abundance of what they have on hand--honey!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A warm winter can lead to honeybee starvation far quicker than a very cold winter. In the coldest of winters, bees will cluster in a ball to stay warm, using very little resources and needing very little food. They use those rare, occasional days of warmer temperatures to fly out to defecate and hunt for their honey. But with the weather being so warm, and for so often, they are going through their storages quickly.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU0Pbhjb9U8/T0T6YUlalKI/AAAAAAAAAX4/J6gJuNsf7L4/s1600/les72b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU0Pbhjb9U8/T0T6YUlalKI/AAAAAAAAAX4/J6gJuNsf7L4/s200/les72b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or for some, those bees didn't have enough to start off the winter. Some beekeepers, mostly out of a lack of skill or knowledge, will take off too much honey. Or, anticipating a late fall nectar flow, will take off all the honey in the deep summer, and then realize because of weather conditions, that fall flow didn't happen, leaving the bees short on stores for the winter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bees then need to be fed. Because we have asked these bees to live in our yard, in our boxes, in our environment, in our weather, I believe we have the responsibility to help them out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the easiest things you could do is make sugar patties--a sort of a "fondant". Some companies have now started selling these, but they are very simple and cheap to make--I wouldn't suggest putting your money into purchasing them and paying shipping when it is so easy. Simply take 2 cups of powdered cane sugar (beet sugar is a GMO, cane sugar is not--the package has to say CANE) and combine with 1 ounce of water. Roll into a ball and flatten out and lay on top of the frames where the bees are (obviously don't put it three supers up away from the cluster). I also add 1/2 cap full of Honey B Healthy and 1 - 2 tablespoons of pollen/pollen powder. If you only have pollen patties, just cut a small section and press into the sugar patty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easy peasey as my youngest says. Now, go feed those bees. :-) We also sell a candy board at honeybeesonline.com if you are interested.</span><br />
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</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-14523853969784744912012-02-15T13:54:00.002-06:002012-02-15T15:51:08.186-06:00Milk and Honey Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Pears%27Soap.jpg/220px-Pears%27Soap.jpg" width="420" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting ready for a class on making soap, I was digging out a few recipes today and came across one for milled soaps.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Milled soaps are easy! It's just a fancy way of saying "grate whatever soap you have laying around the house and melt it down." But <i>milled</i> soap sounds so much more romantic. It is also sometimes called "rebatching".</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have made the old-fashioned lye soaps and while it can be fun to create with different oils and fragrances, it can be a little tricky working with the lye. If you'd rather not be quite so adventurous, and scared of highly toxic chemicals, you could go to your local hobby store and buy cubes of "melt and pour" soaps which you just melt down and pour into molds. Pretty, but not overly crafty, but a nice way to spend an afternoon.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In making the milled soaps, you start off with any kind of traditional soap and grate it. Some use leftovers bits they have been saving, others buy a specific brand of soap. Some will make lye soaps, and then grate them down. Whichever way you choose, for this first recipe, you need about 12 ounces of a grated soap and 9 ounces of water. Melt the soap in the water, adding 1/4 c instant powered milk and 1/4 c honey. Stir until thick before pouring into molds, or the honey may sink to the bottom of the molds (which could give it kind of a cool look). Options to include may be up to 1 T of ground toasted oatmeal, food coloring, or essential oils of your choice. Let the soaps cool and cure, or place in the freezer, before taking out of molds.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Milk and Honey Soap</b></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 oz of basic soap, grated</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9 oz water</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c instant powdered milk</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c honey</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instructions: Melt together the 12 oz of basic soap and 9 oz of water. Add the milk and honey, stirring until fairly thick. Put into molds and allow to cure.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful new year. The beekeeping season is right around the corner, and I can't wait!</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-36550211779192981312011-12-22T09:58:00.001-06:002011-12-22T10:19:26.076-06:00Merry Christmas from the Burns Family<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzrZIOqYRLk/TnDPWzi3PqI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Rl9RxmVAHoI/s1600/P1020011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzrZIOqYRLk/TnDPWzi3PqI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Rl9RxmVAHoI/s400/P1020011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Kellie, Jesse, Jill, Sheri<br />
Dustin, Seth, Christian, Lara, Karee<br />
David, (Claire is hiding behind David), Jennifer, Allison, Sarah<br />
(not shown: Nikki, David and Curt)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is totally impossible to believe how fast this year has flown. It seemed like only the other day when I was putting out last year's Christmas card. We have been very blessed this year, have all been healthy, have grown closer together and to God, have met some amazing friends and customers and now are looking to close out yet another year with all of you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Thank you</i></b>. <b><i>To our friends</i></b>: thank you for your friendship, caring and support. <b><i>To our</i></b> <b><i>custom</i></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>ers</i></b>: thank you for doing business with us, keeping us busy and fed, and supporting us by recommending us to others or mentioning us in your bee clubs, blogs, tweets, and facebook statuses. <b><i>To our family</i></b>: thank you for being yourselves, helping us when we've been overloaded, giving us a hand with the work, fixing things that needed fixed, and keeping us old people company.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Merry Christmas from all of us at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms!!</b></span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-59292300512068913722011-11-15T22:44:00.001-06:002011-11-15T23:09:44.284-06:00Honey Salad Dressings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMYlYnkc_kM/TsM2JmtwTNI/AAAAAAAAAXM/N-nioe3vEzk/s1600/327910_2340886328919_1452772294_2630499_1581256230_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMYlYnkc_kM/TsM2JmtwTNI/AAAAAAAAAXM/N-nioe3vEzk/s320/327910_2340886328919_1452772294_2630499_1581256230_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our girls - Nikki- our daughter-in-law, Jill, Karee,<br />
and Jennifer</td></tr>
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</span></div>A<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s we near the holiday season, I like to reflect on the past year. It's been a good year. One filled with new things. It's been a little hard in some ways, but mostly it's been a real blessing.</span><span id="goog_1621213784"></span><span id="goog_1621213785"></span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my biggest blessings is, of course, my family. David and I have six terrific children. What is so neat about our kids is that none of them are in anyway similar--either in looks, temperament, personality, or actions. It's been fun seeing them grow into their own persons, and watch them choose their professions, their spouses, and take on the world. It's been scary watching some of them--it's never easy to watch your kids fall (or even fail) and not want to rush in and pick them up. But they all stand on their own two feet, are strong and independent, and pretty much fun too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past year, our oldest daughter Jennifer, along with her family moved back into the area--only about a 10 minute ride straight down our main country road. It's been a joy seeing her more often and having the grandchildren so close by. She invited us to come eat with them last night, and served a good honey dressing (along with a few other things as well!). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I rarely make a salad dressing from a recipe, it's so easy. I start off putting about 1/4 to 1/2 c of a good olive <b><i>oil</i></b>, and 1/4 c - 1/2 c of <i><b>honey</b></i> into a canning jar. Add <b><i>salt</i></b> and <b><i>pepper</i></b> to taste. Now add an <b><i>acid</i></b> of some kind -- could be orange/lemon/lime juice, or a good vinegar like raspberry or apple cider--a few tablespoons should be about right. Now last, add some <i style="font-weight: bold;">flavoring,</i> such as seeds, herbs, or spices like mustard and paprika. If you are looking for a creamy dressing, add sour cream or mayo--about 1/4 cup. Put the lid on that jar and shake away. But for those of you who like an actual recipe, here are a couple:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Honey Mustard Dressing</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c mayo</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 T prepared mustard</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 T honey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 t lemon juice</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Honey Poppyseed</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 c olive oil</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 c honey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c apple cider vinegar</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 T poppyseeds</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 t paprika</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 t worcestershire sauce</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Honey Orange</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c sour cream</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 T orange juice</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 t chopped green onion</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c honey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c olive oil</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt and pepper to taste</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1ngHw3XQZM/TsM-Ad0-VxI/AAAAAAAAAXc/XyGWj90rQ2g/s1600/Sheri+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1ngHw3XQZM/TsM-Ad0-VxI/AAAAAAAAAXc/XyGWj90rQ2g/s200/Sheri+014.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheri Lynn Henness<br />
Born January 3, 1962</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today also marks 50 days until my 50th birthday. I decided I wanted to do something very special for this very special birthday. I thought of some of the usual things, like maybe a cruise with the kids, or jetting off to Italy with David--but mostly those were just wishes. So I decided to do something that might make a bigger difference to someone else, so I am going to collect 50 items to take to our local Women's Care Center in Danville, and I need your help. In my next blog I will tell you what I need to collect, and these items will represent the biggest needs the center has, and if you can, send it on to me, or bring it in to our store, and it will be included in my birthday present to the center on my birthday January 3, 2012. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-55408672987002277942011-10-28T23:06:00.003-05:002011-10-29T09:58:58.724-05:00Do-It-Yourself-and-Save-a-Bundle Beeswax Balm<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Beeswax.jpg/200px-Beeswax.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beeswax</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After an absolutely gorgeous week in Southern Illinois, where I finally took a fall off my motorcycle, and lived to tell about it, I found that riding made my skin very dry and sensitive. I have made my own balms and salves before, but thought I would go online to see what products were currently out there. I was shocked to see the prices folks were charging for balms--some as much as $12 - $13 for 2 ounces. I have no problem with people making a product and selling it for what they want, but when I realized that I could make it for only mere pennies on the dollar, and you could too, that it was time to tell you how to do it.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Balms and salves are simply olive oil and beeswax. The only real difference is <i>where</i> you decide to rub it, whether it be your lips, on your elbows, or your feet! You can add essential oils or herbs to it, choosing appropriate ones for different parts of your body (you may not wish to add menthol and peppermint to your lip balm for example, but hey, maybe you do!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So where do you get beeswax? Know your beekeeper! Many beekeepers will keep it in stock, or you may have to call and place an order before hand so he or she can save you some next time they extract honey. You could order it on ebay or get it from your local craft/hobby store, but you really don't know what you are getting then. Some of the "big box" bee supply companies carry it, but it's typically been bought from big commercial beekeepers who use chemicals in their hives (and is in the wax that you would then be putting on your body). I suggest an organic source like Glory Bee, who also is a good source for the oils and herbs (tell Kaitlyn I sent you.) Another source I trust is Mountain Rose Herbs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sheri's Simple Salve</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c olive oil</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 oz beeswax</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">10 - 15 drops of essential oil (all one kind or mix and match)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Heat olive oil and beeswax together in a double boiler until melted. Remove from heat, adding essential oils and placing quickly into jars with caps on.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(really? $6 an ounce for that?)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-64131129747335167982011-10-18T20:53:00.000-05:002011-10-18T20:53:56.458-05:00Classes Galore and No Bake Honey Drops<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEATwHquFMo/Tp4lWOoytfI/AAAAAAAAAWI/yNcHAWw8THs/s1600/P1020138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEATwHquFMo/Tp4lWOoytfI/AAAAAAAAAWI/yNcHAWw8THs/s400/P1020138.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheri and Jennifer teaching kids about bees and beekeeping. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am a teacher by profession, and a beekeeper by accident. I have always enjoyed teaching. I know it's one of those things that you either like or you hate, and I happen to like it. I started teaching preschoolers back in the 80's, then was a librarian for awhile, and then started teaching pre-kindergarteners for a bit. In 2000 (I remember it well because it was a president-election year and the "hanging chad" debacle) I started teaching junior high health and did that for 10 years. I enjoyed that teaching job immensely until the next presidential election, at which time that current president decided to cut my program and I was without a job.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I began helping David teach beekeeping classes just a couple of years ago when the classes became to get really large, and I have truly enjoyed it. I also taught Sunday school, vacation bible school and bible studies for nearly 3 decades. I've led reading groups and young mothers groups, taught childbirth classes for a short time, and even taught young teens CPR and first aid for their babysitting jobs. I am currently homeschooling Seth, and soon Christian. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You'd think that means I'm a really smart person, but I'm really not. Somehow when I was in school back in the psychedelic 70's, I learned how to ace a test, but quickly forgot whatever it was we were learning in school. But one thing I learned, and the one thing I teach my kids now is HOW to look up information--where to find it, how to search for it, who to ask. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our classes at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms are over for the year. We taught about 15 classes and short courses here at our farm (until they got so large we had to move the classes to a bigger facility) as well as taught at other clubs and colleges. We had about 200 people go through one of our courses at the farm this year, and numbers unknown at the college courses, clubs, and associations that we taught at (but we're guessing about another 300 - 400) and without exception, we enjoyed everyone of them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At last week's Natural and Sustainable course, I made Honey Drops and leave you with the recipe here:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Honey Drops</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 cup honey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 cup creamy peanut butter</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cups powered milk</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dash vanilla</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c granola</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 c miniature chocolate chips (optional)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 - 1/2 c powdered sugar</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cream honey and peanut butter together first, then add remaining ingredients. Shape into balls and roll in powered sugar. Keep in refrigerator.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-54963769626784656532011-09-26T14:12:00.002-05:002011-09-30T09:57:11.288-05:00Autumn Time with Honey<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My autumn honey display in our store</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Autumn is officially here. And it has been unofficially here for some time with the rain, wind and coolness we've had the past week or so. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Honey lends itself so well to autumn cooking. I can not wait to put a ham in the oven, covered with honey and orange juice (usually 1 cup of each). Along with that ham, I'll probably make some potato salad. You may be thinking that potato salad sounds like a summer time picnic item, but this potato salad is a cooked recipe, which can be served warm. And we had some of the absolute best potatoes from our garden this year. Yum.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Honey Dill Potato Salad</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 1/2 lb boiled small red potatoes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 strips bacon</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 med onion, chopped</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6 T honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6 T apple cider vinegar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 t cornstarch</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 t water</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 T fresh dill or 1 T dried</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cook bacon until crisp, remove bacon, adding onions to bacon drippings, cooking until soft. Add honey and vinegar to pan, bring to boil. Blend cornstarch with water, stir into honey mixture. Cook until thick, stir in crumbled bacon and dill. Cut cooked potatoes into bite size pieces, combine with dressing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember, adding honey to any hot drinks is great whether it be coffee, tea, or mulled ciders.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am sad summer is gone, I had so much more to do this year, but am looking forward to the upcoming holidays and spending more time with the family. I hope your fall is "sweet" too!</span><br />
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</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-52267718477351792342011-09-15T14:42:00.000-05:002011-09-15T14:42:14.567-05:00Popcorn Balls and Party Mix with Honey<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2gaVELf-cq0/TnDBSYL2ynI/AAAAAAAAAVg/GQfecgMj7Sk/s1600/P1010963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2gaVELf-cq0/TnDBSYL2ynI/AAAAAAAAAVg/GQfecgMj7Sk/s320/P1010963.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christian at the Children's Garden at Morton Arboretum (Chicago)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had the pleasure this past week of being invited to speak at the Honey Bee Festival at the Morton Arboretum in the Chicago area and while there, we passed a booth where they were selling popcorn balls.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Popcorn balls! I always think of this time of year when I think of popcorn balls because that seemed to be the one thing that as kids we <i>hated</i> to get when we went trick-or-treating! We always wanted some of those miniature chocolate or snickers bars or a peanut butter cup! Do you remember? Now that I'm older I realize whoever was giving out those popcorn balls had spent a lot of time making those and thinking they were doing us a favor by giving us something a little bit healthier, and was probably being frugal in the process, something I heartily endorse.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Popcorn Balls with Honey</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3/4 c sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 t salt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c water</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3/4 c honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3 quarts of popcorn</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cook sugar, salt and water to very brittle candy stage of 300 degrees F. Add the honey slowly stirring all the while until blended. Cook again until thermometer reads 240 degrees F. Pour mixture over popcorn and form into balls. Add nuts, or candy bits as desired. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had a birthday cake and ice cream all set for Christian this week for his 4th birthday, but then he got really sick and so we had to skip it to a later time, but meanwhile my family enjoyed eating the party mix I had set out. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Honey Party Mix </b>(adapted from Carol Kuehl)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c butter</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 c brown sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 c honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 gallon mixed cereal (such as chex, crispex)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 c mixed nuts</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bring to boil butter, brown sugar and honey. Pour over cereal and nuts, stir. Bake at 225 degrees until dry, about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Let sit to finish drying and break apart into bite size pieces. Keep sealed in bowl with tight lid. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I believe in celebrations! Life is hard sometimes, really tough, and I think one way to get through the difficult things is to celebrate as often as possible, even if you have to make a celebration up. One of my favorite quotes is "stop worrying about the potholes in life and just celebrate the journey!"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-4811126056074544912011-08-10T20:05:00.003-05:002011-08-15T15:50:58.671-05:00MORE Canning and Preserving with Honey Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Canning_stewpan_advertisement.jpg/220px-Canning_stewpan_advertisement.jpg" width="275" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have spent the last couple of weeks working furiously to get my garden into jars. "Garden in a jar" would make a catchy name for a vegetable company, wouldn't it? With sweat dripping off my forehead in gallons, and a near heat stroke (complete with headache and nausea), I finally realized my dream of a packed pantry. </span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have also been receiving various canning recipes from gals who use honey in their recipes, so I want to reprint at least one of those here.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First, I want to give you my corn relish recipe for canning. I was persuaded this year by a friend, who is a horticulturist at a university near-by, to try something called "kohlrabi". I can't really describe to you what this thing looks like, but it is a big green ball with numerous appendages coming out of it and tastes like cabbage/radish. But what to do with it? I finally decided to shred it and add it to my corn relish. I also completely substituted out the sugar in place of honey, and used up the rest of my corn, green peppers and tomatoes.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Corn Relish Canning Recipe</b> (I remember this by adding 2 cups this, 2 cups that..)</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 c corn</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 c chopped onion</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 c chopped tomatoes</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 c cucumbers</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as much kohlrabi as you can stand</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 lg green pepper</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 c honey</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 c cider vinegar</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.5 t celery seed</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.5 t mustard seed</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 t salt</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 t ground tumeric</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Combine, bring to boil, cook 20 -30 minutes. Put into hot, sterilized jars and follow manufacturer's instructions for canning. </span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Aunt Mary's Beets</b></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>This recipe was given to me by a customer named Anita whom we met in one of our classes back in March, who is sharing her Aunt Mary Hawk's recipe here, and from Anita's description, she sounded like a wonderful lady.</i></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cups white vinegar</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cups honey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cups water</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 tsp cinnamon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 tsp cloves</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 tsp allspice</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Boil beets (leave 1 inch of tops and root intact) for 20 minutes in water(fork tender but not mushy), plunge in cold water and slip the skins and trim root and tops. Pack in sterilized pint jars, leaving smaller beets whole, chunking or slicing larger ones. Bring above ingredients to a rolling boil and pour over beets, filling jars, but leaving 1/4 inch head space. Place lids on top and tighten rings. These will actually seal without water bath process, or you can water bath process for 10 minutes if desired.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How many beets, you say? Well, Aunt Mary sounds a lot like me, and that is when you go out to your garden and bring in the beets, you don't have any idea what you are going to end up with. So bring them in--however many you have--prepare them as above, putting them in jars and pour the juice over. When you run out of the prepared juice, you just make more until you have covered all your beets. That's farm cooking. You don't know what you're starting with or what you'll end up with, but it's usually fantastic. </span><br />
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Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-75516909866689557662011-08-08T22:59:00.001-05:002011-08-15T15:53:31.562-05:00Honey Baste for Pork or Chicken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgNDii0Y_MM/TkCpjwVsEiI/AAAAAAAAAVA/tLjZPZitUwI/s1600/P1010904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgNDii0Y_MM/TkCpjwVsEiI/AAAAAAAAAVA/tLjZPZitUwI/s320/P1010904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good eats tonight with the most wonderful basting sauce on our pork chops.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is a recipe that I change up often. The basic premise of it is fairly straight forward, but depending on what's in the fridge or cabinets, I change the ingredients. Don't be afraid to do this, I understand it because I used to be scared, but what's the worse that can happen--you don't like it and have to start all over again?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made the chops in Granny's electric skillet she left me and then at the very end, I basted the chops with this sauce:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Honey Blackberry Mustard Sauce (for pork or chicken)</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 c spicy brown mustard (use up to 1/2 c if you want a thinner sauce to go further)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c honey plus 1 T sugar (use up to 1 c honey if you want a thicker sauce)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3 T blackberry jelly plus 1 T orange marmalade</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 T mustard seed</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Simply stir ingredients together and keep in a jar with lid in refrigerator. Can also be used for a dipping sauce for pretzels or veggies, or added to potato salad or sandwiches.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>How to substitute</i>: If you would rather make your own mustard, you can use ground mustard and add vinegar. The really fun thing would be to try different vinegar for different tastes--how about raspberry vinegar? You can substitute any kind of jelly, jam, preserves or marmalade in this recipe--I used blackberry because it's what in season and what I just spend the last week doing.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making blackberry jelly<br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And while I'm on the subject, what is the difference between preserves, jelly, jam, marmalade and conserves?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's the simple gist of it. I'm sure it's more complicated than I'm about to make it, and some great chef or cook out there will want to correct me, but I'm working with a very simple mind here, so I will give you the Sheri run-down:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Preserves is a general term to describe any jelly, jam, conserve, etc. Jelly is made with only fruit juice while jam has bits of fruit in it. Conserves on the other hand is jelly with the whole fruit. Marmalade is typically a tropical fruit (like oranges) and not quite so sweet. Simple enough, and all can be made with honey instead of sugar. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tonight's meal included freshly dug potatoes from our yard, cooked and seasoned with butter, parsley, salt and pepper along with green beans (from our yard), cooked in boiling water for a few minutes, then sauteed in olive oil with butter, salt, pepper, green onions and mustard seed. I love summer eating!</span><br />
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</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-2987903743195298402011-07-18T11:54:00.000-05:002011-07-18T11:54:07.639-05:00Canning And Preserving Using Honey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Waste_not_want_not_WWI_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Waste_not_want_not_WWI_poster.jpg/220px-Waste_not_want_not_WWI_poster.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Canning time is upon us! My mom canned a little bit when I was a tiny lass until she had a major canner explosion and was scared ever since. So I really didn't see anyone can or preserve food when was I was younger, and didn't know anyone who did it when I became an adult. At least if they did, it was a well kept secret, and it wasn't until a couple of years ago that my good friend Tricia showed me how to do it. I had always preserved simply by freezing or drying up to that point, but now I'm a canning convert. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Canning parties are gaining popularity right now, especially with folks in the city. <em>Canning fresh, organic foods in season is the only way to truly obtain the best foods possible for</em> <em>your family through the winter months</em>. You could certainly buy foods out of season, but that also means it's been picked while green, shipped and trucked thousands of miles--using tremendous resources we can hardly afford anymore--and it's usually pretty bland in taste.( Folks who have never tasted a fresh tomatoe right out of the garden have no real idea of how a true vine ripened tomatoe tastes.) You can buy factory canned food, loaded with salt, preservatives, and other things unpronounceable, but common sense, science, and our doctors are telling us now that these processed foods are not good for us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/PreservedFood1.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:PreservedFood1.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/PreservedFood1.jpg/448px-PreservedFood1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Before you start canning, you must know how to can. I would recommend you get the <em>Ball Complete Guide</em> <em>to Preserving</em>. If you are getting a new canner, read the guide thoroughly. If you are using a used canner, and it doesn't have a guide, please make sure you are either a seasoned canner, or you can call the manufacturer and ask for a book. If you don't know what your are doing, or you do some steps incorrectly, you can run the serious risk of hurting or making sick yourself or others you feed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You<strong><em> can</em></strong> can and preserve with honey! Most canning manufacturers say you can substitute up to half the sugar called for in a canning recipe with honey. If you were to use all honey, which some do, it will make your finished product much darker, and can cause some issues with any pectin you are using, but you be the judge. In recipes using a commercial pectin, you can replace regular sugar with up to 1 cup of honey with good results. Otherwise, substituting honey for sugar is all a matter of taste. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Try this applesauce recipe for canning. Follow YOUR manufacturer's directions for canning with YOUR canner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Applesauce with Honey</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">16 c apples- peeled, cored, cut up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 c water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 t lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 t cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/2 t allspice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Start with 3 T honey, up to 1/4 c of honey to your taste</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Put apples, lemon and water in pot, bring to boil and cook until soft. Add the honey and spices at the end, cooking a few more minutes. Either smash with wooden spoon if desiring chunky, or put in blender if desiring a smoother texture. Follow your manufacturer's guide to canning. Can be frozen in containers with good results as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Here's a couple of recommended resources for more information:<em> Canning and Preserving</em> <em>Without Sugar</em> by Norma McRae and <em>Putting It Up with Honey</em> by Susan Geiskopf.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s320/Image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-76997720345863255332011-07-06T15:51:00.001-05:002011-07-10T17:58:56.269-05:00Ladies in the Apiary and a Cool Honey Drink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eD3FqG5civM/ThS7SLmf2YI/AAAAAAAAAUw/lv10yx1PS1s/s1600/P1010722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eD3FqG5civM/ThS7SLmf2YI/AAAAAAAAAUw/lv10yx1PS1s/s320/P1010722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1937 magazine picture of some gals in the apiary</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">American Bee Journal</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What a little bit of summer nostalgia! It was fun recently to come across this old magazine picture from the 30's of some women in the bee yard at a place called the National Farm School in Pennsylvania. The women here appeared nameless in the article however, only being referred to as the 'beekeeper's wife', a 'a clerk at the school', and the 'school librarian'. I wasn't for sure if they were actual beekeepers themselves or not, or just sitting pretty by the beehives.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The apiary was situated in the orchard, and the records indicate that the average production was around 50 lbs of honey per hive (it's typically higher than that now, ranging from 50 - 100 lbs per hive). Cost in 1937 for a pound of honey: .25 cents. (It's anywhere from $2 - $8 per lb now.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speaking of prices, we stopped at a local fast food place recently for a strawberry-lemonade. Not only was I shocked at the price, but also the calories in it. A quick scouring of the internet showed me, once again, that it's hard to find good recipes--especially drinks-- with honey, so here is my adaptation:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Honey Strawberry Lemonade</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5 or 6 fresh or frozen strawberries (clean and hull fresh strawberries)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 to 1/2 c honey (more or less to your own liking)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 small can frozen lemonade concentrate, made according to directions (you will only use about 1/2 of this in the recipe)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ice cubes </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In blender, process strawberries with honey until pureed. If using frozen, no need to thaw first. Add lemonade and blend. Use a few ice cubes if using fresh strawberries and it's not "slushy" enough for you or you can add the frozen lemonade straight into the blender without making according to directions first. Substitute limeade concentrate for lemonade for a twist. Can use maple syrup or stevia in place of honey (but why would you want to do that?) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Honey Strawberry Tea Cooler</b> (Adapted from the National Honey Board)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 pint strawberries</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c honey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 can frozen orange juice</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cups brewed green tea</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Process strawberries and honey in blender. Add juice and stir into tea. Serve over ice.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-75013142837421453082011-06-28T15:36:00.002-05:002011-09-26T14:35:12.291-05:00Yummy Honey Cookies and a Bee Birthday Party<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<img height="400" src="http://www.olivebranchapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_25913-e1308626916627-682x1024.jpg" width="266" /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jennifer's Yummy Honey Cookies<br />
Photo by Jennifer Leigh Photography<br />
jenniferlphotography.com<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We recently celebrated our youngest granddaughter's 2nd birthday, and our daughter Jennifer made these wonderful honey cookies. She gave me permission to reprint her recipe here. I hope you'll enjoy them with some little ones like we did.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Yummy Honey Cookies</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1/2 c shortening</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1 c creamy peanut butter</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1 c honey</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2 eggs slightly beaten</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">3 c flour</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1 c sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1 1/2 t baking soda</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1/2 t salt</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</h3><h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</h3><h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</h3><h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></h3><ul style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 25px;"><b>Directions</b></span></span></li>
</ul></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ol style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a mixing bowl, mix shortening, peanut butter and honey. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to peanut butter mixture and mix well.</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Roll into 1- to 1-1/2-in. balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a fork dipped in flour. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Squeeze chocolate icing into forked lines to represent bees.</li>
</ol><div>If you want ideas on how to make a "Bee Birthday" party see Jennifer's website at olivebranchapiary.com.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee Skep Hive Pinata (do not fill with bees!) :-)</td></tr>
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</div></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-78139124619364590652011-06-22T20:32:00.000-05:002011-06-22T20:32:12.396-05:00Honey Plum Chicken<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From granny's cookbook</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Honey Plum Chicken - </i>doesn't that sound like something your grandma would call you? Honey plum. Not my grandma, she wasn't one of those sugary old grandmothers, but she is the one that taught me to cook.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I loved her fried chicken, and that's the one thing I never learned to cook. I always felt like my crust was either too hard and crusty, or I couldn't get much of a crust at all, but instead one of those greasy, barely brown ones. I would either not get it cooked thoroughly, or it would be so tough that no one could eat it. I can make <i>oven-</i>fried chicken, but I'm not thinking she would approve of that.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So when I was putting together this recipe, I got nostalgic for my old granny and got out her cookbook, which is the where the picture above came from. It was written before I was born, and I get a chuckle out of the pictures in it, but use it plenty still. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For your enjoyment, I give you Honey Plum Chicken. I doubt granny would have liked it, because she would have thought it too fancy and gourmet--something she didn't take to (and neither does her son, my dad.) But my husband loved it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Honey Plum Chicken</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 cut up chicken (I prefer thighs)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">oil for browning chicken (olive or coconut is my choice, peanut oil sparingly)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">flour, salt and pepper for dredging chicken</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dredge chicken in flour mixture, and brown on both sides in pan with oil.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meanwhile, combine the following plum sauce:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 16 oz can plums, or 4 small plums, cut into small pieces</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Several squeezes of fresh lemon</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 c oil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3 T honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 T maple syrup</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 t ginger</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c onion</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 c any juice</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pour off oil from chicken and add the above sauce. Continue cooking until chicken is thoroughly cooked ( 20 - 30 min). Sauce will thicken as it cooks down. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey Plum Chicken</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s320/Image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-81774069752820649182011-06-16T10:32:00.007-05:002011-07-03T15:36:15.396-05:00Sheri's Honey Fruit Salsa <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_IATxWt_p8/TfeuyN8670I/AAAAAAAAAT4/8m2qEXkn1NQ/s1600/junefood+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_IATxWt_p8/TfeuyN8670I/AAAAAAAAAT4/8m2qEXkn1NQ/s320/junefood+012.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheri's Honey Fruit Salsa</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the best things of summer is the cool, refreshing foods you can make that are the absolute easiest and fastest.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Yesterday, during one of the most gorgeous days we've had so far this summer, I came up with this fruit salsa made with honey, and paired it with cinnamon chips. It could also make a great topping for salmon or other fish, added to a lettuce salad, or mixed in chicken salad on a croissant. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">As is in lots of my recipes, you can make this with whatever fruits you have on hand. I used about 1/2 c each of apples, kiwi, plums, and peaches. You could load it up with berries instead, or go for tropical with pineapples and oranges. Your possibilities are only limited to your imagination.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chop your fruit fine.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The cinnamon chips are easy. Cut flour tortillas into wedges. Spray on a butter flavor cooking spray, sprinkle on cinnamon, and spray again. Put in oven for a few minutes until toasty and crunchy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dish up salsa and place on a serving dish, surrounded by chips. We enjoyed this dish with our meal, but it would be great for a snack with an ice tea, or taken along to a barbecue.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</td></tr>
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</span></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-38454071502513016042011-06-12T23:27:00.001-05:002011-06-13T16:34:58.674-05:00Mint Ice Tea with Honey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W87HE26Pcyg/TfWHXy88F3I/AAAAAAAAATg/eFTFl4HT7RY/s1600/P1010527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W87HE26Pcyg/TfWHXy88F3I/AAAAAAAAATg/eFTFl4HT7RY/s200/P1010527.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">People are intimidated adding anything to sweeten drinks but sugar. But you have to get over that and learn to add honey or maple syrup to your drinks (if you need it at all!). It is easy to use honey and I'll explain how.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mint is an easy plant to grow. In fact, it's too easy to grow---it can be an invasive plant if you don't use a barrier of some sort in the ground to stop the excessive growth of this plant. We brought a small, small clipping home from some Amish friends of ours and in only two years time, it has just about overtaken our herb garden.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq-0Rz5yj-o/TfWMQjF0z4I/AAAAAAAAATk/kFrxv5Var4M/s1600/P1010492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq-0Rz5yj-o/TfWMQjF0z4I/AAAAAAAAATk/kFrxv5Var4M/s320/P1010492.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is a simple process to make mint tea. After cutting off a bunch of it, wash it thoroughly. I know some don't think this step is necessary, but I have just enough "city" in me to know that if my lawn furniture needs a daily washing of bird poop from fly-overs, my mint probably does too. I spin it dry in a salad spinner, or you can let it dry naturally. The fresher your mint is, the more flavorful it is, and the darker the color becomes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I boil about 2 cups of water and throw the leaves right in, taking off the heat and letting it steep. You can also pack a tea ball with the leaves or put them up in a bag that you place in the water. In fact, you can even omit the whole boiling thing if you want. You can place the leaves directly in tepid water, and let it sit. Occasionally stir up the leaves, squeezing them somewhat until you get the desired color.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mint tea can be very dark if you allow the leaves to boil in the water. I don't, letting it steep in the water, and obtaining a more natural "minty" color. When you have the desired steep-age, I filter the leaves out of my water and pour the mint water into a gallon glass jar.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPs79q8dnfI/TfWNq7ejnRI/AAAAAAAAATo/cG-Mn-QvRHw/s1600/P1010518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPs79q8dnfI/TfWNq7ejnRI/AAAAAAAAATo/cG-Mn-QvRHw/s200/P1010518.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next, I add the honey. There is a trick to getting the honey stirred into the water. I first make a "simple syrup" out of it by simmering about 2 cups of water on the stove and then adding anywhere from 1/2 c to 1 c of honey to it. It will dissolve in the warm water and can now be easily mixed into the mint tea mixture. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Add water up to a gallon, add ice, and garnish with fresh mint leaves. Delicious!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For hot tea, put mint leaves in a tea ball, place in your mug, and pour boiling water over the top, allowing it to steep for several minutes. Add honey directly into the hot tea in mug. </span><br />
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</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-6608885572211141882011-06-09T00:28:00.000-05:002011-06-09T00:28:39.721-05:00A Barrel Full of Bees<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A whiskey barrel full of bees</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's an update on what's going on at the Burns farm now that summer is here.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's been hot. And I mean hot. Today hit at least 90 degrees, and funny enough, down south in Louisiana where David's brother lives, it was several degrees cooler than here in Illinois.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I'm loving it, even if I won't love the electric bill when I get it next month.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A lady in the area called and said she had some bees land on a barrel in her yard, could we come and get it? David drove off, thinking that probably by the time he got there, the bees would have flown on. But a little while later he came back with this whiskey barrel packed full of bees and comb and honey. It makes for an interesting conversation starter, but we don't know how to get into it. We hate to destroy their home, so for now, we'll just leave it be.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nDhk9VrTMQ/TfBT_kxP-VI/AAAAAAAAATM/XdG4kjVOnsg/s1600/June+8+2011+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nDhk9VrTMQ/TfBT_kxP-VI/AAAAAAAAATM/XdG4kjVOnsg/s320/June+8+2011+116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My garden is up and going. I didn't try nearly as many new things this year as I had planned, but with this time of year being our business season, I was lucky to get anything at all</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A swan family</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This evening we went over to a local conservation area </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">took a nice walk. Earlier in the month Christian and I had gone there and found a swan nesting on some eggs. I was figuring the little ones had to be born by now, and I was right and rewarded when they all swam right up to us on the dock--just as if they had been waiting on us to return.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful sunset</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We took a few shots of the gorgeous sunset before we went for ice cream.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A summer day in the country with friends</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Children and grandchildren alike have been enjoying our yard. I ended up with a little extra money I wasn't expecting, and had the option of getting new kitchen cabinets or a swing all the kiddies could enjoy, so guess which one grandma chose to get?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And finally, one last picture to sum up all our summer memories combined. Nothing says summer more than a little boy, in only his shorts, in a playhouse, eating Doritos, watching the bubbles float by. True bliss. Wouldn't you love to be this carefree? I hope you have a good summer too.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lazy day in the queen yard</td></tr>
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</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-25472992338844429992011-06-03T10:02:00.007-05:002011-06-06T17:16:34.966-05:00My New Adventures with Old Mason Bees<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ho1Ch9sbVA/TeZVJ18DguI/AAAAAAAAASo/5zNBoJFxrl4/s1600/P1010385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ho1Ch9sbVA/TeZVJ18DguI/AAAAAAAAASo/5zNBoJFxrl4/s320/P1010385.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One lone mason bee getting to work</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have had the funnest time with these mason bees. Actually, I should say mason BEE, because I have only had the pleasure of having one gal move into the condo for them on my porch.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you may recall from an earlier blog, I had set up this house for mason bees back in April, and had put out the 'egg tube' and saw several bees hatch out of this tube the next day or two. After the wind took them off to regions far flung, I never saw them again. I contacted the fellow I got them from, who said just wait and they will come back. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, along came one little girl back, who in the past week or two has worked her little hind end off to fill up 3 of these little tubes full of eggs for next year, all the while, I am assuming, pollinating things about the yard? I don't know, but it was fascinating watching this one bee go in and out all day long, filling these tubes with pollen and mud and eggs.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She is no longer with us. Mason bees live only about 6 weeks and then all die, and since I put out her original tube and she hatched in early April, and it is now June 1, I can safely surmise that she has passed on to glory. But she did leave behind a legacy of eggs that I will carefully tend to, let hibernate this winter, and then bring back out next April, and let hatch in their mother's condo. I did have fun watching her up close, taking pictures of her, and at one point, she actually landed on my arm and walked around a bit while I was demonstrating the mason bee house to some customers--what an advertisement!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_Hcu4ktkgg/TeZXfOxyysI/AAAAAAAAASs/doTj5HIP3-s/s1600/P1010391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_Hcu4ktkgg/TeZXfOxyysI/AAAAAAAAASs/doTj5HIP3-s/s320/P1010391.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A queen of her own castle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s320/Image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-70120317642732406282011-05-23T21:58:00.001-05:002011-05-27T18:57:11.614-05:00Banana Honey Muffins<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj9ClwWEjL0/TdsZVe4PZsI/AAAAAAAAASM/5NcuZJ99bME/s1600/may+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj9ClwWEjL0/TdsZVe4PZsI/AAAAAAAAASM/5NcuZJ99bME/s200/may+155.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joy in the spring</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Doesn't this weather just make your heart sing? I am just loving it. The grass is so green and thick, the irises are blooming the most gorgeous color of purple, and we can sit outside on the swing in the evening after the sun goes down, and just look at the stars.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The garden is in, with the exception of the peas. A good customer of ours also came out and put in several new apple trees for us. Years ago, we had an acquaintance pick up what he said were apple trees and we planted them. They never grew and our friend MJ came out and told us they weren't planted well and they really weren't the kind that would ever grow apples. So as a nice gift to us, MJ got some "real" apple trees and planted them in a more suitable place and I'm looking forward to that gift that will keep on giving over the years. Lots of folks don't want to plant trees because they feel it would be forever for it to grow. But I read a book once from a gardener who has since passed away and he said that unless you have one foot in the grave, get out there and plant some trees! I think he's right. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">New baby chicks came in. We had quite an experience trying to get them however. We got a call from the post office on a Saturday night saying they were there. So we went to this post office, that was an hour and 1/2 round trip for us--TWICE--on Sunday trying to pick up these poor little things and were finally successful late on Sunday night around 9:00p.m.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WG6E4mQQQc/Tdsbb-1-z8I/AAAAAAAAASQ/f_05jLW6Qq4/s1600/may+129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WG6E4mQQQc/Tdsbb-1-z8I/AAAAAAAAASQ/f_05jLW6Qq4/s320/may+129.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll soon have more gorgeous free range eggs like these<br />
as soon as our chicks start laying.<br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We held two more classes out here on the bee farm. One, a queen rearing class, and the other a Beginner's Class. And now we're looking at several days in Little Rock at a beekeeping conference that David will be speaking at. I am ready for a mini vacation. When we return, we will celebrate our youngest granddaughter's birthday, take a trip to the circus, and then help celebrate my nephew Doug's graduation from high school. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am leaving you here with a honey recipe for Banana Honey Muffins. We just got the preview of the Aug/Sept Country Woman magazine which will have a story about our farm in it, and the editor, Ann Kaiser, mentions having the Banana Honey muffins for lunch and then directs everyone here to the website--and then I realized I didn't have it my blog! So here it is for all to see and use!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">BANANA HONEY MUFFINS</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 1/2 C flour</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 t soda</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 t baking powder</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1/2 t salt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3 bananas, mashed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1/2 c honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 egg</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1/3 c butter, melted</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">TOPPING</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2 T flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 T brown sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1/8 t cinnamon</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 T butter</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mix dry ingredients, mix wet ingredients, then combine. Line muffin tins with papers. Spoon mixture into cups. Sprinkle on topping and bake at 375 degrees 18 - 20 min. Always remember: honey will cause baking goods to brown quicker, so check frequently.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s320/Image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944800231215845997.post-16620328053535654202011-05-13T21:11:00.000-05:002011-05-13T21:11:23.435-05:00What a Great Time with Country Woman Magazine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f7_hPuxCsuI/TcsCwBJ5VEI/AAAAAAAAASA/ukox0wQM130/s1600/P1010268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f7_hPuxCsuI/TcsCwBJ5VEI/AAAAAAAAASA/ukox0wQM130/s200/P1010268.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann, Sheri and Karee</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We had a great couple of days here at the farm with Ann Kaiser, Contributing Editor at <i>Country Woman</i> Magazine. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ann has an amazing job. As part of her work at the magazine, she goes to lots of different hands-on farming operations all over the US and Canada and spends the day doing whatever they are doing that particular day. Ann is as warm and fun as she seems in print. She's been with <i>Country Woman</i> since back when it was called <i>Farm Wife</i>. Since I've read Country Woman for years, it was just like getting together with an old friend again. She has many stories of wonderful places she has gone, people she has met, and makes herself right at home, which is something I very much appreciate when people come over. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzisfN1ZklE/TcsE5uvgT7I/AAAAAAAAASE/toBrOj9PN1s/s1600/P1010271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzisfN1ZklE/TcsE5uvgT7I/AAAAAAAAASE/toBrOj9PN1s/s200/P1010271.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the scenes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Along with Ann came Matthew and David, photographer and photographer assistant respectively, who came from Chicago to shoot pictures of us working the bees and grafting. Besides being very professional, these two were a hoot as well. So while it was a little windy and hazy (apparently a photographer's dream day) we had a good time.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On left: David, Christian, Sheri and Ann<br />
On right: Matthew, David and Karee</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We had a nice picnic lunch of Mandarin Honey Chicken Spinach Salad (I wanted to name it something catchy but couldn't decide when enough was enough).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The article should be coming out in the Aug/Sept issue of <i>Country Woman</i>, so make sure you pick up a copy! After a perusal of my blog, the food editor may be selecting a recipe to add--I'm hoping she picks the Saucy Peachy Chicken, my favorite. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks Ann, it was great!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s1600/Image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fceZWYrSxTI/TSonTMDefsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/h2cQYlqYROQ/s320/Image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span>Sheri Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545169288079352846noreply@blogger.com1