Does the thought of the upcoming holidays already have you feeling exhausted? Try this suggestion to simplify both the holiday bake-fest and gift-giving: a baking specialty. One baked item – be it cake, cookie, tea bread or candy – that you make each year, in bulk, and give to everyone with a flourish that proclaims it yours. North Dallas Honey offers tips to help you get started.
Fancy It Up: Simplify a specialty – choose a not-too-common recipe. Or take a perfectly common recipe and go deluxe: a blended citrus zest, grated ginger, candied ginger, Macadamia nuts. Think local flavor: If friends span the globe, choose something indigenous to your area – southern pecans, New England syrups, Florida citrus.
Quantity Meets Quality: Become the Queen Bee of your specialty, turning out a good, consistent product every time – and in large batches. Go double, triple – as large a quantity as your oven, mixer and stamina can tolerate.
Designer Genes: Name your recipe to match your style – Laura’s Famous Southern Pecan Pie or Bobbi’s Divine Divinity. Design the name just as you have the recipe. Make it a tradition that everyone enjoys and a recipe that stirs up fast, but with attention to detail.
It’s a Wrap: If it appeals to the eye it will appeal to the taste buds. Wrap up your holiday sweets with style – such as parchment paper with hand-drawn designs from your children wrapped in raffia, colorful tulle tied with silk ribbons or plaid fabric tied with silk English Ivy.
Pass It On: You've baked in bulk, selected an extravagant name and mass-produced your beautifully-wrapped specialty. Make your list and check it twice. Friends and family will look forward to this gift from the heart and kitchen year after year.
For something new, North Dallas Honey shares two delicious recipes.
Apple Quick Bread
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1⁄2 cups milk
1 cup North Dallas Honey
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and finely diced
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Heat oven to 350°F.In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In large bowl, whisk together milk, honey, eggs and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in apples and pecans.
Divide batter between two greased 9-by-5-inch loaf pans and bake for about 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pans for 15 minutes, then turn out and cool completely on wire rack. Serve with butter and honey, if desired. Store in plastic bag. Yields 2 loaves.
Honey Cashew Toffee
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup North Dallas Honey
2 cups cashews, coarsely chopped
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
In heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt butter and honey over medium-high heat. Add almonds and stir constantly for 8 to 10 minutes. The almonds and honey butter will darken to a rich, golden brown caramel. Do not overcook or leave unattended, as mixture will burn easily.
Remove from heat and, still stirring, add salt. Slowly stir in cream. Watch carefully as caramel mixture will sputter and steam. Pour sauce into bowl and allow to cool. Yields 2 3/4 cups.
North Dallas Honey has been providing local, raw and unfiltered honey since 1972. Look for the bear-shaped bottles with the orange label at your local grocer. To help alleviate allergies with an assist from nature – think organic, adults should take 1 Tablespoon of honey a day and children over age 1 should take 2 teaspoons a day. For your convenience, our honey can be found on a number of shelves at local retailers, including Albertson's, Central Market, Kroger, Market Street, Sprouts, Tom Thumb, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods. Visit www.northdallashoney.com.
Media Advisory: For more information on North Dallas Honey Company, contact Jane Jarrell at 214-718-4408 or jane@trizcom.com.
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About North Dallas Honey Company:
North Dallas Honey Company (www.northdallashoney.com) produces thick and quality honey that is packaged in 12-, 16- and 32-ounce containers. Additionally, we provide 1- and 5-gallon containers of our honey and have quarterly gift baskets filled with our honey available to order. For your convenience, our honey can be found on a number of shelves at local retailers, including Albertson's, Central Market, Kroger, Market Street, Sprouts, Tom Thumb, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods and online at www.northdallashoneycompany.com.
