I love Honey!

Yes, of course, bees. Bees make honey.

But bees have sophisticated tastes and, from the different flowers available to them, they'll choose one that has a higher concentration of sugars and with their proboscis, (something like a long tongue), they will suck out the nectar.

In the proboscis the nectar mixes with the bees' enzymes and the resulting sweet stuff is passed to the house bee at the hive, a bee whose sole job it is to deposit the nectar in the honeycomb. Here the nectar is dried and concentrated to become honey.

Bees are sophisticated creatures. They know when the honey is ready, which is when it's less than 17 percent water. Busy bees lay a wax cap over the honeycomb and it's then stored for the winter.

Most honey comes from bees foraging on many different floral sources, and are known as polyfloral. However, some plants provide enough nectar during their short flowering season and are so irresistible to the local bee population that a hive can yield honey from one single type of flower. This honey, known as monofloral, is keenly sought by beekeepers and honey-lovers.

Different flowers give the honey different flavours. For example, thistle honey produces a thick, molasses-style honey, while orange blossom produces a light, sweet, citrus-flavoured result. Eucalyptus honey is a sheer pale glistening gold, rich in flavour, and a little less sweet than other varieties.

One of the greatest pleasures of honey is getting to know the different floral varieties, their appearance and quality. I love to experiment with new honey tastes and learning which floral variety of honey is most perfect for which kind of foods. The uses and benefits of honey in foods are as diverse as its floral varieties and places of origin.

It's all very much like the relationship of grapes to wine -- red grapes produce red wines, green grapes produce white wines, and different varieties of the grapes result in different flavours. So learning about honey can be like aquiring wine knowledge through wine-tasting and getting information on the origin, quality and worth of the different wines.

Nothing is ever added to, or taken away from, honey

Australian honey is the most chemical-free and disease-free honey in the world.

Seventy percent of our honey is produced in eucalypt forests in the regions of the vast mountain ranges. The dew fall is heavier in these areas, producing a superior class of clear, crisp and flavoursome honey.

Eucalyptus honey can be used for healing burns, cuts and abrasions. (I can swear to its quick and effective relief for common insect bites and stings). It's also analgesic and anti-inflammatory and can be massaged onto the skin to help relieve muscle and joint pains. It tastes simply heavenly too.

What you need
1 large rutabaga, peeled
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons honey

What you do
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
* Slice the rutabaga horizontally into 3/4 inch rounds. Slice each round into 3/4 inch pieces. Cut pieces in half horizontally if large.

* Combine butter and honey in a medium-large bowl. Heat for 30 seconds or so until butter is melted. Stir to combine. Add rutabaga slices and toss to coat evenly.

* Spread rutabaga pieces onto a lightly oiled baking pan. Roast 35-40 minutes until slices have golden brown spots and crispy edges.

There is simply no sweeter way to bring a smooth glow to your skin and hair than with glorious golden honey.

Skin Softening Bath
Add ¼ cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.

Moisture Mask
Just like Madame du Barry, the last mistress of Louis XV, mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water

Honey is hygroscopic (meaning it attracts water) so it is good for baking cakes as it keeps them moister for longer.

What you need
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cloves
2 tbsp cocoa
1 cup self rising flour
1 cup flour
1 cup boiling water

What you do

* Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
* Mix eggs with sugar.
* Add remaining ingredients in the following order: oil, honey, soda, cloves, cocoa and flour.
* Lastly, add boiling water.
* Bake for 1 to 1-1/4 hours.

After about 1/2 hour, lower heat to 350 degrees F. (180 deg. C.)

Morning Drink
Flush out your system and give yourself a daily boost with a cleansing honey tonic.

Mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast.

Honey and Bread
Spread some glowing golden honey over bread, either fresh or toasted.

Cereal
Drizzle delicious honey over your oats, muesli or corn flakes.

Tea and Coffee
Use honey as a sweetener for your morning pick-me-up instead of sugar.

What you need

2 tablespoons of avocado flesh

2 tablespoons honey

1 egg yolk

Either put all the ingredients in a blender, or mash by hand in a bowl. Use your fingers to spread the mask over your face and neck and leave it on for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, before removing.

Thanks very much for dropping by to read about the wonders of honey. You're more than welcome to leave a note in the guest book above and, if you're a member of Squidoo, you can also rate this lens :)

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