 Review by
Richard SumrallIn the new book "Honey," author Avner
Laskin explores the history, benefits and uses of "Mother Nature's golden
delicacy." Honey has been a staple of the human diet for thousands of years;
references to its collection by people can be found in prehistoric cave
drawings, the Holy Bible, Buddhist holidays and the ancient civilizations of
Egypt and Rome. In this book Laskin presents over 75 recipes that
demonstrate honey to be an ingredient that can turn ordinary dishes into
genuine culinary delights.
Before looking at the versatility of honey in cooking, let's examine
exactly what it is, how it's made and its different types and varieties.
According to Laskin, "Honey is the sweet, viscous food which honeybees
produce from the nectar of flowers." The substance is created by the bees
and processed in the hive to create a fluid spread over the honeycomb. That
substance is then dried, stored and used by the bees as a valuable source of
food.
There are several different types of honey, including blended, which is a
mixture of two or more honeys from different flowers; polyfloral, a single
honey from more than one flower; monofloral, a single honey from one flower;
and honeydew, made from honeydew instead of nectar. There are also different
varieties of honey available for purchase, including organic, with no
pesticides or artificial fertilizers; raw, which is unprocessed and not
heated over 120 degrees F; chunk, containing pieces of honeycomb; strained,
which has been filtered to remove foreign particles; and whipped, which is
processed to prevent crystallization.
One of the most appealing features of honey is its nutritional value.
Although honey is sweet, due to the content of fructose and glucose, it
contains no fat, cholesterol or sodium. It does contain important vitamins,
minerals and antioxidants. This gives honey an advantage over sugar when you
are cooking. Because of its natural sweetness, recipes can be made with less
sugar by substituting honey. It is also a superior source of energy -- the
body quickly absorbs the glucose, while the fructose is absorbed at a slower
rate.
Breakfast
The book contains 11 different recipes to help start the day. Two
scrumptious selections are the Honeyed Fruit Breakfast and the Oatmeal with
Honey and Apples. The fruit recipe is appealing because you can choose your
favorite fruits. Simply mix the fruits with the honey in a bowl and set
aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. The oatmeal dish is a
perfect example of substituting honey for sugar as an ingredient for
sweetening.
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Baked goods, desserts and drinks
Honey is a wonderful ingredient for baking or creating refreshing
treats. A tasty example is a batch of Crispy Honey Almond Cookies.
These cookies combine the nutritional benefits of honey and almonds
and are perfect with your favorite coffee or as an afternoon snack.
Two of the more enticing desserts are Figs with Warm Honey Sauce and
Peaches in Honey Syrup. The fig recipe calls for the honey to boil
over low heat with a dessert wine before adding small amounts of
vanilla and brandy. The entire mixture is poured over a plate of
fresh figs. The syrup for the peaches recipe combines honey, rum,
lemon zest and vanilla; it is then cooked with the fresh peaches for
20 minutes. Honey Nut Tea is a traditional drink from North Africa
and contains a surprising ingredient -- peanuts. Combine the honey
with the peanuts into steeped tea and boil the mixture for 20
minutes. The result is a unique and distinct flavor to your favorite
tea.
Salads and entrees
There are almost 30 recipes for salads and entrees. The Personal
Caesar Salad has a honey dressing made from Dijon mustard, balsamic
vinegar, olive oil and anchovy fillets. These ingredients are
combined by constant whisking and poured to lightly coat the salad.
You can make any game-day party a success by serving a batch of
Honey Chili Wings. It's hard to imagine that honey would complement
a sauce made with chili pepper, garlic and soy sauce. When they are
mixed together, spread over a large bowl of chicken wings and baked
in the oven, the results are spectacular and a big hit with your
guests.
~ ~
"Honey" is a creative book that illustrates the uses and benefits
of this important food source. As a healthy alternative to sugar,
honey can be used to create dishes and meals that will "dazzle your
taste buds while nourishing your soul." This book is recommended to
anyone who wishes to incorporate the advantages of honey into their
everyday diet.
[Text from file received
from Richard Sumrall,
Lincoln Public Library District]
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