Honey

 
  To substitute honey for sugar in recipes, start by substituting
up to half of the sugar called for. With a little experimentation,
honey can replace all the sugar in some recipes.


  When baking with honey, remember the following:
Reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used.
Add l/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used.
Reduce oven temperature by 25 F to prevent over-browning.


  Because of its high fructose content, honey has a higher
sweetening power than sugar. This means you can use less honey
than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness.


  When measuring honey, coat the measuring cup with non-stick
cooking spray or vegetable oil before adding the honey.
The honey will slide right out.

  To retain honey's wonderful texture, always store
it at room temperature; never in the refrigerator. If your honey
becomes cloudy, don't worry. It's just crystallization, a natural
process. Place your honey jar in warm water until the crystals
disappear. If you're in a hurry, place it in a microwave-safe
container and heat it in the microwave on HIGH for 2-3 minutes,
stirring every 30 seconds. Remember, never boil or scorch honey.

~VLS

Make your own...

ITALIAN HERB SEASONING:
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Marjoram
1 tsp. Thyme
1 tsp. Basil
1 tsp. Rosemary
1 tsp. Sage

CINNAMON SUGAR:
(Great on top of buttered toast!)
7/8 C Granulated sugar
2 T Ground cinnamon

CHILI POWDER:
3 T Paprika
1 T Ground cumin
2 T Oregano
1 tsp. Red or Cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. Garlic powder

~VLS

Gluten free Granola Squares

1 C almond butter
1 C honey
3 C oatmeal
1/4 C whole flax seeds
1 C dried fruit, chopped (I use dates and raisins.)

Melt almond butter and honey in a saucepan. Stir in remaining indredients then press into pan.  Cool in the fridge and cut into squares.  Keep refrigerated.

Yum, yum, yum!

~VLS

Cinnamon Muffins

I like to make these for a quick and easy breakfast!

5 T butter
5 T shortening
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 tsp. baking powder
3 C flour (I use spelt flour for added texture and health!:)
1 C milk
~
Grease 12 three-inch muffin pan cups.  Cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar.  Beat in the eggs, salt, nutmeg, and baking powder.  Stir in the flour and milk alternately until mixture is just combined.
Fill muffin cups to the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Allow to cool for a few minutes.
Dip each muffin top in melted butter.
Roll each muffin in the cinnamon sugar blend.

~VLS

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie

This pie is delicious, and great for birthdays!

1/2 cup chocolate syrup
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups crisp rice cereal
1/4 cup sour cream
1 quart chocolate chip ice cream, softened
~
1.  Coat the bottom and sides of an 8 inch pie plate lightly with butter.
2.  Combine chocolate syrup and chocolate chips in a small bowl.  Microwave on high until hot, about 45 seconds.  Stir until smooth.  Reserve 1/4 cup of chocolate mixture.
3.  Combine remaining chocolate mixture and cereal in a medium bowl and mix to coat cereal.  Press mixture over bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate.  Freeze for 15 minutes.
4.  Combine reserved chocolate mixture and the sour cream in a small bowl and mix well.  Spread half the ice cream in the prepared pie plate. Drizzle with half the sour cream mixture.  Top with remaining ice cream and sour cream mixture.  Freeze pie, covered, until firm, about 1 hour.

~VLS

6 Egg Pound Cake

This is a great way to use up all those stock-piled eggs...

3 C all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C butter, softened
2 1/2 C sugar
6 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 C milk

1. Grease and flour a tube or Bundt pan. Do not preheat oven.

2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well each time. add vanilla.

4. Add flour mixture alternately with milk. Beat until smooth. Pour batter into tube or Bundt pan.

5. Place cake into cold oven, set the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for 60 to 90 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

6. Top with confectioners sugar or glaze.

~VLS