Honey Uses Outside the Kitchen
Honey is one of nature’s most versatile natural products! Did you know about some of these honey uses outside the kitchen?
Combine 1 quart of warm water with 1 teaspoon of honey until the honey is diluted and soak your hair in it after shampooing to help give your locks a natural shine.
Create a simple homemade face wash by mixing a drop of honey with warm water in your hand and then rubbing the mixture all over your face.
Relax in the tub by adding honey and olive oil to your bath water for a moisturizing skin conditioner.
Add honey, along with ginger and lemon juice, to your tea or oatmeal to help calm your nerves. Some even say it can help settle an upset stomach, too.
Help nourish chapped lips by combining honey, beeswax, olive oil and cocoa butter for a homemade lip balm.
Help soothe your sore throat by eating honey straight and letting it slowly slide down your throat for relief. Or try making our homemade Sue Bee® Honey Cough Drops.
11 Taco Recipes with Honey
Do you use honey when you’re cooking Mexican dishes? While it’s not exactly a common combination, honey can be used to sweeten marinades and sauces that go well with beef, chicken, pork, shrimp and more!
In honor of National Taco Day on October 4, we’ve compiled 11 taco recipes with honey, starting with our Layered Taco Dip that mixes honey with cream cheese and sour cream before topping with lettuce, tomatoes and black olives.
Gourmet fish tacos are super popular these days and these Honey BBQ Mahi Mahi Tacos with Red Onion and Crumbled Cheddar from Cooking with Cakes are sure to be a hit.
If you’re looking to mix things up a bit, you can add a little Asian flair to your tacos with these Honey Sesame Pulled Pork Tacos from Mom’s Test Kitchen.
Tartine and Apron Strings has a fantastic recipe for Honey Lime Tequila Shrimp Tacos with Avocado, Purple Slaw and Chipotle Crema that is like something straight off a food truck!
Vegetarians can enjoy tacos too! These Honey-Lime Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Corn Tacos from Cooking Classy combine plenty of bold flavors for one delicious bite.
Another awesome taco recipe from Cooking Classy that uses a bit of honey are these Carne Asada Tacos that use just a pinch for the delicious marinade.
More lime and honey combining for a great dish … this time with chicken! Six Sisters’ Stuff has an easy recipe for Lime Chicken Tacos that’s simple and quick to whip up!
If you’re looking to skip the tortilla, reach for this Skinny Taco Salad topped with a Skinny Cilantro Lime Dressing made with honey from Gimme Some Oven.
While this recipe may not be specifically for tacos, this Mexican Shredded Beef from A Family Feast works great on tortillas or hard shells!
A Family Feast also has a delicious homemade Taco Sauce that uses a hint of honey you can use to top your tacos with.
For dessert, finish off your meal with these Mini Fruit Tacos from Sugar Dish Me!
What did we miss? Share your favorite recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
4 Nourishing Honey Soaps and Scrubs
While honey is delicious, it’s also a great addition to homemade beauty products. In fact, here are some of our favorite ways to put our favorite super food to the test.
Try one or all of these at homemade recipes and your skin will surely thank you.
Start off your morning off with this amazing Coffee Honey Body Scrub from Alyssa and Carla. This mixture of strong-smelling coffee beans and sweet honey is just what you need to jump-start your morning.
2. Sweet Orange and Honey Body Wash
Don’t worry, this homemade body wash isn’t sticky! Instead, this Sweet Orange and Honey Body Wash from My Mom Made That will help leave your skin feeling clean and fresh.
If you prefer a bar of soap over body wash, Creative Me, Inspired You has got you covered. This Honey Oatmeal Soap is enriched with organic ingredients to help nourish dry and ashy skin. Keep in your shower or at your sink for a moisturizing treat.
No more spending ridiculous amounts of money on bath bombs when you can make your own homemade bath melts. This recipe from Bren Did mixes powdered milk and honey for a dreamy bath experience. Turn on some relaxing music, light some candles and let these bath melts work their magic.
Which one is your favorite? Let us see your creations on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
DIY Honey Vanilla Bubble Bath
Sure, everyone wants to keep their skin feeling moisturized and silky smooth. But why spend tons of money at the store on bath bombs when you can create your very own bubble bath at home?
By mixing together honey and vanilla, you’ll be creating the perfect medley for a relaxing and rejuvenating bubble bath. Just follow these simple steps and let the ingredients work their magic.
What you’ll need:
1/4 cup Sue Bee® honey
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup liquid body soap
2 egg whites
1 tbsp vanilla extract
To make the bubble bath, combine Sue Bee® honey and the other ingredients in a bowl. (Note: You can transfer the mixed ingredients into an empty Sue Bee® honey bottle for a cute, easy-to-use container!) Next, pour 1/4 cup of the bubble bath under running water and enjoy.
Make this Honey Vanilla Bubble Bath recipe for yourself or give it as a gift!
Classic French Toast
Ingredients
1/4 cup Sue Bee® Clover Honey
1 cup milk
3 eggs
Dash of salt
Cinnamon sugar
10 slices of bread
Directions
Whisk together milk, eggs, honey and salt.
Dip bread slices in mixture and place on a greased cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar then place under broiler for 5-10 minutes.
Turn over and sprinkle the other side with cinnamon sugar, then broil again for 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Serve warm topped by more Sue Bee® honey.
Bee-Friendly Gardening
Ah, spring. Flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing. Besides sprucing up your garden for pretty views, flowers can also help save the U.S.A honeybee – one bee-friendly plant at a time.
Here are 10 plants that will add a dash of color to your landscape while also creating a meal for the honeybees.
Black-eyed Susans are classified as biennials or short-lived perennials. They are hardy plants that thrive in full sun but will also grow in partial or bright shade. Honeybees visit this flower for nectar and, in the process, move pollen from one plant to another, which allows black-eyed Susans to reproduce.
Black-eyed Susans freely self-seed and are so hardy they can grow efficiently in almost any condition, earning the term “pioneer plant.”
Bluebell flowers, both English and Spanish, bloom season after season and will gradually increase in number. The flower is a mix of color ranging from deep purple to pinks, whites and blues. Each plant can produce up to 100 tiny bell-shaped flowers that emit a sweet aroma. Bluebells are especially helpful to honeybees because they bloom in spring and provide an early food supply.
For best results, water bluebells frequently over the fall and winter. During the summer divide the plants once the blooms have gone dormant.
Cosmos are semi-hardy plants that originated in Mexico. They can reach 2- to 5-feet tall when fully grown. Cosmos are an excellent source of pollen for honeybees. Growing these flowers in clusters will make it easier for the bees since they won’t have to fly as far for food.
Overwatering and overfertilization can lead to cosmo plants with fewer flowers.
Lavender is even easier to care for than it is beautiful. Honeybees are especially attracted to lavender because of its rich nectar. Another attractive feature that draws honeybees are the flowers that fill the midsummer gap, when other flowers aren’t in bloom. All that lavenders need is plenty of sun and well-drained soil.
Water lavender sparingly since overwatering in the spring is the main cause of growth failure.
Bonus: You can also whip up honey and lavender recipes with this plant!
The vibrant purple and bluish petals of lilacs are appealing to both humans and honeybees. The color attracts honeybees in search of pollen and nectar, both of which the lilac shrubs provide. Since the flowers grow in tight clusters, honeybees can obtain more nectar without having to fly greater distances. Lilacs are easy to grow if given plenty of water and sun.
To really pump up the enticement for honeybees, plant your lilacs in a sunny area while keeping them close together to create a bigger target area for bees.
Penstemons bloom by the end of July. The flowers can be grown as a border, in a garden bed or even in pots. The shape and color of the flowers are an adaption to attract pollinators, and the flower types relate to the different pollinators that visit the plant. Honeybees visit penstemon to gather pollen first, then nectar.
Honeybees pollinate about four-fifths of penstemon varieties (the ones with white, blue or purple flowers). Hummingbirds pollinate the remaining fifth that have red or pink flowers. However, bees are considered their co-pollinators and will also pollinate these varieties.
Even though poppies don’t produce nectar, they’re still extremely attractive to honeybees because of their pollen supply. Poppies open as nice flowers for pollination ease. These flowers are extremely easy to grow, and you can save seeds to regrow the next year.
As a general rule of thumb, poppies tend to grow best when they receive at least six hours of sunlight a day.
There are many varieties of sunflowers, available in many heights and colors, for gardeners to enjoy. Sunflowers are easy to grow and can climb up to 15 feet tall, depending on the variety chosen. These flowers also provide honeybees with both pollen and nectar. Honeybees are attracted to yellow or orange over the red varieties.
When purchasing sunflowers for your garden, beware of the new hybrid plant for allergic gardeners, which don’t have pollen.
Tansy is a perennial plant that blooms mid to late summer. The flowers have a golden-yellow, button-like appearance. Tansy provides honeybees with both nectar and pollen.
The tansy’s leaves and flowers are toxic when consumed in large quantities, so be cautious when planting around animals.
Verbenas are long-lasting, hardy blooms that can withstand the hottest days of summer, even droughts. This flower is extremely versatile and thrives in hanging baskets, rock gardens and window boxes. Verbenas are both annual for seasonal climates and perennial in warmer areas. Since the verbena’s bloom extends into the summer, the flowers provide a dependable feast for honeybees.
Verbenas need eight to 10 hours of sun each day. If they don’t receive this amount of sun exposure, they may develop a powdery mildew.
Aside from planting bee-friendly plants in your garden, there are a number of other steps you can take to further help the American honeybee. Limiting pesticide use as much as possible in your garden will ensure both bee health and safety. If you do need to spray, try to avoid insecticides and spray in the evening after bees have dined for the day.
Providing a shallow source of water also benefits honeybees, allowing them a spot to drink when thirsty. Make sure it is extremely shallow to avoid drowning.
There are more than these 10 flowers that honeybees and gardeners love, so which of your favorites did we miss? Share them with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
Honey Berry Smoothie
Ingredients
½ cup pomegranate juice
½ cup almond, soy or dairy milk
2 tbsp Sue Bee® Clover Honey
1 frozen banana
½ cup each of frozen blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, or any other frozen fruit you like
Chia or flax seeds (optional)
Directions
Combine all ingredients into a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass.
Enjoy!
Quinoa Bowl + Roasted Veggies
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
½ head broccoli, cut into florets, or 1 cup frozen broccoli
½ can canned chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry
1 tbsp canola oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped parsley to garnish
Shredded Chicken (optional)
Poached Egg (optional)
Lemon zest (optional)
For the Honey Vinaigrette:
1 tbsp Sue Bee® Clover Honey
½ tbsp Dijon mustard or mustard powder
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Prepare one cup quinoa according to packaging instructions.
Toss broccoli florets with half of the canola oil.
Bake on a non-stick sheet for 10 minutes.
While broccoli is cooking, toss the rinsed and dried chickpeas with the remaining canola oil.
Add chickpeas to cooking sheet, and return to oven for another 10 minutes, or until the vegetables start to turn golden brown around the edges.
Remove from the oven.
For the Honey Vinaigrette:
In a large bowl, whisk together honey, mustard and red wine vinegar.
Slowly drizzle in olive oil, constantly whisking vigorously to blend together.
To finish:
Place prepared quinoa in a bowl, and surround with broccoli and chickpeas.
Drizzle salad with about 1/3 of the vinaigrette.
Add salt, pepper, and more dressing to taste.
Top with a poached egg or shredded rotisserie chicken (optional).
Watermelon Honey Mojito
Ingredients
4 large mint leaves
Half a small lime
1 tbsp SUE BEE® Honey
4 oz seedless watermelon
1 1/2 oz rum
Directions
In a shaker, muddle the mint, lime juice, honey and watermelon.
Add the rum and fill with ice.
Shake, and strain into a glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar
Let us introduce you to nature’s power combo – apple cider vinegar and honey.
You may have heard people talk about the benefits of apple cider vinegar and honey when combined together. It’s been people’s go-to for everything from cold symptoms to weight issues. And now you can try it out for yourself.
What exactly is apple cider vinegar (ACV)?
ACV is a liquid made from crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid. From here, bacteria and yeast are added to start the fermentation process, in which the sugars turn into alcohol. Like other vinegars, it has a distinct, extremely sour, unpleasant taste. ACV is also highly acidic, so it’s best to dilute before consuming. How can you do that? Just add honey to balance out the sourness and overall taste.
Below are some of our favorite apple cider vinegar and honey recipes. Try one or all of them!
Recipe for Apple Cinder Vinegar and Honey Drink
The sweetness of honey dilutes the acidy and taste of ACV in this drink.
1 tsp Sue Bee® honey
1 tsp ACV
1 cup of water
Stir all ingredients together and serve immediately.
Lemon Detox Drink Recipe
The addition of lemon juice to this drink adds a punch of flavor.
2 tbsp Sue Bee® honey
1 tbsp ACV
Juice from 1 lemon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
¾ cup of water
Mix all of the ingredients together.
Honey and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Skip store-bought salad dressings and drizzle this over your favorite greens.
2 ½ tbsp Sue Bee® honey
¾ cup olive oil
½ cup ACV
1 tsp salt
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp oregano
¼ tsp fresh ground pepper
Whisk all ingredients together. Store in a sealed container in the fridge.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Baked Cod
Add some ginger to your apple cider vinegar and honey for a tasty dinner.
¾ cup Aunt Sue’s® Raw & Unfiltered Honey
4 6-oz cod fillets
½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
½ cup toasted sesame seed oil
1/3 cup ACV
1 ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tsp freshly chopped ginger
Mix and marinate all of the ingredients with the fillets for 24 hours. Heat oven to 450 F while preparing a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the cod from the marinade and bake for 7-9 minutes, or until the fillets flake easily.
ACV Honey Pineapple Drink
With pineapple juice mixed in, this drink is the ultimate natural energy booster!
1 tbsp Aunt Sue’s® Raw & Unfiltered Honey
1 tbsp ACV
½ cup fresh pineapple juice
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
Mix all of the ingredients together and enjoy!
Boring Breakfast, Be Gone!
Everyone feels the morning rush, but there’s no need to settle for the same ol’, same ol’ when it comes to breakfast. Instead, try a fast and easy new recipe from Sue Bee® Clover Honey. (more…)
Homemade Honey Dog Treats
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup Sue Bee® honey
1 cup oats
1/4 cup milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients, one at a time, kneading well after each addition.
Roll into 1/2-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheet an inch apart.
Dust the back of a spoon and flatten.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Let cool and serve when your doggy is a good girl or boy!
Honey-Kissed Parfait
Ingredients
1 cup vanilla or plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey
1 cup prepared granola
1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
1 1/2 cups blueberries, raspberries and blackberries
Directions
Stir together yogurt and honey.
Layer 1/3 cup honey yogurt into glass.
Alternate layers of granola, fruit and honey-yogurt until glasses are filled.
Top with blueberries, a drizzle of AUNT SUE’S® honey and garnish with mint leaves. Enjoy!
Planting a Bee-Friendly Garden
Looking to plant a bee-friendly garden? You’ve come to the right place!
It’s officially spring, and if there’s one thing everyone can agree on it’s that warmer temperatures and outdoor activities are a welcome sight after months of limited daylight and being stuck indoors. One outdoor activity you can do yourself not only will add some color and beauty to your home or yard but also will benefit a species near and dear to our heart … honeybees!
As temperatures warm, honeybees leave their winter cluster and get back to work buzzing around and making honey. By planting and growing flowers that produce nectar and pollen, your garden will help attract these wonderful creatures. That, in turn, will have an immediate impact on the environment as honeybees help pollinate tons of plants that we use every day.
So which flowers are the best to plant?It’s important to avoid flowers that may prove to have obstacles for the honeybees in accessing the nectar and pollen, such as those with large petals. Honeybees are attracted to flowers that are colorful and have a distinct scent, which is welcome news to gardeners! Flowers that are wild and native are typically the best because of their year-round foliage and blossoms, but that doesn’t mean you need to turn your garden into a wild meadow. Here are some of our favorite plants and flowers that our busy little friends love too:
Flowers
Geraniums
Marigolds
Roses
Sunflowers
Herbs
Basil
Bee Balm
Fennel
Lavender
Shrubs
Blueberry
Butterfly Bush
Honeysuckle
Trees
Linden
Maples
Redbud
Tulip Tree
Greek Naan Pizza
Ingredients
2 tbsp prepared hummus
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
½ cup grape tomatoes, quartered
¼ cup feta cheese
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Sue Bee® Clover Honey
1 tsp chopped parsley
Directions
Spread hummus on Naan.
Top with olives, tomato and feta.
Drizzle olive oil and honey, and sprinkle chopped parsley on top.
4 Homemade Honey Cough Drops
There’s no better way to help soothe a scratchy throat and cough than with homemade cough drops full of honey. Sure, store bought cough drops get the job done … but it’s no secret that those are full of sugar and artificial ingredients. And what good are sugary lozenges going to do for your body besides temporarily soothe that sore throat of yours? Try out any of these four cough drop recipes instead.
- Honey, Lemongrass and Ginger Cough Drops
Foodie With Family shares this cough drop recipe that is full of honey and lemony goodness. Add in the ginger tea and you’ve got one great combination. - Honey, Coconut Oil and Cinnamon Cough Drops
This three-ingredient cough drop recipe from the Coconut Mama is quick and simple! And what’s more? It’s made with ingredients you may already have in the house!
- Honey, Coconut Milk, Ginger and Turmeric Cough Gummies
The Cook’s Pyjamas shares a homemade cough drop recipe that is in gummy form!
- Honey, Peppermint, Chamomile, Ginger and Cinnamon Cough Drops
All sorts of antioxidant-filled and flavorful ingredients combine to help fight off your cough and cold in this recipe from the Frugal Farm Wife.
Be sure to keep these homemade cough drop recipes on hand, because you never know when a cold might sneak up on you!
What did we miss? Share your favorite homemade cough drop recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!
Bee Our Valentine
This Valentine’s Day, treat your sweetheart (or kiddos) to breakfast in bed. We’ve prepared a fun mix of Valentine-themed yum-yums, including heart-shaped honey marshmallows and French toast.
1. Classic French Toast
This classic recipe will delight your family and friends. (There’s no need to tell them how easy it really was to make!)
2. Chai Tea Latte
Sweet + Spicy and everything nicey. Our make-at-home latte brings together a flavorful blend of tea without having to drive to your nearest barista.
3. Homemade Honey Marshmallows
A perfect addition to coffee or tea, these vanilla and honey marshmallows can be cut into any shape – even adorable hearts.
4. Honey Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a batch of chocolate-covered strawberries, so whip up a batch of these for your special someone for an extra special treat!
What do you make for your special someone? Share your favorite recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Banana Peanut Butter and AUNT SUE’S® Honey Roll-ups
Ingredients
1 whole wheat tortilla
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup each sliced bananas and strawberries
1 ½ tbsp AUNT SUE’S® honey
Directions
Spread peanut butter evenly on tortilla.
Top peanut butter with sliced bananas and strawberries.
Drizzle with AUNT SUE’S® honey.
Roll gently but tightly. Cut in half, then cut each half again.
Serve with celery and carrot sticks with our Honey Green Goddess Dressing for a sweet and fun school lunch!
Herbed Honey Simple Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup Aunt Sue’s® Raw & Unfiltered Honey
1 cup water
Peel from one lemon
2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Stirring constantly, heat to almost a boil.
Strain, and refrigerate for up to two weeks.
Pub Pretzels & Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
1 package store-bought frozen pretzels
1/3 cup deli-style mustard
2 tbsp Sue Bee® Clover Honey
Chopped parsley
Pinch of salt
Directions
Bake the frozen pretzels as detailed on the packaging.
To make the dipping sauce, combine the deli-style mustard, honey, chopped parsley and a pinch of salt in a bowl.