8 Ways to Incorporate Honey Mustard Into Family Dinner

No flavor brings the life out of a dish quite like honey mustard. You can add it to just about any meal to give it the perfect combination of sweet and spicy flavors. It’s also one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen, as evidenced by its use as a marinade, dipping sauce or the main focus of a meal. Here are eight great ways to incorporate it into your next family dinner.

1. Dipping Sauce
Our Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce is the perfect addition to snacks like pretzel sticks, chicken tenders, french fries and more. Did we mention it’s easy to make? Simply whisk 5 ingredients together and serve.

2. Chicken Fingers
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill chicken tenders. These chicken fingers from Damn Delicious are coated in pecans and panko crumbs for a crunch like no other. Kids love them and so will you.

3. Salmon With Green Beans
Weeknights can get hectic, which is why you sometimes need a dish that doesn’t require too much preparation or cleanup. Our One-Pan Honey Mustard Salmon With Green Beans recipe takes only 45 minutes to make and tastes great!

4. Brussel Sprout Slaw
Don’t let the Brussel sprouts fool you. Our Honey Mustard Brussel Sprout Slaw is just as flavorful and crunchy as the coleslaw you’re used to, but a unique and different spin on the classic side dish. It pairs perfectly with our Sue Bee® Honey Mustard Cheeseburgers.

5. Cheeseburgers
Sure, you could throw some plain, tasteless burgers on the grill – OR you could become a grilling hero by whipping up our mouth-watering Honey Mustard Cheeseburgers for the whole family to enjoy. Top the beef with more honey mustard and your favorite burger toppings for an even more flavorsome meal.

6. Salad Dressing
A great dressing can turn a bland salad into one that’s full of flavor! And our homemade Honey Mustard Salad Dressing is sweeter and more flavorful than anything you can buy at the grocery store.

7. Chicken Kabobs
Oh the enticing smell of shish kebabs in summer. Try this unique twist on kebabs from Averie Cooks for your next barbecue. The chicken is coated with sweet honey mustard and is paired with fresh bell peppers and yellow onions.

8. Bacon Potato Salad
You can never go wrong with bacon. Add this Bacon Honey Mustard Potato Salad from Small Town Woman to your family dinner lineup for a tasty side dish that everyone will love.

What did we miss? Share your favorite recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Fruit Smoothies

Get your daily fruits and vegetables and help fuel up your body with a different color smoothie every day of the week.

Red Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cup soy or almond milk
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup frozen peaches
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 2 tbsp Aunt Sue’s® Raw & Unfiltered Honey

Blend all ingredients together, very slowly, increasing speed from low to high. Blend for 1 ½ minutes at high.

Yellow Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup soy or almond milk
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup frozen mango
• 1 cup frozen peach
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 ½ tbsp Aunt Sue’s® Raw & Unfiltered Honey

Blend all ingredients together, very slowly, increasing speed from low to high. Blend for 1 and ½ minutes at high.

Green Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cup soy or almond milk
• 1 cup chopped kiwi (about 2 kiwi fruits), frozen
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach
• 1 chopped pear, frozen
• ½ chopped granny smith apple, frozen
• 1 banana, frozen
• 3 tbsp Aunt Sue’s® Raw & Unfiltered Honey

Blend all ingredients together, very slowly, increasing speed from low to high. Blend for 1 and ½ minutes at high.

Step by Step: From the Bee to Your Bottle

We all know bees make honey, but how does the honey get from the bee to the bottle in your cabinet? It’s quite simple, actually. With no added preservatives or flavor, the honey in your bottle is practically honey straight from a hive.

Here is the step-by-step journey from the bee to the bottle.

1.The Bee

In a hive, there can be up to 60,000 worker bees. These bees start the process by collecting flower nectar, which they then break down into simple sugars and store in honeycombs. The unique shape of the honeycombs, mixed with the constant fanning from the bees’ wings, causes evaporation. This creates a thick, sweet substance we call honey. Based on the flower nectar collected, the honey can vary in color and flavor. In the U.S., there are more than 300 different flavors of honey, each coming from a different floral source.

2.The Hive

The hive is where the honey is harvested. Bees make honey for their colonies to survive but, on average, will have 80 pounds of surplus honey in a year. That is why is it necessary for beekeepers to go in and remove the excess honey.

Beekeepers collect the honey by taking the honeycomb frames and scrapping off the wax cap that bees make to seal off the honey in each cell. Once the caps are removed, the frames are placed in an extractor. It then spins the frames, forcing honey out of the comb and onto the bottom of the extractor, where is it collected.

3.The Bottle

After the honey is extracted, it is strained to remove any wax pieces or other particles. Some beekeepers heat the honey to make this process easier. After that, the honey is ready to be bottled, labeled and distributed to retailers.

For more information and to see Sue Bee® honey beekeepers at work, check out the video link below!

Trail Mix Energy Bites

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Sue Bee® honey
• 1 cup dry oatmeal
• 2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 2/3 cup roughly chopped roasted salted almonds
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Directions

• Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.
• Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you’d like.
• Store in airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Asian-Inspired Recipes Using Honey

One of the best things about food is that you don’t always have to travel to try cuisine from around the world. Asian recipes are very diverse – from sweet to spicy to both at the same time.

We came up with a list of recipes – from salads to main courses – that will transport you to the Far East. Create one of these for dinner and your family is sure to have a new favorite meal with a delicious flare. Don’t forget the chopsticks!

1. Asian Chicken and Orange Salad

Salad is better when it’s jam-packed with flavors. Give your salad a little extra kick with some Asian-inspired chicken and fresh orange slices. This recipe is tasty, fun and ready in 10 minutes.

2. Honey Soy Glazed Chicken 

This honey soy glazed recipe will make you feel like you’ve traveled across the globe, but all you have to do is travel to your kitchen. Add some steamed white rice and veggies to this recipe for a delicious Asian-infused lunch or dinner that is perfect for the whole family.

3. Honey Sesame Fish Tacos

Regular tacos are boring compared to this zesty recipe for Honey Sesame Fish Tacos. The sesame sauce mixed with the fish of your choice on a crunchy, hard-shell taco is a combination you won’t be able to resist. Try it today and your tastebuds will thank you!

4. Honey Soy Tilapia 

With this honey soy fish recipe, tilapia has never sounded so good. Plus, it can be prepared in just 30 minutes. Serve with some steamed veggies and white rice and you have a classic Asian-inspired meal.

What did we miss? Let us know your favorite honey and chicken recipes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest sites. If you make any of these recipes, be sure to share a photo with us, as well.

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Sue Bee® Honey
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons mustard

Directions

• Whisk honey, Greek yogurt, mustard, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard together in a bowl then spoon into small dipping bowls for serving.

Sue Bee® honey Trail Mix

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Sue Bee® Honey
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 4 cups of cereal
• 2 cups M&M chocolate candies
• 2 cups peanuts
• 2 cups raisins
• 2 cups pretzels

Directions

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Mix together cereal, peanuts, raisins and pretzels in a large mixing bowl.
• Microwave butter in microwave about 1 minutes or until melted.
• Stir in Sue Bee® honey and pour over cereal mixture.
• Mix until coated.
• Spread on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
• Spread heated mixture on waxed paper until completely cool.
• Pour into a 2 quart mixing bowl and stir in M&Ms.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Honey Banana Peanut Butter Wraps

Ingredients

• 1/2 tablespoon Sue Bee® Honey
• 1 flatbread
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 banana

Directions

• Spread peanut butter out on flatbread.
• Slice banana and spread evenly over peanut butter.
• Drizzle Sue Bee® honey on top.
• Roll up and cut in half.

Fruit Yogurt Popsicles

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Sue Bee® honey
• 2 cups vanilla yogurt
• 2 cups fresh or frozen sweet cherries (pitted), blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and/or sliced bananas, mixed

Directions

Place the yogurt, fruit (slightly thawed if using frozen) and Sue Bee® honey in a blender.

Blend to desired consistency.

Pour into popsicle molds, filling them 3/4 full.

Put in the freezer for about 5 hours or until frozen solid.

Honey Mustard-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients

Honey Mustard Glaze

• 10 tablespoons Sue Bee® Honey
• 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar

Herb and Garlic Spice Mix

• 2 tablespoons minced parsley
• 2 tablespoons minced oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced rosemary
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced thyme
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Directions

• Rinse tenderloin under cold water and pat dry with paper toweling. Mix together spice ingredients and pat generously over tenderloin; let stand for 20 minutes.
• In a saucepan, mix together ingredients for glaze and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Heat grill to 450 F and place tenderloin on the grill.
• Brush both sides of the tenderloin with glaze, turning every 10 to 15 minutes. Cook until internal temperature reaches 145 F.
• Remove from grill, cover loosely with foil and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Remove foil and cut and serve tenderloin immediately.

7 Frozen Treats to Beat the Heat

What’s the best way to keep cool in the summer months? Frozen treats, of course! From popsicles to slushies, there are a variety of frozen snacks that are perfect for warm weather. The best ones, though, are sweetened with honey. Skip the frozen food aisle and conjure up one of these seven goodies to help keep your cool this summer.

1. Mango Frozen Yogurt
Our four-ingredient mango frozen yogurt screams summertime. You’ll love the creamy Greek yogurt texture and real mango taste of this frozen snack. For all those berry lovers out there, replace the mangos with four cups of frozen strawberries!

2. Fruit Yogurt Popsicles
Honey and yogurt plus popsicles equals the ultimate summer breakfast! This recipe allows you to pick and choose your favorite fruits to add to your morning routine. Store the popsicles in the freezer and grab one for the ride to work.

3. Honey Blueberry Citrus Slushies
Whoever said the best slushies come from 7-Eleven was sadly misinformed. There’s no need to add any neon food coloring to these delicious homemade slushies. Made with simple ingredients, these treats are sure to be some of the most refreshing and satisfying summer beverages around.

4. Sea Salt and Honey Ice Cream
Let’s be honest … not everybody has access to an ice cream maker to churn out a batch of frozen deliciousness. That’s what makes this honey ice cream recipe a winner. It only calls for a few ingredients, a bowl, a freezer and a little time.

5. Honey Strawberry Pops
These Honey Strawberry Pops are lifesavers on hot summer days. Fresh strawberries and sweet honey give these popsicles a taste that’s fresher than anything you can buy in the frozen food section at your grocery store. To switch things up, replace the strawberries with blueberries.

6. Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt
There’s nothing more refreshing than the cool, frosty taste of mint on a hot day. Take our word for it, you won’t find an easier or more delicious recipe for Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt.

7. Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
Honey is the true hero in this dessert, as it’s the perfect complement to the natural sweetness of the strawberries. And with only four ingredients, this frozen yogurt is a must-try. You can even add a little extra honey for a more robust flavor.

What did we miss? Share your favorite frozen treat recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Honey Lime Rainbow Fruit Salad

Ingredients

Honey-Lime Dressing

• 1/4 cup Sue Bee® Honey
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Zest of 2 limes

Fruit Salad

• 1 pound fresh strawberries, diced
• 1 pound fresh pineapple, diced
• 12 ounces fresh blueberries
• 12 ounces red grapes
• 4 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 1-15 ounce can mandarin oranges

Directions

• In a small bowl, whisk together the Sue Bee® honey, lime juice and lime zest.
• Add strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, red grapes, kiwis and mandarins in a large mixing bowl.
• Pour the Honey-Lime Dressing over the fruit and toss lightly to evenly coat.
• Serve immediately.

Mango Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Sue Bee® Honey
• 1 16-ounce bag frozen mango
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

• In a blender or food processor, combine Sue Bee® honey, frozen mango, Greek yogurt and lemon juice. Process until smooth.
• Transfer mixture into any container with a lid. Freeze for 2-3 hours.

Grilled Corn With Sriracha Honey Butter

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Sue Bee® honey
• 2 sticks melted butter
• 6 tsp Sriracha
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 ears of corn
• Salt

Directions

• Whisk Sue Bee® honey, Sriracha, salt, butter and garlic in a large bowl.
• Brush sauce over each ear of corn.
• Cook corn on the grill over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until slightly charred on each side.
• Take corn off the grill and serve immediately.

6 Grilled Fruit Recipes With Honey

If you get tired of grilling hot dogs and burgers this summer, switch it up. Grilled fruit can be a versatile side dish or a bold topping to a variety of meats. Nearly every type of fruit can be grilled and nearly every type of grilled fruit is delicious. Fire up the grill and give your taste buds a vacation from the standard garnishes.

1. Grilled Pineapple With Cinnamon-Honey Drizzle
Pineapple is the king of the grilled fruits because it’s one of the easiest and tastiest ways to sweeten up your barbecue. Add a bit of Sue Bee® honey and a dash of cinnamon to kick your cookout into high gear.

2. Sweet and Spicy Grilled Cantaloupe
Nothing goes together better than sweet and spicy. Take your fruit game to the next level by pairing the sweet taste of cantaloupe with paprika and honey. Serve it with lightly seasoned vegetables and grilled chicken for a healthy spin on a grilled meal.

3. Honey-Grilled Watermelon
Watermelon on the grill? Yes! While watermelon is already a classic barbecue treat, grilling watermelon adds a smoky depth to an otherwise sweet flavor. Use it as a palate-cleansing appetizer or as a dessert. Either way, you’ll be wondering why you never tried it before.

4. Honey-Grilled Bananas With Mocha Chocolate Sauce
You may be familiar with freezing bananas, but have you ever considered the opposite and put them over an open flame? Grilling bananas is not only a creative way to add fruit to your outdoor event, but a delicious one too. For a great dessert, serve it with two big scoops of ice cream.

5. Grilled Peaches With Ice Cream and Honey
There is no need for a bowl when you can use the inside of a grilled peach. Grilled peaches topped with a spoonful of yogurt is a perfect snack. Or you can even turn it into an after-dinner treat by substituting the yogurt for ice cream.

6. Grilled Strawberry Shortcake
A grilled strawberry shortcake with a honey cream dipping sauce? We’re in. This is one of the most unique ways to serve dessert and impress your dinner guests. Move over oven; it’s grilling season.

What did we miss? Share your favorite grilled fruit recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Create the Ultimate Picnic Spread Using Honey

If the sun is shining and the birds are chirping, it might just be the perfect day for a picnic. But you don’t always have to fill your basket with the typical grub for an outdoor getaway. You can create the ultimate picnic spread by using just the right amount of honey. It will take your menu to a whole new level! So fold up your plaid blanket, pack your wicker basket and get ready to feast on some delicious food and drink while basking in the sun.

Beverages

Start off with a refreshing pitcher of our Raspberry Peach Honey Lemonade that has been known to produce a few “ahs.” The mix of fresh raspberries and peaches gives this lemonade an at-home taste that the store-bought kind just can’t compete with.

Another drink to consider packing is our Honey Peach Iced Tea – it’s a must-try on a hot summer day! This drink allows you to enjoy the flavors of honey and peaches without preservatives or fake peach flavoring.

Appetizers

If you’re looking for something simple to snack on before the main event, grab a bag of your favorite tortilla chips and pair them with this Salsa With Honey-Lime Dressing from Epicurious. You better eat quickly, though, because this dip won’t last long if friends are around!

For something else on the lighter side, nothing says fresh like our Blueberry Arugula Salad With Honey-Lemon Dressing. The fresh blueberries and sweet, yet tart dressing make this salad undeniably refreshing.

It wouldn’t be a proper picnic without finger food. For hors d’oeuvres, try deliciously sweet Chicken and Honey Mustard Pinwheels from the Food Network. You’ll get hooked on how easy this recipe is to make.

Side Dishes

Once you’re ready to dig into the main course, you’ve got to include a side of this picnic staple – potato salad! The honey helps balance the taste of the mustard in this Food Network Honey Dijon Potato Salad recipe while sweetening it up at the same time.

What’s a picnic without macaroni salad? You already have the the potato salad, now all you need is this Honey Dijon Macaroni Salad from Creme de la Crumb for the ultimate one-two punch!

Entrees

These Almond and Poppy Seed Chicken Salad Sandwiches from Cooking Classy are an instant classic. The mixture of grapes, almonds and celery give the salad the perfect crunch. Try it on a croissant or in a lettuce wrap for a lower-carb option.

Versatility is what our Cold Marinated Shrimp and Avocado recipe is all about. Eat it with a spoon or wrap it up in a tortilla. 

Desserts

Forget what you know about cookies, because our Pecan and Honey Cookies will shatter your expectations about what cookies should really taste like.

You could describe our Honey Peanut Butter Crispies as crunchy, sweet perfection. These crispies are as easy to make as they are easy to eat, making this a perfect dessert for a picnic at the park.

What did we miss? Share your favorite picnic recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Sweet and Spicy Grilled Cantaloupe

Ingredients

• Sue Bee® honey
• Smoked paprika
• Cantaloupe

Directions

• Slice cantaloupe into 10-12 pieces. Remove seeds
• Sprinkle each piece with smoked paprika.
• Heat grill to medium-high.
• Grill cantaloupe for 5 minutes.
• Drizzle cantaloupe with Sue Bee® honey and serve.

6 Homemade Doughnut Recipes Using Honey

Doughnuts. The sinfully delicious treat that will put a smile on everyone’s face. A lot of debate has occurred over which flavor is king. Glazed? Chocolate? Sprinkles? Or even cream-filled? But we’re about to show you why honey is our number-one pick.

We have recipes that perfectly tiptoe that line between salty and sweet, and we have recipes that go back thousands of years. Set your alarm clocks because you’ll want to wake up extra early for honey-infused doughnut glory.

1. Honey-Topped Doughnut Holes
A sweet and fried finger food with whipped cream on the side? GAME OVER. You’ll feel like you died and went to heaven when you try these sweet and savory doughnut holes.

2. Salted Peanut and Honey Doughnuts
Salted peanuts and honey go together like … well, salted peanuts and honey. The salty and sweet combination on this doughnut from Healthy Delicious makes for a tasty morning. Trust us, these doughnuts are worth every bite. For a different twist, replace the chopped salted peanuts with bacon crumbles.

3. Brioche Donuts With Honey Glaze
Brioche? Oui! We’re about to take you on a trip to France. This French-inspired breakfast treat by Hummingbird High will not disappoint. With its light and fluffy texture and subtle honey flavor, you’ll wonder why you’ve been eating any other doughnut.

4. Cinnamon-Honey Doughnuts With Raspberry Jam
If you love jelly-filled doughnuts, this recipe is for you. Brought to you by Martha Stewart, this cinnamon-honey mixture pairs perfectly with the sweetness of raspberry jam. Boy, does Martha Stewart know how to make some tasty food or what?

5. Greek Doughnuts With Walnut Honey (aka Loukoumades)
For all you history buffs out there, this is the oldest doughnut recipe in the books. Brought to you by The Food Network, this dish, originally called “honey tokens,” was first made for Olympic victors in ancient Greece. With a recipe that’s been around for a few thousand years, the Greeks must be doing something right.

6. Whole-Wheat Donuts With Honey Glaze
With a new spin on a fried sweet, this whole-wheat honey doughnut is simple to make and hard to put down. Thanks to A Small Snippet, we get to enjoy a doughnut that takes a little of the regret out of indulgence.

What did we miss? Share your favorite doughnut recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Grilled Pineapple With Cinnamon-Honey Drizzle

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Sue Bee® Honey
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pineapple, cut and sliced into 1/2” rings

Directions

• Grill pineapple slices over medium heat for 5-10 minutes.
• Mix Sue Bee® honey with cinnamon.
• Drizzle sauce over grilled pineapple and serve.

Bust A Move: The Waggle Dance

The curtains open and the honeybee takes its place on stage and begins the performance. Worker bees gather to watch the waggle dance. It is an important act to perform since dancing is how honeybees communicate. And this bee is fresh from finding a nectar source.

Excellent communication, or amazing dance moves, among colony members results in a healthier and more productive hive. In addition to dancing, honeybees communicate by chemical signals, also known as pheromones, released into the air by glands on their abdomen. Each pheromone has a specific meaning for communication.

The waggle dance uses a combination of physical moves and pheromones. It’s one of many distinct communication behaviors that are performed in the hive. Four pheromones are released during the dance. While the purpose is still unclear, researchers believe it draws in a larger audience to the dance floor, which results in more honeybees sent to the source.

The dance consists of one to 100 or more circuits, each containing two phases: the waggle phase and the return phase. The complete waggle dance takes the basic pattern of a figure 8.

Honeybees execute the dance when it wants to inform the hive of a new nectar source. Bees will not waste valuable time and energy searching for food if they don’t need to.

The waggle takes place at a special site located near the entrance of the hive, which enables quick entry and exit of worker bees. The featured dancers are only those with news of highly profitable sources of nectar.

The Choreography
The dance starts with the waggle phase, which is characterized by a run through the center of a figure 8 pattern with a side-to-side wiggle of the bee’s abdomen. Worker bees learn two important pieces of information from the dance: the distance to the nectar source and the quality of the nectar.

The length of this first phase indicates the distance from the hive to the food source ­– the shorter the waggle, the closer the nectar source.

The intensity of the wiggle reveals the quality of the nectar – the more rapid the waggle, the higher quality.

In addition to this, the waggle phase also tells the location of the food source. If the run goes in an upward direction on the vertical section of the honeycomb in the hive, the nectar source is directly in line with the sun. Any run performed at an angle off the vertical section indicates that the source will be found at a similar angle off of the location on the sun. If a waggle run goes 90 degrees to the right of the vertical, this means the source is 90 degrees to the right of the sun’s position outside the hive’s entrance.

The second phase of this performance returns the honeybee back to the beginning of the waggle phase, where the dance is repeated. This phase takes place in the loops of the figure 8 pattern.

Dance Battle
At times, honeybees will compete – as in a dance battle – for the attention of their peers for the location of their found nectar source. The result? Extremely exhausting dancing, and very intense waggling. The competing dancers may event disrupt each others’ dances or fight each other.

Aside from the waggle, honeybees also have two other dances they use to communicate for swarming and grooming.

Learn More
Can’t get enough of the waggle? Then watch the video below from Georgia Tech College of Computing that details the findings of Austrian biologist, Karl Von Frisch, who famously devised an experiment to find out how honeybees communicate the locations of new food sources. The video details the design of Von Frisch’s experiment and explains the precise grammar of the honeybees dance language with high quality visualizations.