Cooking with Honey
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
United States
November 15, 2008 8:32am CST
I do buy honey. I never use it as a sweetener in any of my cooking or baked goods. Can you tell me why you cook or bake with honey.
What is your reasons for using it and not just use sugar or brown sugar, and do you have some good recipes to share?
6 people like this
12 responses
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
15 Nov 08
I use honey with boiled water and a bit of lemon to use it as a drink to sooth my throat. I don't use honey in daily cooking much.
© ronaldinu 2008
3 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
15 Nov 08
I have heard of using honey for a sore throat before! Thanks for reminding me!
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Honey is so much better for you than sugar. It has healing properties too. Put it on a cut for better healing. Take it for a quick energy boost.
When cooking with honey reduce the amount called for in the recipe by one-third to one-half honey for granulated or table sugar. Reduce the liquid called for in baked goods by about one-fifth. Lowere the oven by 25 degrees. To help the honey slid off the spoon put a small amount of oil on it or in a measuring cup.
Unless the recipe calls for sour milk or cream, some cooks add the merest pinch of baking soda to the recipes of baked goods to counteract the slight acidity of the honey which may cause overbrowning.
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I book marked that site as well. I love how many things are there1 thanks so much!
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
15 Nov 08
honey with tea is excellent, it is also a natural antibacterial and so if you have a sore throat it will clear it up, I always use it for bronchitis as well.
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
15 Nov 08
natural antibacterial
I forgot about this as well. I am o glad that I started this discussion, I am learning some good stuff here right now!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92719)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Honey is actually better for us to cook with than sugar, health wise. Once I learned that I tried to use honey in lieu of sugar if I could manage to keep the taste right. I don't think I have any recipes to share, but I'll look forward to seeing what everyone else says.
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Yes, it will be interesting if we start getting some posted here!
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
16 Nov 08
If I can I use honey in my Challa Bread and would use it more if it was not so expensive..Honey is natural and much better for you than processed sugars, especially if it is local honey..My son who loves oatmeal, won't eat it unless it is sweeten with honey. One time when we ran out of honey, I tried to give him oatmeal sweetened with sugar and he didn't like it and I didn't push it, because I rather him eat the honey than sugar..
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
16 Nov 08
Sorry it took some time to get back with you, this was a recipe I did have on my other computer and never did type it up on this one..There are many different recipes for Challa, but I use this simple and easy one to make:
Easy Challa
4 cups sifted flour
(may use 2c whole wheat & 2c white or bread flour)
1 cup hot water
1 heaping tablespoon olive oil
1-2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup honey
1 pack rapid rise yeast or 2 teaspoons of loose yeast
1/8 cup warm water
2 medium eggs
Poppy seeds (optional)
Pour hot water over salt, honey, & oil. Let it sit until lukewarm. Meanwhile add 1 package of rapid yeast to 1/8 cup of lukewarm water. Combine with lukewarm mixture of salt, honey, oil & water. Add eggs & flour gradually. Mix, stir, & knead until elastic. (about 10 minutes). Divide into 3 strips and braid, OR divide into round mounds, at least 2, or make individual size. Let rise one hour or until double in size. Grease cookie sheet(s) with oil or spray.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Turn down oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45-50 minutes longer. ENJOY!!!!
*Note. I found when making different sizes it needs different times to bake.so the first time you bake, check it every 5-10 minutes in the last half hour.
1 person likes this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I do know that it is supposed to be better for us. I am glad that he didn't like it. That bread sounds interesting.. How do you make that? Or what is the recipe?
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
16 Nov 08
Honey chicken sounds very good to me. Sure post it here if ya get a chance. Some of the others here might like it also! Thanks!
1 person likes this
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
17 Nov 08
I don't use honey all that often but after reading some of the comments here I think I may start. I did not know honey was so healthy for you. My best friend raises honeybees and distributes honey so I can get it for little or nothing. I am going to give her a call and see if she will fill up a clean milk jug for me and the kids! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
1 person likes this
@bbsr13 (4196)
• India
15 Nov 08
Hello,Louise! When a man is stressed he is advised to eat diets sweetened with honey.Even he can drink tea sweetened with honey instead of using sugar.You know everybody is some how or other under stress.So to de-stress body and mind we eat diets sweetened with honey.If you are a rice eater you can add honey to it just to sweeten the rice.Else you may prepare cake or bread as you like adding honey to the flour.thanx.
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
15 Nov 08
I have heard that a nice cup of hot tea will help you to relax. I never knew that adding honey would help as well.. thanks so much!
1 person likes this
@shymurl (2765)
• United States
15 Nov 08
My kids like to put honey on their biscuits. If I use it to cook I will use it to make honey glazed carrots. I will just cook the carrots regularly and towards the end I will add a bit of honey until nice and warm. The kids will eat it that way. I myself don't like honey.
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Honey glazed carrots sounds very good. I never make that. But I think I would really like it! thank you!
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
19 Nov 08
i make a honey mustard dressing that i believe would be good on anything. my whole family loves it. not only do we use it as a salad dressing but it's great to dip chicken strips in . my little 4 year old grandson loves it. that's about the only thing i use honey for unless i put it on a hot biscuit.i have used it in alot of things. anything i put mayo in is good w/this dressing.
@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
15 Nov 08
What a great excuse to bring up Alton Brown. He did an entire show on using honey in baking on "How to boil water" on the food network. Honey is a bit sweeter than sugar so you can reduce the amount used. Since it is about the same calorie wise this will reduce your calorie count in the cooking. Honey has distinctive flavor based on the flowers the bees were near and can help flavor your food. Clover honey is popular but imagine the added flavor of honey made in an orange grove when making a citrus flavored dish or something like pineapple upside down cake. These aren't your only options and little looking around might find you a number of honeys from various places that add just the flavor your looking for. Bees are used to pollinate most of the plants we grow for food and it's not uncommon for honey producers to put beehives in place at orchards, groves, vineyards and plantations that will, in turn, provide honey flavored by the crop they are producing.
1 person likes this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
16 Nov 08
if you come back to this discussion and check out the response below you. You will see a real Honey lover.. you got to read how much she buys!
1 person likes this
@JayLotOne (45)
• United States
16 Nov 08
You can use honey for so many different things. Not only is it used in teas and on biscuits, but it is used in dressings as well. I tend to watch the Food Network whenever I'm hungry because it somehow satisfies my mind at least. But I also learn so much from just watching an hour of that channel. Coincidentally, the other day rachel ray had made this tangy dressing that had honey in it to balance out the flavor. Then the next episode was paula using honey in a dessert. If you've ever made pancakes or even a sauce of some sort, try adding honey in anything that could use a little sweetness and i bet it will add a goof flavor to your dish.
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