It is September & time to celebrate honey! A few different friends of ours keep bees and harvest the honey from them. It is something that intrigues me & that I hope to do ourselves one day. Our resident bear is the primary reason I have not attempted keeping bees yet.

Kelly started drinking tea as a class requirement before her first trip to Russia in high school. While in Russia that first time, she did as the Russians do and sweetened her tea with honey. She became a honey convert! Kelly’s junior year of college was spent in Moscow, Russia for a study abroad program. There, Kelly experienced her first honey market. Vendors from all over Russia converge on Moscow for a weekend with their honey & honey products for sale. Kelly & her fellow students were able to visit the outdoor market and sample many different varieties of honey. The variety comes from the type of flowers the bees land on to collect nectar.  If mostly one kind of flower is available, the honey the bees produce has a unique taste, aroma and color from that particular flower.

While I am not the honey connoisseur Kelly is, I always have it on hand. I especially like to use honey in baking. These savory scones use quite a bit of it, but with an apiary close by, we have a good source for more honey!

Honey & Cheddar Scones  (adapted from redbookmag.com)   

Makes 12 large scones  Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes  Prep Time: 30 minutes  Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 thinly sliced scallions
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 large eggs, beaten

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray.

In a bowl, stir the flour, baking powder and salt together until they are blended. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the 1 cup of cheese and the scallions, tossing to combine.

In another bowl, whisk the half-and-half, 1/3 cup of the honey and eggs together until they are thoroughly blended.

Slowly pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring until it is evenly moistened.

Gather the sticky dough together and turn it out onto a well-floured board. With floured hands, make 12 even portions of the dough, flattening each into a 3-inch wide disc. Evenly space 6 discs on each baking sheet.

In a small glass container, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of honey in the microwave for 10 seconds. Brush the honey over the tops of the scones then sprinkle each with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.

Bake the scones for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool them on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Serve with Spiced Honey Butter.

 Spiced Honey Butter  (adapted from redbookmag.com)

Serves: 12  Total Time: 5 minutes  Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce, or to taste

 

Directions:

Beat the butter, honey and hot pepper sauce together until well blended. Serve with the warmed scones.

 We are happily celebrating National Honey Month!  ~Linda

Honey & Cheddar Scones  (adapted from redbookmag.com)   

Makes 12 large scones  Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes  Prep Time: 30 minutes  Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 thinly sliced scallions
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 large eggs, beaten

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray.

In a bowl, stir the flour, baking powder and salt together until blended. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 1 cup of the cheese and the scallions, tossing to combine.

In another bowl, whisk the half-and-half, 1/3 cup of the honey and eggs until they are thoroughly blended. Slowly pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring until it is evenly moistened. Gather the sticky dough together and turn it out onto a well-floured board. With floured hands, make 12 even portions of dough, flattening each into a 3-inch wide disc. Evenly space 6 discs on each baking sheet.

In a small glass container, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of honey in the microwave for 10 seconds. Brush the honey over the tops of the scones then sprinkle each with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. Bake the scones for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool them on the baking sheet 10 minutes. Serve with Spiced Honey Butter.

Spiced Honey Butter  (adapted from redbookmag.com)

Serves: 12  Total Time: 5 minutes  Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce, or to taste

Directions:

Beat the butter, honey and hot pepper sauce together until well blended. Serve with the warmed scones.