Honey Toffee

Honey has been considered to be the nectar of the gods--ambrosia. And although the gods have joined the pages of history books; it comes as no surprise that the luscious, golden syrup has been revered throughout history, and has remained relevant in our lives to this day.

Honey produces small amounts of hydrogen peroxide,and this is the key to it's immortality. Having a virtually indefinite shelf-life, honey is a sound investment to the pantry. One often overlooked and slightly-feared area of honey is the comb itself. While some people find it to be waxy, a high-quality piece of honeycomb, perfect for spreading on crackers, can wow a crowd. Honey Run Farm produces some of the best local honeycomb in the area. Dark, rich, and full of flavor, this honeycomb is sure to please, although it can be hard to find.

HONEY TOFFEE

1¾ cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
¾ cup water
½ cup honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1½ teaspoons baking soda
Thinly coat 2 sheet trays with cooking spray

1. Combine together the sugar, corn syrup, water, and honey in a 4-quart saucepan
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue to cook to 310°F on a candy thermometer
3. Once the hot sugar mixture has reached temperature remove from heat
4. Stir in the butter, salt, and baking soda
5. Pour the hot sugar evenly between your two prepared sheet trays
6. Allow to cool, undisturbed, until room temperature
7. Break up the toffee into bite-size pieces and store in an airtight container

Bees, as we all know, are the bearers of honey, endlessly collecting pollen and converting it into rich honey and royal jelly. Depending on the type of flowers from which the bees source their pollen, unique flavor profiles can be created in honey. Generally speaking, the darker the it is, the stronger the flavor.

Bee populations have been dwindling over the past few years. And although their stings can be poisonous to the extent of being deadly, it is vital that we do what we can to preserve their existence. Without them the pollination of our crops would become next to impossible. It is important to support your local bee farmer so they might be able to continue to grow and create habitats for larger colonies.