Homesteader Honey Food

HOMESTEADER HONEY

Steps:

• 1. Use a strainer wash blooms in cold water (gently rinse and remove. Dry with the paper towels. Make sure that you do not have any leaves or green parts on the blossom. This will make the honey come out tasting wild or grassy.
• 2. Mix the water, sugar, Karo and alum in a large saucepan or pot, and boil for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat. NOTE: i have seen a recipe for this that just say use a 5 pd bag of sugar.
• 3. Add dry ingredients (blossoms) You can let this steep from 10 minutes to 3 hrs. The longer the steep the more flavor, I never went over an hour myself. If you are planning on canning the clover honey, for long term storage, then you should be sterilizing your canning jars during this steeping period.
• 4. Strain through cheese cloth. Make sure no plant matter goes into your honey.
• 5. Bring back to a boil in a large sauce pan. Pour into hot sterile jars. Waterbath for 10 minutes seal and store.
• 6. OPTIONAL: I add the Karo syrup as it helps stop the honey from returning to sugar. OPTIONAL: I would think you could use just clover blossoms if no fireweed is available. Optional you can also add a 1/3 of a cup of black berry's or other berries for a deeper color or flavor per friends who have made this (I have not tried this yet). Make sure you add when steeping.

HOMESTEADER'S FIREWEED HONEY

Steps:

• Wash blooms in cold water (gently rinse) to remove little critters.
• Put all ingredients except water in pan, then pour boiling water on.
• Let sit for 10 minutes.
• Bring to boil and boil for 10 minutes.
• Strain through cheesecloth.
• Put in canning jars and water bath process for 10 minute before sealing lids.

HOMESTEADER CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400*F. In a small bowl, combine cornmeal and milk; let stand for 5 minutes. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix in the cornmeal mixture, eggs and oil until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake it at 350*F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean.
• Tip's: If your bread is too dense try beating the batter longer next time. In the original recipe It stated to beat for 5 minute I know this seems extreme, but it will help. This helps whip more air into it.
• If you like it on the sweet side see Chef Grpa recipe#503887 #503887 You will love it.
• Since it's impossible for me, just to follow a recipe ( and believe me, this cornbread is as good as gold when you do the original ), here are a few variations on the theme which jazzed it up for my picky crew I did over the years: switch ingredient amounts between the cornmeal and flour; let the milk/cornmeal mixture sit for 10 minutes or so and whisk it a few times; use half white and half light brown sugar; mix the whole batch for at least 5 minute on low speed; bake in a glass pyrex and reduce oven temp by 25 degrees. then soften some butter in the microwave, mix with honey and a pinch of salt ( to taste ) and slather this righteous bread with that spread.