eat your fill: the diversity of honey

i have never been a fan of honey. the texture and flavor used to always throw me off. i suppose i have always associated it with being sick and having it in tea, which i never enjoyed as a child. a friend recently posted on facebook that she acquired some buckwheat honey, a thick molasses style concoction, and asked for some suggestions of what to use it for. it made me think: what could i do if i had some honey?

the first thought that came to mind was honestly the wing sauce recipe i created one drunken night. it consisted of molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, and some crushed red pepper - all simmered together until they turned into a drippy liquid. as it cooled, the sauce was easily drizzled or brushed onto wings/legs/thighs of chicken as they roasted on a grill. i personally enjoy drowning the (already fried) wings in the sauce and bake them in the oven. they turned out to be sweet and tangy with a sticky spice towards the end of each bite. every time i make this sauce (which hasn't been often) it is always a hit.

so why not use honey instead of molasses? i dont know the health benefits of either, but honey might make it a bit less bitter, and more sweet. and perhaps, instead of crushed pepper...maybe a little diced jalapeno? so many ideas to play with!

here are a few other ideas involving honey:

- a glaze with some nutmeg and brown sugar for ham, completed with pineapple and cranberries.

- drizzled over wild carrots, roasting in the oven with some rosemary.

- oven roasted almonds with a little honey drizzled for a sweet flavor.

- corn muffins with a honey and cinnamon glazed topping.

- slices of apple, baked with honey, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

- a peppered honey sauce for pork chops, with a side of apple sauce and potato.

- a strong, vibrant mess of honey, basil, lemon, and turkey drippings as a sauce for a roasted/baked turkey.

- caramelized white onion slices with honey as a topping for a burger.

- honey/beer batter for fried fish or chicken.

- a banana nut bread with a little honey and orange rind glaze.

- a honey and green tea lemonade.