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Honeycomb Brittle Holiday Gifts

If you live in the South, don’t let this sunny, warm, 60-degree weather fool you…the holidays have indeed arrived! Now that we’re approaching the second week of December, it’s time to start finalizing those gift-giving lists. Presents of all shapes and sizes need to be either cooked, bought, or crafted for neighbors, coworkers, teachers, family, and friends. With this in mind, you're looking at an entourage of 30+ people, and if you're Italian that means 50+ !   So you'll need to make something simple, inexpensive, and delicious!

Well the goddess of crafts, cooking, and more has the answer. Martha’s honeycomb brittle recipe is different than any other brittle because the air pockets in this sweet treat make it lighter, and easier on your teeth! She’s even paired it with the perfect packaging design, complete with a PDF so that you can print it off at home. And notice how the cellophane bags display the pattern of the honeycomb…

Use infused Cloister Honey to add a tasty pop of flavor to your honeycomb brittle.

We suggest Cloister Honey Infused:

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil, cooking spray
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup Cloister Honey (see infused options above)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda

Cook's Note

Brittle can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Directions

Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Bring sugar, honey, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-high. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees. Remove from heat, and whisk in baking soda until combined and mixture bubbles. Gently pour mixture onto baking sheet without spreading. Let cool. Break into pieces.

Or make one batch of each flavor and add a combination of deliciousness in each bag! This recipe is appropriated from Martha Stuart’s website, for more information please visit www.marthastewart.com/honeycomb-brittle.

Proud Partner Week: Savory Spice Shop in South End

There’s something unique about a store that sells just one thing. Whether it sells musical instruments, specialty wines, artisan cheeses or art supplies – you know that you’re in the company of true experts.

If you’re in the market for spices…look no further. Savory Spice Shop in South End is just the place to find anything and everything you need spice-related. This store lines their wooden shelves, colorful walls, and grout-less floors with spices from across the country to around the globe.

Let’s say your looking for a powdered spice native to South America, cooks well with beef, has medium heat, and can be blended with curry seasonings…Savory Spice has the answer. Not sure if it’s perfect for your dish? Take a taste! All the spices in Savory Spice Shop can be sampled right then and there on the spot.

Now the big question is, what delicious spice blend works best with a classic Thanksgiving Day turkey? The clever experts at Savory Spice say it’s The Tiny Town Turkey Rub. This handcrafted rub couples perfectly with all of your timeless holiday side items like sweet potato casserole, black pepper green beans, and rosemary turkey gravy. And while you have four long hours to smell this tasty turkey sizzling, we hope you’ll spend this year’s Thanksgiving holiday with lots of good company and, of course, fabulous food!

The Tiny Town Turkey Rub


Ingredients:
Hungarian paprika, sage, onion, garlic, rosemary, black pepper, ginger, thyme, parsley, marjoram, red bell pepper, coriander, allspice, Greek oregano, savory and spices. Tiny Town is a great rub for turkey or duck. Rub 1 tsp. per pound onto the surface and into the cavity for aromatic and flavorful results. A bag for 4 oz. runs $6.30 and 8 oz. runs $10.45. While you there, be sure to check out the Citrus & Savory Brining Spices and the Sage & Savory Stuffing Seasoning (Salt-Free)
Also, looking to jazz up that bowl of assorted nuts? Try Savory Spice’s Sweet & Savory Candied Nuts recipe, its perfect for a sweet and salted home-cooked treat - fresh from the oven! 

Yields: 4 cups
Ingredients:
  • 4 cups nuts (almonds, pecans or mixed)
  • 1/4 cup honey (Cloister Honey: Wildflower) 
  • 1/4 cup corn syrup
  • 2 Tbsp. Tiny Town Turkey Rub
  • 3 Tbsp. Vanilla Bean Sugar
Directions:
Toast nuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for 8 min. Transfer to a large bowl and add honey and corn syrup. Toss to coat and put back on non-stick or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Put nuts back in 350 degree oven for 10 min. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss Tiny Town Turkey Rub with the Vanilla Bean Sugar. Dump the hot gooey nuts into the spice mixture and toss to coat evenly. Spread out on a cookie sheet to cool then break apart with fingers.

Thank you so much to our partners and friend's Amy and Scott at Savory Spice Shop! For more information about their store please visit them on FacebookTwitter, or online.

Location: 
Savory Spice Shop
2000 South Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28203

Honey Covered Apples, Popcorn Balls, and Pumpkin Seeds - Oh My!

It’s that time of year when the sun sets sooner and the breeze gets crisper... and we all know that Halloween must finally be here! This is also one of the craftiest times of the year, urging families of all kinds to cut, create, and glue their hearts out.  Steak knives and sharpie pens go missing as the faces of eerie jack-o-lanterns start to take form, while empty toilet paper rolls and fishing poles unveil hovering ghosts in the foyer.  We all know that reaching for that giant bag of overpriced assorted candies is the easiest go-to for Halloween trick-or-treaters but if you have a little more time this year, and an eye for creativity, try these wonderfully original hand-made treats that will make your house the favorite on the street!
 

1. Honey and Caramel Covered Apples

  • Yield: 6 to 8 Caramel Apples (6 to 8 Servings)
  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Ready In: 35 mins
Ingredients
  • 6 medium apples (or substitute 8 small apples)
  • 1 cup honey
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
  •  natural red food dye (optional)
  • 1/2 cup crushed pecans (preferably soaked and dried)
  • sticks or wooden dowels
Instructions
  1. Whisk honey, cream, butter and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble, then immediately reduce the heat to medium. Stir in food coloring, adjusting the volume to match the intensity of color you like. 
  2. Continue to whisk the caramel frequently to prevent scorching and to prevent it from bubbling up and out of of your saucepan. Continue to cook until the caramel reaches a temperature of 260 F (about 25 minutes). The caramel should be a rich brown or red-brown if you also used food coloring; the bubbles should be small and should uniformly cover the surface of the pan and the caramel should be thickened.
  3. Prepare an ice bath. Then pour the hot caramel into a mixing bowl and place the bowl in the ice bath, taking care not to splash water into the hot caramel. Stir the caramel until it is uniformly cooled and it begins to thicken just a bit. 
  4. Plunge a wooden stick or dowel into the core of your apples and roll them, one by one, in the caramel until uniformly coated. Roll them in chopped pecans and place them on a piece of parchment paper to cool completely before serving. To read more about this wonderful recipe from the NourishedKitchen.com, go to: http://nourishedkitchen.com/honey-caramel-apples/#ixzz2iy3Hz9k2 

2. Honey Caramel Corn Balls


Ingredients
  • 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. honey (Cloister Honey: Wildflower)
  • 3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
  • 10 cups popped popcorn
  • 2 tsp. fine sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cups honey-roasted peanuts
Instructions
In a saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add sugars, honey, and corn syrup and cook to 300° stirring occasionally. Place popcorn in a lightly oiled bowl. Pour caramel over popcorn and toss to combine, using spatulas sprayed with cooking spray. When popcorn has cooled slightly but is not quite set, mix in salt and peanuts. With oiled hands, form into 2-inch balls, working quickly, to get all the popcorn balls made before the caramel sets! To read more about this wonderful recipe from the CherryTeaCakes.com, go to: http://www.cherryteacakes.com/2011/03/orange-honey-caramel-corn.html
 

3. Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

  • Prep time: 
  • Cook time: 
  • Total time: 
  • Serves: 2 cups 
Ingredients
  • 2 c. pumpkin seeds (about 2 small pumpkins), cleaned
  • 2 tsp. pumpkin seed oil or olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. runny honey
  • Flaky sea salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 325 F.
  2. Cut open your pumpkins. Remove the pulp and stringy bits from the seeds and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Make sure that there is no remaining moisture.
  3. In a large wide skillet, warm the oil over medium heat and saute the pumpkin seeds until lightly golden, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add the honey and stir with a rubber spatula.
  5. Transfer the skillet to the oven. Roast for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally so that they do not burn.
  6. Taste one of the seeds. You want them crispy throughout, and not soft in the center. Continue to cook if necessary.
  7. When finished, tip the seeds out onto a parchment lined or non stick baking sheet to cool.
  8. While hot, sprinkle with salt to taste (if using Maldon, make sure to pinch the salt between your fingers to break up the flakes).
  9. Enjoy with ice cold beer.
Notes
If you do not have an oven safe skillet, simply toss the seeds with oil and honey and roast them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt straight from the oven. To read more about this wonderful recipe from TheCleverCarrot.com, go to: http://www.cherryteacakes.com/2011/03/orange-honey-caramel-corn.html

French Apple Tart with Honey

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Thank goodness, the fall season has arrived! It’s finally time to throw away those alfalfa sprouts, pour out those detox drinks, and put away those bathing suits. This is the time we all welcome in with open arms (and waistbands) warm pumpkin chai lattes, creamy cinnamon cheesecake bites, and brown sugar glazed hams. Yum! But with all the sugar this season’s known for, we need to stop and think about ways to use natural sugar. If we keep spoiling our appetite during the day, we’ll miss out on those savory dinner favorites like roasted garlic potatoes, butternut squash soup, and rosemary rack of lamb. So before you reach for that slice of pumpkin pie or cup of hot chocolate try reaching for some honey with this delightfully sweet French Apple Tart from theframedtable.com!

French Apple Tart
Author: Recipe type: Dessert, Cuisine: French
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 Puff Pastry Sheet (thawed)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp honey (Cloister Honey: Wildflower)
  • 1 tbsp Calvados or apple brandy
  • 2 tbsp apricot or peach preserves (room temperature)
  • 3 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • 3 lbs apples (approximately)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425F. Thaw one sheet of puff pastry on the counter.
  2. Peel the apples and cut into quarters, then remove the cores and pits.
  3. Slice the apple quarters into thin slices and set aside.
  4. Using a rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry sheet slightly, until large enough to trace a small dinner plate on it. Transfer the pastry to a parchment lined baking sheet, then trace your circle shape using a sharp knife. Remove the excess pastry and the plate.
  5. Using fork, poke a few holes in the pastry to keep it from bubbling up during baking.
  6. On the pastry circle, arrange the apple slices in concentric rings, and be creative with the center. Use a few smaller slices to create a rose shape, or just dice up a few pieces and sprinkle in the middle.
  7. Split open the vanilla pod lengthwise and gently scrape out the seeds using a spoon, or back of a knife. Stir the seeds into the melted butter.
  8. Brush your arranged apple slices lightly with melted butter and vanilla seeds. Stir the honey and Calvados together and brush lightly over the buttered apples. Sprinkle the whole tart evenly with sugar.
  9. Bake at 425F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 400F and continue bake for about 30 more minutes, or until browned.
  10. Brush the tart with the preserves and serve while still warm, with a scoop of ice cream.

 

For more information about this recipe, please visit: http://theframedtable.com/2013/09/tarte-fine-aux-pommes/

Proud Partner Week: Pure Pizza

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Charlotte is the Benjamin Button of all cities. The older it gets the younger, the trendier, and the tastier this little-big town becomes. Back in the early 90’s, Charlotte wasn’t flaunting much. With banking as its main attraction, there was little room for creative expression in the culinary arts. But then something happened – an epiphany of sorts. Around 2005, we Charlotteans realized something…we like to eat. And not only do we like to eat, we like to be amazed by great cooks. The so called “Culinary Renaissance” in Charlotte has been speedily increasing with pop-up farmers markets like Atherton Mill in the Historic South End district, Common Grounds Farm Stand in Myers Park, and the 7th Street Market in Uptown Charlotte. These delightful greeneries have allowed people to open their eyes (and mouths) to healthier recipes, fresher foods, and newer ingredients.

If you have a free Saturday this fall, take a trip to 7th Street Market for lunch. Come hungry but if you’re in the mood for a regular ol’ pizza – turn around. The pizza at Pure Pizza is: out of this world amazing, magazine quality, and a five-star experience – all in one. Try the “Pure Country” pizza…it’s exactly what it says it is. Country. But not like your cornbread, BBQ ribs, and green beans country. This pizza pie combines Bianco-DiNapoli organic tomato sauce, fresh sliced mozzarella, caramelized garlic, AB Vannoy Farms prosciutto and hydroponic basil – straight from the earth, country. It’s pretty amazing stuff, and don’t forget your Cloister Honey dipping sauce on the side, you’ll want that for your crust later.

Visit Pure Pizza at their location:

7th Street Market

224 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC

Check them out online, with full menus, pictures, and information:

http://www.purepizzaclt.com/

Stuffed Pancetta Burgers, Balsamic Fig Marmalade, and Chipotle Infused Honey

I can’t believe it’s already Labor Day weekend! Before we know it, stores will be riddled with festive Halloween costumes flung through the aisles. You’ll start to see sparkly stockings here and neon wigs there. But, besides Halloween, there are more costumes that the season of fall is best known for. Many of these jovial outfits are complete with colorful face paint, beer-soaked football jerseys, a foam finger, and of course, sweet and smoky barbecue sauce! There must be something about fall and the wintertime that makes dressing up so much more acceptable than any other time of the year. So while you’re kicking back in your recliner, sipping coffee from your company mug, and “sticking it to the man” in the most acceptable way possible, enjoy this Labor Day weekend with this modern barbecue slider recipe from Zestuous.com that’ll be perfect to pair with any other holiday this fall!

Yield: 6 burgers

Balsamic Fig Marmalade

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 5 peppadew peppers, diced
  • 4 figs, diced
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons peppadew juice (from jar)
  • 2 tablespoons Cloister Honey Chipotle Infused Honey
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. course ground black pepper

Stuffed Pancetta Burgers

  • 3 ozs. sliced pancetta
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. course ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • 3 ozs. blue cheese or goat cheese
  • 6 King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • Butter

Instructions: Balsamic Fig Marmalade

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a sauce pot over medium-high heat. Add the red onion and garlic and sauté for 8 minutes. Add another tablespoon of butter and the remaining ingredients and cook down for about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes while you prepare the burgers.

Stuffed Pancetta Burgers

Heat the grill to medium-high. Dice the pancetta slices and mix in a large bowl with the beef, soy sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Form into six equal size balls. Using your thumbs, press an indention in the center of each ball. Add a spoonful of blue cheese or goat cheese into the center. Carefully form the meat around the ball and smash into a patty. Grill over medium-high heat for 6 minutes. Flip and grill another 6 minutes. Remove from grill and let rest while you prepare the buns. Cut the rolls in half and butter each side. Grill over low heat, until golden brown. Place a patty on the bottom of each roll. Top with a spoonful of marmalade. Add the top bun and serve.

For more information about this recipe and great photos please visit: http://www.zestuous.com/2013/07/stuffed-pancetta-burgers-with-balsamic-fig-marmalade/.

 

The Bee's Knees Cocktail

Sunday, July 14th, 2013

The Bee's Knees Cocktail

This wonderful cocktail recipe is appropriated from http://postprohibition.com

I can count on one hand the amount of times that men and women alike have willingly discussed the same topic in poplar culture. Most often, this is because men are fascinated when honored athletes are caught using performance enhancement drugs and women are concerned with plastic surgeries, break-ups, and betrayals. However, once in a blue moon, Venus and Mars align to discuss the scandals of popular culture...together. That being said, the new Great Gatsby film directed by Baz Luhrmann is one of them. En lieu of F. Scott Fitzgerlad's wondrous novel and portrayal of the 1920's era during the prohibition, why not toast to its honor with a fancy cocktail? This Bee's Knees Cocktail is crisp, clean, and oh so "Gatsby". Set the scene at your next spring party with the "Bee's Knees Cocktail", Roaring Twenties attire, and songs by Jay-Z and Andre 3000 playing softly in the distance.

 

RECIPE

  • 2 oz Bar Hill Gin
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz Cloister Honey: Vanilla Infused, simple syrup 1:1
  • Garnish with a lemon twist

For more information about this recipe, please visit: http://postprohibition.com/recipes/bees-knees/