The Savory Side of Honey

 We'reused to using honey as a sweet ingredient. We put it in teas , breads and a variety of different desserts. Yet it can also be used in savory dishes too for a different spin. Using it gives a more mellow flavor to savory dishes.

Many home chefs will first  ask what's the better choice of honey - white or brown? From a nutritional point of view white, light or golden honey has more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Darker honey has a richer flavor which imparts an earthy sweetness on dishes. I use Carmel Honey's Company's dark Wildflower in both my tomato sauce and chili (yes!!). I like the depth it adds to both, especially the sauce. It gets rid of that tomato-y tang and mellows out the other ingredients, softening the sharp flavors of the garlic and other spices. It's usually a heaping tablespoon which should do it. If not then an extra teaspoon should do it both the sauce  and chili. Dark or light honey is also a great add in to different viniagrettes. It balances out the vinegar and adds a sweet earthiness. One great recipe is mixing light honey with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Add salt  and pepper along with a mix of orange zest and fresh orange juice for a tasty dressing for  grilled chicken salad. The dressing gives the salad a Mandarin chicken kind of vibe. Add some fresh ginger for zing and sesame seeds for more flavor.

Honey and chicken pair well together. A fun weekday dinner idea is honey garlic chicken. It's a perfect meld of sweet and savory,Vinegar and soy sauce give the recipe that zing while light honey balances it out. To really spice it up add some sriracha sauce to it for some fire. Honey also works well as a glaze for both chicken and Cornish hens. One recipe involves  frozen orange  concentrate, lemon juice, garlic and thyme mixed with the sweet. There's also onion powder and soy sauce mixed in.It's an easy cook being boiled together in a microwave for two to three minutes (it may take longer depending on your microwave). Keep in mind that honey burns all too quickly and when you're oven roasting a chicken or game hens , baste with the honey glaze after about forty-five minutes in the oven. If the skin is burning but the meat is still raw, tent the chicken with aluminum foil to prevent burning. This will also keep cooking the chicken or Cornish hens. Of course there's nothing like honey glazed ham.It's usually pared with brown sugar for a sweet , crunchy covering that works well with the ham's saltiness.Honey also works with pork too, especially if it's paired with garlic and soy. it gives a crispness to chops and shoulders while still sealing in the juiciness.

Definitely use honey in your savory dishes. Its' sweetness gives mellowness to sauces while providing flavor to pork and chicken. Make it a part of your cooking for more variety.

Decadent and Diabetic Friendly

For decades anyone with diabetes had to be put on a special diet. It was basically a bland low calorie one that ensured no weight gain along with no taste. However that's changing, thanks to a new cookbook,It's a chance to enjoy yummy dishes packed with flavor.

Devin Alexander ,a cook and TV personality has written You Can Have It (published by the American Diabetes Association 2018.) a true treat of a recipe book.. This has been approved by the ADA , the American Diabetes Association yet the recipes can be made by anyone watching their weight along with their salt and sugar intake.Ms. Alexander is known for creating low calorie dishes and has made appearances on the NBC show  "The Biggest Loser." which has inspired her to write four books centering around the show's recipes.. The introduction is good for novice home chefs because it tells  them everything from how to wash and dry vegetables to making olive oil spray a large part of cooking. What's interesting is there's really no introduction.They have to go to her website to read it (where they can also see clips of her TV appearances and other recipes) The book doesn't have chapters, instead she has recipes grouped into lists. They're under such clever  headings as "Bet Your Going  To Love Breakfasts" and "Devinly Desserts And Sweet Sips." Ms. Alexander has even coined an adjective "Devinly" meaning she created it and it's heavenly.

The recipes are sinful in taste but puritanical in calories and fats.For a decadent breakfast try the scrambled egg with sauteed shrimp. It's a variation of Manhattan's Bryant Park Grill, sparked with pico di gallo and freshly minced garlic.Those who want a healthier start could try the bacon and egg
sweet potato breakfast sandwich where the sweet potato subs in for an English muffin.Home chefs will enjoy the London Broil, spiked with chili powder and cayenne. There is also a Japanese version that uses seaweed or nori along with sesame seeds and ginger.The childhood favorite potato chip crusted chicken has been update to have the chicken marinated overnight in buttermilk. They're also baked instead of fried  which makes them only 220 calories.Sides include a take on seasoned curly fries and homemade baked crinkle cut fries. Green are represented here too. Anyone would love the Dijon roasted Brussels sprouts made crunchy by roasting. There's also a delicious papaya slaw that adds papaya and orange juice to shredded cabbage. Desserts are here as well There's a dark chocolate pudding  made with the healthy cheese quark, zero calorie sweetener and dark cocoa powder.It's topped with Devinly whipped topping, a mix of egg whites, cream of tartar, xanthan gum, and agave nectar. A lovely dessert for company would be the Perfect Pumpkin Pie-lets,made with pre made filo shells and topped with  - what else - Devinly whipped topping.

You Can Have It  gives delicious recipes that are tasty without being bad for you. They are big on flavor and goodness., the perfect combination. They make it easy to enjoy these heavenly

dishes and treats.

The Fun Diet

Yes, January is here and with it comes the dread of a diet. No one likes to give up that fun holiday diet of roasts and cookies, champagne and caviar. Yet suppose we could have a diet that's fun, one full of tasty dishes and treats that makes us want more?Is that possible? Yes!

Everyone love pizza and tacos. A low calorie  homemade pizza is both healthy and fun. Start by making a whole wheat dough. It will be a denser, chewier dough but will be chock full of vitamins and minerals along with fiber. Use fresh tomatoes or other veggies such as broccoli, kale, and yes even cabbage. As for meat, think leftover chicken or steak. Tuna is another good topper and works well with tomato. Cheese can be held to a minimum unless you're using low cal mozzarella. Try an unusual and colorful topping of chopped scallions. Tacos re another fun meal that can be turned into a yummy diet treat. Instead of having iceburg lettuce, try red cabbage or arugula, Keep the tomatoes  but zing it up with fiery tomatilloes and peppers. Fresh chopped onions add crunch, zest and sweetness. You can also saute the veggies fajita style before adding them to the tacos. definitely use guacamole but nix the sour cream (unless you use the low fat kind). Make a heart healthy guac by  adding two to three tablespoons of olive oil. It not only is good for you but definitely makes the dip satiny smooth and super creamy.

Chili, done healthy is another yummy treat. Go with chopped turkey meat or vegan crumbles. This is a better fat free version. Serve with cornbread which surprisingly is not that high in calories. A fun dinner idea is taking corn muffins , splitting them in half and  then pouring chili on both sides, kind of like a spicy sloppy Joe. Salads , a diet must , can be livened up simply by adding a flavored vinegar, Try infusing crushed blueberries or a dash of pure pomegranate in a regular red wine or apple cider variety. Textures make those greens sing. Toast some sesame seeds  or almond slivers to sprinkle on. Dried cranberries add bother color ,tartness and chewiness. A great diet treat along fridge cleaner is getting rid of that leftover roast. Add cold cubed  London Broil or chicken to just spinach and grape tomatoes. Dress with just oil and vinegar and serve with bread sticks.Everyone love breakfast sandwiches at any time of the day. Make them heart healthy by just using egg whites, soy cheese and soy bacon on an English muffin.It makes just as good a lunch or dinner as it does a day starter.

Don't be discouraged by the thought of a diet. Make it fun with fun good for you dishes.  You'll still have a good time but will be losing weight instead of gaining it.