Balsamic Honey Orange Dressing

This recipe post is dedicated to libbiali.

Today in the kitchen, we needed to make a quick salad dressing for our guests.  Here's what the Spirit cooked up for us.

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup total salad oil. ( I used half olive oil and half canola oil)*
1/4 tsp salt or more to taste
1 clove garlic pressed
1 dollop** of orange creamed honey 
Whisk until all the ingredients are blended together.  Pour on lettuce.  You might try with cooked vegetables.
Enjoy!

*If you want to lower calories, add a little water to the oil to make 1 cup.

**I use a sugar spoon for a dollop measure of honey.

Honey Glaze for Beets

This is a modification of a recipe found on the packaging of a pack of butter from Organic Valley. We use Monastery Creamed Honey instead of maple syrup and our own home grown herbs. Although the original recipe uses this glaze only for beets, I think it would be a nice glaze on winter squashes as well.

Mix together in a large skillet:

2 TBS balsamic vinegar
2 heaping TBS Orange flavored Creamed Honey
2 TBS Salted Butter
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp chopped marjoram
1 tsp chopped thyme
(You can use dried herbs as well - modify amount to taste)

Heat on medium
Add 3 lbs cooked, peeled, and cubed beets. Cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.

Cottage Cheese Bread

Sr. Kay, friend, guest, and frequent contributor to Honeycooks, gave us this recipe. She in turn received it from Rev. Glenda Hope, Presbyterian minister and founder of San Francisco Network Ministries which serves the people of the Tenderloin District providing affordable housing, vocational training, and a safe house for women as well as HIV/AIDS pastoral care. You can find out more about Rev. Glenda’s ministries at http://www.sfnetworkministries.org

Cottage Cheese Bread

In a large bowl beat together until fluffy:
2 TBS canola oil
2 TBS sugar.
(1 Tablespoon orange creamed honey is a nice addition to this mixture)
Beat in:
2 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
½ cup raisins
Set aside.

In another bowl mix together:
2 cups unbleached flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon caraway seeds

Add the flour mixture to the egg/oil/etc mixture alternately with ½ cup milk.

Turn into sprayed 8 inch pan and bake for in a 375º for 10 minutes, then reduce heat and bake at 350º for another 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Turn out to cool on racks after sitting for 10 minutes.

Slice and serve with butter and Monastery Creamed Honey

Spiced Chai Tea with Creamed Honey

This delicious drink is the creation of Sr Kay, a faithful monastery guest.

Chai Tea

It's important to get the right Spiced Chai tea bag. It can be either black or green, spiced but without additional flavoring. Recommended brands Peet's or Stash tea.

Brew tea bag with 8 oz of boiling water in a tall mug
Add 1/2 cup hot mild
Stir in 1-2 teaspoons Monastery Creamed Honey - Orange honey shines!

For a non caffeine afternoon or evening energizer use Trader Joe's Rubey Red Chai. This is made with rooibas, a South African herb tea.

Honey Squash

This is an easy idea for squash that came from Debbie, a friend and neighbor of the monastery.

Cook one large buttternut squash or any other kind of equivalent size, remove skin, and mash it in a large bowl. Mix with about 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup butter. You could also top with pecans.

Experiment with cinnamon flavored honey or orange floavored honey to add a little spice. Amount of honey and butter may vary with squash type and size.

Oatmeal Delights (Cookies)

These cookies are substantial and even good for you. I used Original Flavor Honey - but you could experiment with Orange Flavored for a more fruity flavor.

1 ½ cups shortening
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup Monastery Creamed Honey
2 eggs
2 Teaspoons Vanilla

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cloves
2 cups raisins
2 cups nuts
5 cups oats

Mix first 5 ingredients
Sift together and stir in remaining dry ingredients. Add raisins, nuts, and oats. Drop by spoonfuls – press into desired shape. Bake 10 – 15 minutes depending on size at preheated oven 350°. Makes 10 dozen small. 5 dozen larger size cookies.

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Here is a recipe for pancakes that is simple and nutritious. The key is to get the grill hot enough, but not too hot. Also generously grease the grill. Avoid making really big pancakes. These are great topped with butter and a little honey - orange flavored creamed honey is my choice.

1 container cottage cheese (12oz)
6 Tablespoons flour
6 Tablespoons melted butter or oil. (I used butter/half canola oil)
6 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs with a whisk. Add all other ingredients. Allow all ingredients to come to room temperature before cooking.

Grill at 400° a few minutes on each side.