Pumpkin Buttermilk Waffles

Who doesn't love waffles? Really, is there anyone? We love waffles and taking the time to share breakfast with your loved ones. With our new Pumpkin Spice Honey, you can brighten up the waffle flavors. You can even serve these as a dessert - drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and drizzle extra Pumpkin Spice honey on top. What a treat!

Pumpkin waffle with honeyIngredients

1½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin puree
½ cup Aunt Patty’sⓇ Virgin Coconut Oil, melted, plus more for greasing waffle iron
½ cup buttermilk
⅓ cup GloryBeeⓇ Pumpkin Spice Honey, plus more for serving
2 eggs
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

  1. In a large bowl whisk together flours, baking powder, spices, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl whisk together pumpkin, coconut oil, buttermilk, honey, and eggs. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.
  2. Preheat a waffle iron and brush lightly with coconut oil. Using about ½ cup batter per waffle, pour batter into center of waffle iron. Cook until golden brown following manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer to a baking sheet and repeat with remaining batter.
  3. To serve, top waffles with ice cream and drizzle with honey.

Don’t Yuck my Yum!—FoodCorps gets kids excited about eating healthy

Developed in 2009 as a part of the AmeriCorps program, FoodCorps is a national organization who works with communities to connect kids to healthy food in school.  Their vision is to create a future in which all our nation’s children – regardless of race, class, or geography – know what healthy food is, care where it comes from, and eat it every day.  Through their work, future generations will grow up to lead healthier and more productive lives.

Food corps learning how to cookThis past August GloryBee got the chance to meet a new class of 215 FoodCorps Service Members in Portland, Oregon at the FoodCorps National Orientation.  We had a great time learning alongside new service members and we got to take part in a little of what new service members experience during their training- including a salad dressing competition!

Each school year, AmeriCorps leaders deliver the FoodCorps program to high-need schools, focusing on three evidence-based strategies that get children eating healthy.  These strategies include:
1) Hands-On Learning - kids love foods they have grown and prepared themselves
2) Healthy School Meals – creating a cafeteria that steers students toward the healthiest options and gets them excited to try new healthy foods
3) Schoolwide Culture of Health – help the whole school community celebrate healthy food.

Here at GloryBee we believe in the mission and vision of FoopCorps.  Our Aunt Patty’s brands donate 1% of annual retail sales to Food for Health coalitions which include FoodCorps.  To learn more about FoodCorps and what they do, click here:  https://foodcorps.org/.

 

 

 

How to Render Beeswax

So you’re done extracting all of your delicious golden honey. Wondering what to do with all the wax cappings and honeycomb you have left over? Render you wax so you can make lip balms, salves, creams candles, and more. To render means to separate fat from oil, but in this case it means to separate honey from wax. Also note that rendering will help filter out debris, such as dead bees, propolis, random plant material, and more. Here are simple step-by-step instructions on how to do this:

Supplies

  • Cardboard or newspaper
  • Wax Cappings and/or Honeycomb
  • Large Piece of Cheesecloth
  • Large Twist Tie or Rubber Band
  • Old Large Metal Pot
  • Old Metal Tongs

Important note: Since beeswax is so sticky and residue will remain on any equipment used during the process, we recommend to use old pot and tongs that will only be used for rendering beeswax again in the future.

Instructions

Chunks of Beeswax1. Before starting, protect your work area with cardboard or newspaper as beeswax is very difficult to remove from surfaces. Place the piece of cheesecloth on your work surface and place cappings/honeycomb in the center of the cheesecloth. Wrap the cheesecloth around the wax by drawing up the edges to the center, creating a bundle. Wrap a large twist tie or rubber band around the extra fabric at the top. Secure it tightly to make sure that debris from the honeycomb is not able to escape out of the top.

2. Fill a large metal pot ½ way full of water. Place this pot on the stove top set on medium to low heat. Since beeswax is highly flammable, it is important to remember to keep the water on a low heat (never boiling) and to never leave the melting beeswax unattended. Place the bundle into the water. As the water starts to warm, the wax within the bundle will start to melt. Liquid honey and wax will start to seep through the holes in the cheesecloth. The honey will sink to the bottom of the pot, whereas the beeswax will float to the top.

3. When the wax is almost entirely melted, lift the cheesecloth bundle out of the water, hold it over the pot and use metal tongs to squeeze out any residual wax that might be remaining.

4. Remove cheesecloth completely from the water. Any debris that was originally in the cappings/honeycomb will have remained inside the cloth. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool which can take up to 2 to 3 hours. During the cooling process, the beeswax will start to form a hard layer on top of the water.
5. After the beeswax is completely cool, gently separate the disk of hard wax from the edge of the pan by gently pushing down on the sides. Remove the disk from the pan and set on a cloth towel to dry.

It is now ready to use in your favorite body care recipe or to make candles.

Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake

Little dishes do not have to mean little flavor. In our Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake, the flavors of fall are packed into a few bites of bliss. Best part, you can bake this in two minutes! Enjoy with a topping of whipped cream and even our new Pumpkin Spice Honey for a sweet treat.

Mug Cake with Maple SugarIngredients

⅓ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons Aunt Patty’s® Maple Sugar
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon Aunt Patty’s® Virgin Coconut Oil (melted)
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, optional for serving


Directions

1.  In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, spice, baking powder, and salt. Add water, pumpkin, and oil, and stir to combine. Scrape into a microwave-safe mug.
2.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Carefully remove, and allow to cool slightly. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Video: Treating for Mites with ApiGuard

According to the Honey Bee Health Coalition: “Every honey bee colony in the continental United States and Canada either has varroa mites today or will have them within several months.” Treating for mites is important to keeping your hive healthy and happy. Depending on mite loads, we recommend treating for mites twice a year: Once in the spring, and once in the fall. Watch this video and learn how to treat for mites using ApiGuard.

Innovative Honey Product Awarded Top Natural Products Prize

GloryBee’s Artisan Fermented Honey Vinegar receives “Best New Condiment” Award

Eugene, Ore: Integrity, innovation and inspiration. These are the three criteria the natural products industry uses when reviewing new products. The NEXTY Awards were created to spotlight the year’s most exciting natural products. In 2017 the judges looked at products in twenty-one categories. One of the most talked-about products this year is the winner of the “Best New Condiment” Award—GloryBee’s Artisan Fermented Honey.

As a company that’s been buzzing about all things bees for more than 40 years, it was hard for GloryBee to imagine anything from the hive they hadn’t heard of, yet while in Thailand they were introduced to fermented honey. After just one taste of this low-acid vinegar, they were hooked. Dick Turanski, founder of GloryBee, enthusiastically recalls, “As soon as I tasted the fermented honey, I was amazed by its profound flavor. I knew right away this was a product we needed to share with our customers.”

GloryBee Artisan Fermented Honey

  • Integrity: Crafted with pure, all natural Thai longan blossom honey using a traditional fermentation process that traces back to ancient eras.
  • Innovaton: Aged for 6 months in ceramic fermentation vats, green tea is added to reduce acidity, then it’s topped off with a final round of honey to add sweetness and round out the tartness of the vinegar for a smooth taste.
  • Inspiration: One percent of all sales of GloryBee Artisan Fermented Honey is donated to SAVE the BEE to help fund critical honey bee health research.

With 20,000 new food and beverage products entering grocery stores every year, it’s important consumers know which natural products are healthy for them and the planet. The NEXT Awards recognize the very best in natural foods, letting people know which natural products are of the highest integrity. For a complete listing of the 2017 NEXT Award winners, visit: 2017 NEXTY Awards website.

 

Back-To-School Breakfast Muffins

Back to school week seems to get busier every year. If you can prepare and make a few meals in advance it always helps. Our Back to School Breakfast Muffins include fruit and vegetables so you know you're feeding your family a balanced meal. Grab a few for the commute to school and the kids will be pleasantly surprised by the hearty breakfast.

breakfast muffin coolingIngredients

1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1¾ cups milk or nondairy milk
⅓ cup Aunt Patty’sⓇ Date Sugar
¼ cup Aunt Patty’sⓇ Virgin Coconut Oil, melted
1 egg
1 medium tart apple, cored and grated (about 1 cup)
1 large carrot, grated (about 1 cup)
½ cup golden raisins

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375℉. Spray 2 standard 12-cup muffin tins with cooking spray or line with paper muffin liners.
  2. In a medium bowl whisk flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. In a large bowl whisk milk, sugar, oil, and egg. Stir in apple, carrot, and raisins, then dry ingredients and mix until combined.
  3. Divide batter between 15 muffin cups (or bake in 2 batches if you only have 1 muffin tin) and bake until browned and set, 20-25 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Video: How to Use Pollen Patties

Just like humans, bees need protein in their diet too. The main source of protein for bees is pollen, which has more protein per serving than steak. To keep their bees healthy, beekeepers feed their bees pollen patties during the seasons of the year when pollen is scarce. Watch this video and learn how easy it is to use supplement pollen patties.

Help Scientists Collect Important Beekeeping Data

The Mite-A-Thon
This September 9-16, beekeepers in Canada, Mexico and the United States are encouraged to participate in the 2017 North American Mite-A-Thon. This multi-national event is a unified effort to collect varroa mite infestation data over the entire North American continent within a specific one week window of time.

The number one enemy of Honey Bees
Varroa mites resemble a small tick and are the size of a pinhead. Fortunately, they are visible to the naked eye, so you can visually see them if you know what to look for. These mites have been in North America for more than 100 years, but it wasn’t until the last 3 decades that they began to cause a serious problem with honey bee populations.  A hive with a mite infestation gets weaker as the mite population expands until finally the bees are overpowered by the mites and the colony dies off. Understanding mite populations across the continent will give scientist a better understanding of varroa mites and how to better treat for them.

Mite-A-Thon Method of Counting Mites
All beekeepers who participate are asked to us one of two methods to count the number of mites per 100 bees: 1) powdered sugar roll 2) alcohol wash.

Mite-A-thon Data to monitor

  • location
  • total number of hives
  • number of hives tested
  • local conditions
  • varroa mite count per hive.

How to participate in 2017 North American Mite-A-thon:

  • Conduct one mite count the week of September 9-16, 2017
  • Log your data
  • Upload data to mitecheck.com

For more information, visit the Pollinator Partnership Website: 2017 North American Mite-A-Thon

Gorgonzola, Walnut and Honey Crostini

Looking for a mid-week treat? We've got you covered. Check our appetizer Gorgonzola, Walnut and Honey Crostini. The Artisan Fermented Honey adds a bright punch of flavor to the soft cheese and figs. Serve with a glass of iced tea or red wine on the back patio with friends. Cheers!

IngredientsHoney Vinegar on table

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F
  • Brush sliced baguette with olive oil and place on baking sheet. Toast for a few minutes until golden brown. Brush each toasted crostini afterwards with Artisan Fermented Honey.
  • In a small bowl, mix honey, crumbled gorgonzola, walnuts, salt and pepper. Top each crostini with mix.
  • Place back in the oven to bake for 2 minutes for cheese to melt.

GloryBee introduces three new honey products

Innovative twists on honey are creating a buzz

Eugene, Ore: Honey and natural ingredient company GloryBee continues to “Wow!” the honey industry with the introduction of three exciting new honey products. This September 14-16 at Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, GloryBee will unveil their latest honey sensations at booth #621. As a honey company that’s been in business for more than 40 years, it’s hard to imagine anything from the hive GloryBee hasn’t offered before, yet these three new honey variations are distinctively unique.

Honey Vinegar, Pumpkin spice honey, save the bee honeyArtisan Fermented Honey

  • 2017 Nexty Awards Finalist for “Best New Condiment”
  • Made with exotic Thai longan blossom honey
  • Aged for six month in traditional Thai fermenting vats

Pumpkin Spice Honey

  • Latest addition to GloryBee’s Gourmet Honey product line
  • The taste of homemade pumpkin pie infused with classic clover honey
  • Pumpkin Spice is the Fall Holiday Season’s most popular flavor

SAVE the BEE Honey

  • A honey with a mission to save declining bee populations
  • Made with 100% pure clover blossom Honey
  • 10% of all sales supports honey bee health research

GloryBee and SAVE the BEE
All GloryBee Honey is 100 percent pure with no added fillers or sweeteners—respecting the hard working honey bees who labor to produce their product and care for our planet.  A portion of all sales of GloryBee Honey is donated to the SAVE the BEE program to help fund critical honey bee health research.

ABOUT GLORYBEE
GloryBee is a honey and natural ingredient company committed to supporting a healthy life for our consumers, producers, communities and the environment. Founded in the Pacific Northwest in 1975, we source, process and distribute the very best earth-made and healthy living products, supplying natural food manufacturers, bakeries and markets – as well as sharing our GloryBee branded products directly with you. We believe our company is a force for good by providing honey and hive products, natural cooking and baking ingredients, alternative sweeteners, beekeeping supplies, and natural bath and body craft supplies with integrity. Our Save the Bee program has been actively supporting bee population health since 2012.

 

10 Things Everyone Should Know About Honey

When most people think of honey, they think of traditional golden sweet honey. But wait a minute!--not all honey is golden. Nor is all honey sweet.  Did you know, some honeys in the southern USA are purple? And eucalyptus honey tastes like menthol. It’s true. There’s more to honey than most people expect. Here are 10 more honey facts to think about:

  1. Honeycomb with DabberOn average, one hive of bees makes about 75 pounds of honey a year.
  2. There are different varietals of honey. In the U.S., there are more than 300 varietals of honey.
  3. Honey is said to have restorative properties— Some people use it to treat allergies, dandruff, and some even claim it can help with their ulcers.
  4. Not only bees make honey. Some wasps make honey too.
  5. Honey never spoils- when kept in an airtight container, honey will last forever! Archeologists unearthed some honey in an enclosed Egyptian pharaoh’s tomb that was over 3,000 years old--and it was still edible!
  6. Honey contains more nutrients than refined sugars, including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin b6, vitamin c, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
  7. The average American consumes 1.5 pounds of honey per year.
  8. Some use Honey to prevent hangovers. They claim that honey speeds up the metabolism of alcohol sugars.
  9. Honey is the only food source produced by an insect that humans eat.
  10. A single bee makes 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime. A typical little 12-ounce honey bear squeeze bottle takes the lifetime of 864 bees to make all the honey that goes inside it.