We were given some honey from a local backyard beehive.
Raw honey is so much better for you than the processed stuff available at the store. The health benefits are retained due to the fact that the honey hasn't been heated excessively. The honey retains natural enzymes, minerals and vitamins. This product is easily digested by humans (although very young humans should wait a bit).
Backyard bee keeping 101:
Lemon Honey Madeleines
3/4 cup unsalted butter1 1/2 cups flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon coarse salt3 large eggs2 large egg yolks1/4 c. honey1/2 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter madeleine pans. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Mix eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest and juice until pale and thickened. Drizzle in the melted butter. Fold in the flour mixture. Set aside for 30. Pour batter into buttered pans, filling the molds 3/4 full. Bake cookies for 7 to 8 minutes. Let cookies cool slightly. Place on a platter and dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.
You can make large size and mini sized cookies, just get the appropriate pans.
I couldn't resist acting on an idea I had, hedgehogs fashioned out of madeleines. First trim the pointed bit of the cookie to make it more pointed like a nose. A bit of the honey was lightly melted and the cookie was dipped in it, then rolled in coconut. A small amount of icing and bob's your uncle, a hedgehog.
I was happier with the look of the mini size for the hedgehogs.
*********************************************************************************
