Honey's Many Wonders

Oh, honey! There are so many reasons to love it! Honey is a natural topical antibiotic, a cough suppressant and is good for your skin. It's also a natural sweetener that can boost energy.

Natural honey is hard to come by these days. It's true that what you find in the grocery store may not be everything you hoped it would be. Often times the pollen is completely filtered out. Bee pollen is full of protein, vitamins, minerals, lipids, and carbohydrates. The pollen from flowers is packaged by the honeybees with nectar and enzymes, which then turns it into a super-food.

I spent months traveling through Washington and Oregon to find the perfect honey. I wanted something wholesome and different. Aside from selecting honey that is truly delicious, it’s also raw (no pollen filtering!), unheated, Kosher and gluten-free.

Farm Belle honey comes in clover, lemon, raspberry and blackberry. For Fall, I’ve added lavender and pineapple-lemon pepper honeys. They all pair so beautifully with teas, toasts and other wholesome snacks.

So, indulge in something sweet and feel good about it!

R O S A N N I N C . C O M

Make a Place Your Own

I'm partnering with my friends over at Family Eats again! Be sure to check out their post on creating delicious, healthy meals and snacks while on the road this summer here.

All of us want a "home away from home," like a great cafe, restaurant, or bar, where we can go on a regular basis and be recognized and appreciated - and of course, enjoy fabulous food and drink! Here are some tips for finding your own special spot.

• Find a place relatively close to home. Easy access is the key to frequent visits and quick bonding with the waiters and owners.
• Pick a place that makes something you simply love to eat, something you couldn't replicate at home. When you pick a place, choose somewhere that offers an experience that is truly special and unique.

• Select a place that makes you feel instantly at home. Seek out a space with an ambiance that invites you in and soothes your psyche, a place that makes you feel calm, safe, and welcome. You'll know when you've found the right place because it will feel like sinking into a big overstuffed club chair with a relived "ahhhhh."
• Finally, and most importantly, pick a place that makes you feel special and appreciated as soon as you walk through the door. Make sure the waiters and chefs take notice of you, and show them your appreciate with a warm greeting. Reaching out yourself does wonders for inspiring a welcome filled with warmth and hospitality.

Enjoy!

With love,

www.rosannainc.com

Blackberry Biscuits--A Perfect Summer Treat

In keeping with the blog’s recent theme of healthy eating, I wanted to share a summer dessert recipe for Blackberry Biscuits that hit the Big Three:

It’s easy,

it’s local,

and it’s healthy.

…and did I mention it’s delicious?

This is a dessert that can be prepared in the time it takes to wash the dinner dishes, put away the leftovers, and make tea. It’s a very low-maintenance endeavor.

Picking the blackberries yourself fulfills the local part of the dessert. Substituting whole wheat mix for white flour mix, and a dollop of luscious non-fat Greek yogurt for whipped cream makes this dish delicious without the guilt of over-indulgence.

 

The perfumey delicacy of the blackberry compote pairs perfectly with a cup of lemon verbena-lavender tea, which you can make by simply boiling some lavender blossoms and verbena leaves over high heat.

Have I sold you yet? In case you need more convincing, here’s the recipe:

Blackberry Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

For the compote

3 cups ripe blackberries

1/4 -1/2 cup sugar, honey, or agave (the amount of sweetener will vary depending on the ripeness of your berries)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the biscuits

1 package whole-wheat biscuit/pancake mix

Milk

Butter

(read the back to see what your specific mix calls for)

For yogurt

1 container plain 0% Greek yogurt

DIRECTIONS

-Prepare biscuit batter according the instructions on the package

-Put in oven to bake

-Wash berries

-Pour into to a small saucepan over med-low heat

-Stir in sweetener, lemon juice, and a little water

-Simmer gently until the berries liquefy and begin to thicken, 10-15 minutes

-Slice baked biscuits in half, place one biscuit in a bowl, ladle yogurt in and pour the blackberry compote on top.

-Savor or devour, according to your preference.

www.rosannainc.com