(Courtesy of the National Honey Board)
What’s better than spending quality time with family? Whether you’re enjoying a backyard cookout, movie night, game night or just hanging out together in the kitchen, there’s nothing sweeter. The National Honey Board (NHB) is buzzing with excitement over our collaboration with another great organization that understands the importance of family, Disney, for the release of their all-new live-action epic adventure, The Jungle Book, in theaters April 15th. With something for everyone, this truly is a film for the whole family, and we are proud to be a part of it.
As one of nature’s most versatile ingredients, all-natural honey provides dishes with incredible flavor and unmatched functional benefits, making it the “bare necessity” that spans the entire menu. Inspired by this collaboration, the NHB has teamed up with cookbook author and blogger Laura Fuentes to develop come fun new family recipes that feature our favorite sweetener, honey.
From fun snacks to full meals, the six playful yet simple recipes are for youngsters and the young-at-heart. So gather the troops and settle in with one of these fun and flavorful honey recipes!
Be sure to check out Disney’s The Jungle Book, in theaters April 15th.
Honey Baked Chicken with Carrot Fries
Baked in the oven, these honey drumsticks are juicy and delicious. This is one recipe both kids and adults will love.
2 tablespoons – honey
2 tablespoons – Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon – kosher salt
¾ teaspoon – curry powder
¼ teaspoon – black pepper
Olive oil or spray
12 – chicken drumsticks, skin removed
1 pound – carrots
2 teaspoons – olive oil
½ teaspoon – kosher salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with foil and spray or grease it with olive oil. Arrange drumsticks onto the pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, Dijon mustard, salt, curry powder, and black pepper. Generously brush the honey mixture onto the chicken, making sure the entire drumstick is covered with the honey glaze. Save leftover for basting throughout baking. Bake for 1 hour, basting half way through, until the chicken is browned and juices run clear, making sure the drumsticks were flipped around minute 40 for both sides to brown. While the chicken is cooking, wash, peel and cut carrots into strips. Toss carrots with olive oil and salt in a large bowl. Once the chicken is finished cooking, remove from oven and cover with foil. Turn oven up to 450F and bake carrots for 10 minutes, until the thickest slices are golden and the tops are crispy. Serve carrots with chicken drumsticks.
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Honey Bear Lunchbox
Peanut butter sandwiches will never be the same once kids try the apple and honey combination. Also, kids and adults alike will be happily surprised with they taste it with a side of veggies and berries.
1 ½ teaspoons – honey
2 slices – whole-grain bread
1 tablespoon – peanut butter
¼ – honey-crisp or granny smith apple, thinly sliced
Fresh berries and veggies for the lunchbox
Directions
Place bread on a flat surface and spread peanut butter onto both slices of bread. Place apple slices onto one side, drizzle with honey and close sandwich. Serve with freshly washed berries and veggies.
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Honey Forest Bowl
Do your kids like takeout? They will love this recipe!
½ cup – honey
½ cup – reduced sodium soy sauce
1 cup – beef broth
4 – cloves garlic, grated
1 tablespoon – sesame oil
1 tablespoon – rice vinegar
1 tablespoon – fresh ginger
1 teaspoon – chili paste
½ teaspoon – onion powder
½ teaspoon – pepper
2 ½ pounds – boneless beef chuck roast, cubed
2 tablespoons – corn starch
Sesame seeds
2 – green onions, thinly sliced
2 cups – white rice
1 ½ pounds – broccoli florets, about 2 crowns
Directions
Inside the bowl of the slow cooker, place honey, soy sauce, beef broth, grated garlic, sesame oil, vinegar, ginger, chili paste, onion powder and pepper. With a whisk, combine all ingredients. Place cubed beef inside slow cooker and toss to combine with sauce, until all beef cubes are covered. Cover and cook, on low heat for 8 hours or high 4 hours. In the final 5 minutes, just prior to serving, add sesame seeds and green onions. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, prior to serving, cook 2 cups of rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, steam broccoli on a steamer or microwave. To serve, build a bed of rice, about 1/3 cup cooked, top with beef and steamed broccoli.
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Jungle Honey Lettuce Cups
3 tablespoons – honey
2 tablespoons – soy sauce
1 tablespoon – rice vinegar
½ tablespoon – sesame oil
2 tablespoons – olive oil
1 – small onion, diced
2 – cloves garlic, grated
1 ½ pounds – ground chicken or turkey
½ cup – shredded carrots
½ cup – shredded purple cabbage
½ cup – bean sprouts
1/3 cup – honey roasted peanuts
Butter lettuce leaves – for serving
Directions
In a small bowl, whisk to combine honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Set aside. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, place olive oil and onions. Begin to sauté onions until they become golden and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for an additional minute. To the soft onions, add in ground chicken and shredded carrots. Cook, stirring frequently and while breaking up the chicken pieces, until it’s cooked throughout, for about 5-7 minutes. Pour sauce over cooked chicken mixture and combine. Place the lid, reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes. Top with bean sprouts, chopped cabbage, and roasted peanuts and cover for an additional 3 minutes. Scoop mixture into lettuce cups and serve.
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Hungry Monkey Honey Oats
Overnight oats are a great way to have a delicious and nutritious breakfast ready to go in the morning.
4 teaspoons – honey
2 teaspoons – ground flax
2 cups – old fashioned oats
3 cups – milk
4 tablespoons – almond butter
2 – bananas, divided
Directions
On a flat surface, place 4 bowls or lidded glass jars. Fill each with 1/2 teaspoon ground flax, 1/2 cup oats and 1 tablespoon almond butter. Peel and mash one banana. Divide mashed banana into the four oat mixtures. Pour 3/4 cup of milk over the banana and oat mixture and with a spoon, combine ingredients. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. When ready to eat, serve cold or warm up for 30 seconds in the microwave. Slice remaining banana, top each oat mixture with banana slices and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of honey over the top. Combine and enjoy.
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Safari Honey-Butter-Cinnamon Popcorn
This is no ordinary popcorn. This is the ultimate movie-time (or anytime) snack!
2 tablespoons – honey
½ cup – corn kernels, popped to yield approx. six cups of popcorn
2 tablespoons – butter
¼ teaspoon – cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
Directions
Air pop or microwave the corn kernels and transfer to a large bowl. In a small microwave safe dish, add butter, honey, cinnamon and salt. Place in microwave for 20-30 seconds, until butter is melted. Using a fork, combine the honey-butter mixture. Pour over popcorn and toss until the mixture is distributed throughout.
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