Honey-Garlic Chicken Wings

This recipe takes time and patience, but is so worth it in the end. Sticky, sweet goodness! Serves 6 to 12. 

1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp granulated garlic, granulated
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 cup Beary Berry Honey
1.5 kg chicken wings
2 tbsp sesame seeds, black & white for garnish
2 green onion, finely sliced – green part only

  1. Stir together the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and honey. Pour half the marinade into a large baking dish or large resealable bag and add the chicken wings. Massage to coat. Marinate at least 4 hours, overnight if you have time. Reserve the remaining marinade for basting the wings as they roast.
  2. When ready to cook, place oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425°F.
  3. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly oil the foil.
  4. Arrange the meat in a single layer on the baking sheet (but don’t crowd – use two pans if your baking sheets are small).
  5. Roast the chicken wings about 20 minutes. Turn them over and roast another 15 minutes. Turn over, baste, and repeat every 10 minutes until gorgeous, sticky and cooked through, about 60 to 70 minutes total.
  6. Remove the pan from the oven, arrange the chicken wings on a platter, and garnish them with the sliced green onion and sesame seeds.

 

Tips, Suggestions & Information

  • You can use our clear or creamed, 100% pure, unpasteurized honey. If you use our Ginger Honey, skip the ground ginger.
  • If you like it spicy, add 1/2 tsp ground red chili or 1 to 2 tbsp Sriracha sauce to the marinade.
  • This works well with chicken thighs. Simply roast longer to cook them through.
  • This also works well for chicken skewers using thinly sliced boneless, skinless thighs or breasts. Marinate them just an hour or two.
  • Works great with thinly sliced pork ribs or beef ribs – these benefit from marinating 24 hours.

Recipe and image copyright ElaineWilson.com, used with permission.

Ginger Beef (or chicken/pork/tempeh)

This is an easy-to-make version of the Chinese take-away favourite. Adapted for Porkapalooza from a recipe by Elaine Wilson. Serves 4 to 6 as part of a multi-course Chinese meal.

500 gr chicken, pork, or beef sliced into pieces that are 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 2″
— Marinade —
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tbsp grated ginger (optional – for extra zing!)
plus
4 tbsp Beary Berry Honey Mandarin Sesame Vinaigrette
(OR)
3 tbsp Beary Berry Honey Spicy Ginger Glaze
2 tbsp water
— Coating —
1 cup cornstarch (might not use it all)
3 cups oil
— Sauce —
1 tbsp oil
3 garlic clove, minced
4 tbsp ginger, finely chopped
6 green onion, sliced into 1/2″ pieces
3 to 4 tbsp water
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup Beary Berry Honey Spicy Ginger Glaze
toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

  1. Marinate the meat for at least 2 hours, preferably 4 to 6 hours (overnight is good).
  2. When ready to cook, heat a medium sauce pan with the oil over medium heat until 375 degrees. (Make sure oil is at least 2-inches deep and surface of the oil is at least 6 inches from the top of the pot.)
  3. Sprinkle a tray with a good layer of cornstarch to coat the bottom.
  4. Scatter the meat onto the tray so that the pieces are not quite touching.
  5. Sprinkle all the meat with a generous coating of cornstarch. Let sit a couple of minutes.
  6. Toss the meat to coat well and leave them not quite touching. Use a bit more cornstarch if you need.
  7. Carefully slide 1/3 of the meat into the oil a piece at a time. It will bubble a bit and then calm down after a moment or two. Stir the meat with a slotted metal spoon or an Asian spider tool. Fry the meat until it starts to brown and get crispy, about 4 minutes or so.
  8. Using the slotted metal spoon, remove the meat to a plate. Repeat twice with remaining meat.
  9. In a large pan, fry the garlic, ginger and scallions over medium heat until fragrant and they are starting to brown slightly.
  10. Return all the meat to the oil and fry a second time until very crisp and nicely browned, another minute or two.
  11. Remove the meat from the oil in batches using the slotted spoon, shake off excess oil and place the meat into the large fry pan with the ginger and green onions.
  12. To the large fry pan add a few tablespoons of water and let the pan spit and sizzle – careful of the steam. Add 1/2 cup of the glaze and stir cook until well coated and thickened – use a bit more glaze if you like. Scoop the meat onto a plate, garnish with sesame seeds if you like, and serve hot. (PS – it’s delicious cold, too, if there’s any left over. Which there won’t be. But just in case there is.)

Tips/Suggestions/Variations

  • The cornstarch makes a crunchier coating than flour.
  • Up the ginger if you like the flavour very strong.
  • Want heat? Add 1 or 2 sliced Thai chilis when you fry the scallions and ginger, or add 1/2 tsp of chili flakes when you add the water near the end.
  • Vegetarian? This works pretty darn well with strips of tempeh (pressed soy beans). Check the deli or frozen section of your organic or natural foods market or section of a supermarket.

Recipe and image copyright ElaineWilson.com, used with permission.

Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Goat Cheese

This salad is excellent with any strong-tasting leafy green like spinach, arugula, kale, tatsoi, chicory, beet greens, mustard greens, radicchio, etc.

125 gr spinach leaves (or other greens)
100 to 150 gr crumbled or diced goat/sheep cheese
1/2 cup toasted nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.)
a handful of cooked, crumbled bacon, preferably from a local farm
6 to 8 tbsp Beary Berry Honey Strawberry Lemon Vinaigrette

  1. If the leaves are quite large, roughly tear them into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl.
  2. Toss the greens with 4 to 4 tbsp of the  Strawberry Vinaigrette (less or more to your taste) then divide the greens among 8 salad plates.
  3. Sprinkle with some of the goat cheese, then nuts, then berries – add a bit more of everything until your salad looks scrumptious.
  4. Drizzle with more vinaigrette if you choose.

Tips/Suggestions/Variations

  • Don’t dress the salad until shortly before serving as vinaigrette will cause the greens to wilt.
  • Lots of local sources for greens, berries and cheese. Check out your local farmers markets. The Cheesiry sheep and goat cheeses are great for this salad.
  • Change up the berries/fruit/nuts and try one of our other vinaigrettes for this salad: Raspberry Balsamic, Cranberry Cherry, or Moroccan Blueberry (with blueberries, pistachios and feta cheese).
  • Toasted nuts are great – candied nuts are even better!

Recipe and image copyright ElaineWilson.com, used with permission.

Beet Green and Bacon Salad with Berry Vinaigrette

Don’t throw away those gorgeous beet greens! Use them in stirfry, soups, and side dishes. With tons of nutrition and flavour, and paired with berries, bacon and sheep cheese, they make an amazing salad.

3 to 4 cups beet greens, stem removed (or spinach, arugula, romaine or other lettuce)
a handful of crumbled or diced goat/sheep cheese, preferably from a local farm
a handful of toasted nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.)
a handful of cooked, crumbled bacon, preferably from a local farm
a handful of berries of your choice

  1. Toss the greens with half of the vinaigrette (recipe below) and divide between two salad plates.
  2. Sprinkle with some of the cheese, then nuts, then bacon, then berries – add a bit more of everything until you think your salad looks scrumptious.
  3. Drizzle with more salad dressing if you choose.

Quick  Berry Vinaigrette

1 tbsp Beary Berry HoneyBlack Raspberry, Red Raspberry or Pomegranate
1 tbsp raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar
2 tbsp mashed berries (fresh or frozen)
water to thin just to your taste

Whisk everything together in a small bowl and adjust for sweetness or acid. Season with salt and/or pepper if you like.  Drizzled over greens with some toasted nuts, goat cheese, and sliced fresh fruit or dried fruit.

(OR)  Use Beary Beary Honey Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Recipe copyright ElaineWilson.com, used with permission.


Resources

Beary Berry Honey products available at farmers markets, their farm store near Tofield, in SaveOn Stores, and in many local shops. Visit BearyBerryHoney.com or call 780-662-3577.

The Cheesiry cheese products available at farmers markets, their farm store near Kitscoty, and in many local shops. Visit TheCheesiry.com for more information.

Irvings Farms pork and bacon products available at farmers market, their farm store near Round Hill, and in many local shops. Visit IrvingsFarmFresh.com for more information.


Check out EatEastOfEdmonton.com for a listing of the many farms east of Edmonton that you can visit and where they grow our vegetables, grains and the meat we enjoy. You can also get recommended routes for self-guided tours of the region, including the many farms open to visitors.

Visit GoEastRTO.com for suggested day trips of activities, festivals, and sightseeing in the region east of Edmonton.

Quickled Beets (Quick Pickled Beets)

Quickled Beets | Quick Pickled Beets (hot process)
We don’t all have the space or time to pickle quarts of vegetables to put by for winter. This is a quick and easy way to make small batch pickles overnight that keep for ages in the fridge.  (Recipe and photo courtesy Elaine Wilson, FoodYouCanCook.com)

3 tbsp pickling vinegar
3 tbsp water
3 tbsp Beary Berry Honey, liquid or creamed
1 medium beet, peeled

  1. Halve the beet and lay one half flat side down. Cut it in half again shortways, and thinly slice so that you produce thin half moons. Repeat with the remaining beet half.
  2. Press the sliced pieces into a 250-ml (1-cup), heat-proof jar. The beets will lose some of their water in the process, so press in as many as you can.
  3. In a heat proof pan over medium heat, stir together the water, vinegar and honey until the honey dissolves and the liquid comes to a bubble. Remove from the heat.
  4. Pour the hot liquid over the beets – you might have a bit leftover. Wipe the rim if sticky, then screw on the lid.
  5. Let sit at room temperature one day, or refrigerate several days. Will last for weeks in the refrigerator.

You can use this method for any vegetable that you want sweet pickled, such as cucumber slices, pearl onions, carrots, etc.


Quickled Beets | Quick Pickled Beets (cold process)

As above, but don’t heat the pickling liquid. Pour the cold liquid over the vegetables then place the jar in the fridge where they will keep for ages. They taste good the next day, but even better the longer they sit. Bonus: you can use any jar that seals well, so great for repurposing. (Recipe courtesy Elaine Wilson, FoodYouCanCook.com)

Tips/Variations:

  • Try flavoured Beary Berry honeys: Ginger, Tangerine or Chai would be delicious
  • Add 5 or 6 slices of ginger.
  • Add pickling spice and/or dill.
  • Use orange juice instead of water.
  • Add 1 or more sliced chili peppers.
  • The hot process quickles faster but will cause colours for most vegetables to fade somewhat. The cold process takes longer but will make crunchier, brighter vegetables.

Recipes copyright ElaineWilson.com, used with permission.


 

Resources

Beary Berry Honey products available at farmers markets, their farm store near Tofield, in SaveOn Stores, and in many local shops. Visit BearyBerryHoney.com or call 780-662-3577.

Check out EatEastOfEdmonton.com for a listing of the many farms east of Edmonton that you can visit and where they grow our vegetables, grains and the meat we enjoy. You can also get recommended routes for self-guided tours of the region, including the many farms open to visitors.

Visit GoEastRTO.com for suggested day trips of activities, festivals, and sightseeing in the region east of Edmonton.

Strawberry Lemon Greek Yogurt Popsicles

A super refreshing treat, great for a hot summer day. Get creative, using different kinds of fruit, yogurts, and honey.

1/2 cup chopped strawberries (or other fruit of your choice)
1 cup Greek Yogurt (not non-fat, at least 2%)
2 tbsp Beary Berry Honey Lemon Honey (or your favourite fruit honey)

  1. Puree the fruit in a blender.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt and honey.
  3. Fold in the fruit puree and pour the mixture into popsicle moulds.
  4. Freeze them for at least 3 hours before serving.

Recipe adapted from Bee Maid Honey.

 

Strawberry Lemonade

The recipe can be made in large batches and frozen for your own ready-to-use concentrate. Have fun with the flavours and experiment with different fruit and honeys.

zest of 5 to 6 large lemons
250 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (5 to 6 lemons)
250 ml Beary Berry Honey
2 cups strawberries, chopped

  1. Zest the lemons before juicing them.
  2. In a blender, puree together the lemon juice, honey and strawberries.
  3. Add the lemon zest and plus a couple of times (you don’t want to break it down too much).
  4. Bottle and keep in the fridge several days, or freeze in 1/2 cup portions.

To make lemonade, use 3 to 4 tbsp of concentrate per 8 oz of water, or to your taste.

Tips / Variations

  • Works with liquid or creamed honey. If you like a sweeter lemonade, use more honey.
  • No strawberries? No problem. Use our Strawberry Honey for a subtle strawberry lemonade.
  • Skip the fruit altogether for simple lemonade concentrate.
  • Use other citrus fruit to make different concentrates: lime, grapefruit, orange, Meyer lemon, tangerine, etc.

Recipe and image copyright ElaineWilson.com, used with permission.