So Simple Chicken Tenders and Homemade Spicy Honey Mustard

For the Chicken Tenders:

4 Chicken breasts

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 Tbsp. Sea Salt

Olive oil for frying

For the Sauce:

2 Tbsp. Mustard

2 Tbsp. Yogurt or Mayo

1 Tbsp. Honey

Dash of Cayenne

Slice uncooked chicken breasts in strips. In a bowl mix flour and salt. In a skillet heat enough oil to cover the pan on Medium. Coat strips in flour mixture and lay gently in pan. It will take a few rounds to cook all of the chicken. Flip chicken once you see golden brown underneath.

As the chicken is cooking in a small bowl stir all sauce ingredients together.

That’s it! Enjoy!

 

Homemade Honey Banana Bread

When life gives you old bananas…make banana bread!

Now I’m not much of a baker but this time I nailed it. Rich, buttery and surprisingly filling, this bread makes a quick breakfast or satisfying night cap. I tend to deviate from the recipe so I will give you plenty of options to make this your own delicious creation.

Homemade Honey Banana Bread

1 1/2 cups Bisquick (I suggest the homemade recipe below)

3 Ripe Bananas

1/2 cup Brown Sugar (or any sweetener of your choice – honey, molasses, syrup, agave, etc.)

1/8 cup Honey or just a heavy, quick pour

1/2 cup Applesauce or 2 eggs

4 tbsp. Melted Butter, Clarified Butter (Ghee) or Coconut Oil

Optional: Cinnamon, Walnuts, Pecans, Chocolate Chips, Vanilla Extract, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If making Bisquick, follow recipe below and set aside. In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add brown sugar or other sweetener of your choice. Drizzle in a heavy handed pour of honey. Add applesauce or eggs. Pour in melted butter or coconut oil. Stir until incorporated. Slowly stir in Bisquick. Batter should be thick and clumpy. At this point you can add any extras that you like! Pour batter into a greased 9 x 9 glass casserole dish and bake for 45 min or until your kitchen smells so good you can’t wait another minute.

Homemade Bisquick

1 1/2 cup flour (I used Whole Grain Wheat Flour and it gave the bread some hardiness)

3/4 tbsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tbsp. Salt

4 tbsp. Room Temperature Butter, Ghee or Coconut Oil

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients with your hands until the mixture begins to resemble cornmeal.

 

Enjoy and may all the rich, buttery goodness keep you warm and nourished until it starts to feel like Spring!

 

 

 

Quarry Hill Orchards

When I was a kid, way back in the good old days, my grandfather liked nothing better than to pile us into a car (no air conditioning, of course) and head out to the country to buy fruit, or just see the sights. The orchards near Lake Erie were a favorite destination.

After much teasing and telling us we weren’t going to stop this time, we’d always pull into my all-time favorite little ice cream stand on Route 113 for cones, or on rare occasions, a chili dog and a chocolate milk shake.

Then it was on to countless fruit and vegetable stands. Apples, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, plums, cherries, pumpkins – each season brought its own treasure hunt. One of our stops was usually Quarry Hill Orchards in Berlin Heights.

To sit in the backseat of Grandpa’s car eating one of their apples, or a peach, as we drove through beautiful farmland, is one of my best childhood memories.

And now, four thousand years later with a grandchild of my own to take for a drive to get ice cream, we are proud to say some of our products are carried at Quarry Hill.

Drive out to get some of our lavender infused creamed honey. While you’re there, check out their large selection of items from around Ohio – pickles, jellies, maple syrup, noodles, baking mixes, popcorn, and candies to name a few.

And you certainly won’t be able to pass up their fruit.

So pile your kids into the car, or your grandkids, or your friends – heck, grab a stranger if you have to – and take a drive to “the country” to buy some fruit, pick up some honey, and indulge in an ice cream cone.

The memories you’ll create are priceless.

Rhubarb Chutney with Honey

 

Rhubarb. Delicious, tart, multi-colored rhubarb.

It’s here for such a short season that it would be a dirty rotten shame not to make the most of it. Rhubarb belongs in pies and salsa and BBQ sauce and jam. And it most definitely belongs in chutney.

Sweet/sour/addicting chutney with honey.

Simply defined, chutney is a “thick sauce that is made from fruits, vinegar, sugar, and spices”. It goes great with roasted meats like chicken. And pork. And it practically begs to be eaten with turkey. In fact, slathering some of this richly colored chutney on your
Thanksgiving turkey is like having a taste of Spring freshness on a late Fall day.

Chutney is easy to make: 10 minutes of chopping, 30 minutes of simmering, 15 minutes of canning and that’s it — you have captured Spring and put it in a jar.If you’re not a canner, you can simply slip the cooled chutney into a freezer jar and eliminate the last step of the process.

Don’t you love all the colors of rhubarb. Deep red. Light red. Green – all in one stalk. Beautiful.

This Honey Rhubarb Chutney recipe comes from a wonderful website called The Elliott Homestead.   It’s a combination of rhubarb, dried cherries, onions, spices and, of course, honey.

Simmer all the ingredients together for about a half hour and you are ready to can.

If you can stand it. I had a hard time not eating it all before I canned it.It tastes like pie in a jar. And who can resist a good pie in a jar!

But resist I did. My two pounds of rhubarb yielded five pints of chutney. Five pints will not hold me until next rhubarb season so I will be making this deliciousness again. And again. And again.

Rhubarb season is short. But with about an hour of work, you can preserve it for the year. And on those dark, grey days of Winter, you’ll be happy you did. It is sunshine in a jar.

Honey Rhubarb Chutney

2 lbs. rhubarb, cut into pieces
2 cups raw honey
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup diced onion
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Simmer approx. 30 minutes. 
The rhubarb will begin to break down and loose its shape and the liquid will 
thicken slightly. Laddle into sterilized pint jars and process in a hot water
bath for 15 minutes. Cool and listen for the telltale "ping" as the jars are 
cooling. Store in a cool dark cupboard for up to a year. 
NOTE: The cooled chutney can be put into freezer jars and frozen instead of 
canned.

 

 

A Day at “The Flea”

On the second Saturday of the month, from April through October, you can find us at one of my most favorite venues on the planet – The Cleveland Flea.

“Part urban treasure hunt

Part culinary adventure

Part maker center”

 

The Flea is a day of people watching, treasure hunting, Food Truck binging and enjoying the unique, slightly quirky flavor of Cleveland.

First of all, if you didn’t know the flea was happening, you would never just stumble upon it. Tucked into a parking lot between several warehouses and factories off of Superior and East 36th Street in Cleveland’s Asia Town, The Flea isn’t visible from the street. But the hundreds of people you see walking towards it from off-site parking is a dead giveaway. To the untrained eye, you’d ask yourself where the heck are all these people going on a Saturday afternoon. If you’d allow yourself to follow your curiosity and see where they were heading, you’d discover a true gem.

Hundreds of vendors bring handmade wares,

locally made deliciousness,

vintage one-of-a-kinds,

or slightly odd items you’d love to buy for that certain someone in your life.

We’re there with our full selection of honey, soap and yarn.

But if I’m being honest here, I’m really in it for the food.

I mean, who wouldn’t love a “mobile mini donut mini kitchen” Or the Pieorgi Lady. Or Cleveland Kraut. Or  a cevapi sandwich from Taste of Europa. Or …. I could go on and on. Let’s just say you won’t go hungry at The Flea.

These people didn’t!

If you want to experience true Cleveland, put The Flea on your calendar

You will enjoy each and every moment of it.

And come see us. We’ll be in booth 40, right in the heart of all the action.

Hope to see you May 14th.

 

 

Find us at the Flea

It’s only two weeks ’til Flea Season. No, no, no. Not the tiny creatures that land on the dogs type of Flea Season. Nobody in their right mind looks forward to that season.

This is much better. This is the Cleveland Flea – a once a month outdoor market that starts April 16 and runs through October. And we are proud vendors.

In the Flea’s own words, it is “Part urban treasure hunt. Part culinary adventure.” It is a “small business incubator that draws thousands of Northeast Ohioans to lesser-known neighborhoods in the city to shop curated vintage, culinary all-stars and the most talented makers in the region.”

But in one word, what it really is is Fun! More than 170 really cool vendors. Food trucks. Music. People watching. If you haven’t been to a Flea, you are missing a great part of the eclectic-ness of Cleveland.

Located in a parking lot off of Superior Avenue in AsiaTown, the Flea is typically held the second Saturdays of the Summer months from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first Flea of the season is  April 16th. (Yes, I know. This one is the third Saturday. There’s always something that throws a wrench in the works isn’t there!)

Other Flea dates are: May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10 and October 8. Put at least one of these on your calendar. But seriously, try to attend as many as you can.

Spend a morning walking around with a little bag of donuts you watched them make. The taste will make you weep tears of joy. Shop for re-purposed furniture made from found treasures. Get a cocktail made with local spirits and fresh herbs from local organic gardens. Sit at a picnic table and watch the world go by.

Really, if an out-of-towner asked what is a must-do thing in Cleveland, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell them it’s the Flea. Well, that and a Cleveland Indians game on a sunny Summer afternoon, but that’s another story.

Make sure you stop by our booth to say hello. We’d love to meet you.

Rich & Creamy Hand Made Soaps

It is time to spoil yourself rotten. And guess what – you don’t have to break the bank to do it. Our artisan bars of all-natural handmade soap are back in stock.

Beautifully scented Orange Clove Shaving Soap. So rich and lathery (Yes, lathery is a word. I just made it up) your face will thank you. But just because it says shaving soap, don’t think you can’t use it as a regular body soap. This soap is full of olive oil, coconut oil, goats milk and honey so it will leave you baby soft.

Or how about my personal favorite, Goats Milk and Honey. If I’m ever forced to wash my mouth out with soap (it really could be an every-day occurrence!), I would pick this soap for the job. Delicious.

And then there’s Cherry Almond. I think I hear angels sing when I use this soap. Remember the original Jergens lotion we all used as kids. This is the same smell. Fresh, Clean. A throwback to your childhood.

All of soaps are made the old-fashioned, cold process way, by hand,  in small batches of 24. What that means for you is that we leave all the rich glycerin in the soap to moisturize your skin. Most commercial soap companies take it out to sell separately which is why many soaps can leave your skin feeling dry.

We can pay close attention to detail using ingredients you’d find in your own kitchen – olive oil, honey, oatmeal and goats milk.

Our soaps are long lasting too. Make sure you use a soap dish to keep them elevated out of sitting water.

Check out all our luscious, silky varieties. They are only $5 each.

 

 

 

Where to Find us this Holiday Season

Brighton Wool & Honey Co. is on the move this holiday season. We will be out and about all over the greater Cleveland/Akron area and we hope to see you.

We are true believers in the Shop Small, Shop Local movement. When you shop with small, local merchants, more of your money stays in your community, supporting the parks, libraries and other things that make your hometown a wonderful place to life. Not to mention the fact that small businesses offer some of the most creative and unique gifts around!

COUNTRYSIDE FARMERS’ MARKET AT OLD TRAIL SCHOOL

9 a.m. – noon
December 5, 12 & 19

CLEVELAND BAZAAR AT WINTERFEST

Saturday, November 28th

10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

5th Street Arcade, Cleveland

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT THAT’LL DO FARM

Sunday, November 29th

Noon – 5 p.m.

34634 State Route 303, Grafton

Cleveland Bazaar at Coventry

Saturday, December 5th

10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

At the Grog Shop & Above Mongolian BBQ in Coventry

The Cleveland Flea Holiday Market

December 11 – 13

Details coming soon

Cleveland Bazaar at 78th Street Studios

Saturday, December 12th

10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday, December 13th

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

78th Street Studios in Gordon Square, Cleveland

LAST MINUTE MARKET

Saturday, December 19  10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Galleria at Erieview

1301 East 9th Street, Cleveland

Gluten-Free Honey Desserts for Thanksgiving Everyone will Love

Let me say, right out of the shoot, that I am pro-gluten. Given a choice, I would consume it by the ton. Pizza. French bread. Toll House cookies. Pie. Stuffing. Red Velvet cake. And that glorious thing of beauty, the well designed hamburger bun.

The problem is gluten is not pro me. We are not the friends I thought we were. Gluten was cruel to me, so a few years ago, we had to part ways. It was not an easy break up, but for the most part, it has been amicable. Oh sure, there are days when I miss my old friend so much that I need to pay a brief visit. But I soon realized that we can never really be together again. I had to find move on. I had to find new friends.

Thanksgiving, however, is a full gluten event. From the gravy, thickened with flour, to the numerous pies and cakes, gluten plays a major role at the Thanksgiving table.

Thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest, I have found many gluten-free options for Thanksgiving desserts. And since we happen to have a few dozen hives of bees producing the best honey around, I looked for gluten-free desserts staring honey.

This is my favorite: Healthy Pumpkin Pie.. It is sugar free, dairy free and gluten free. With that much “free”, you’d think it would also be free of taste. But I’m here to tell you otherwise. It is delicious. How could it not be when it’s filled with pecans, almond milk, pumpkin and honey.

Or how about Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey..Pears, honey, cinnamon, walnuts. That’s it. Four ingredients that will have you wondering what the heck gluten even is.

Prefer your dessert in more of a candy form? Give this Pecan Pie Brittle a try.

I bet if you put these desserts on the table, not a single soul will ask you where the gluten is.

If you’re a Pinterest fan like I am, be sure to follow Brighton Wool & Honey Co. for lots of great ideas on cooking with honey, knitting, gardening and general farm life.