Hazelnuts in Spiced Honey
A Special Gift Recipe For You!
Hello Dear Friends,
If you are like me, you might be wondering how you can let the people in your life know you are thinking of them this holiday season. What better way than offering them the gift of something delicious you made yourself at home! If you want to add a few more people to your gift list, but have a hard time imagining yourself in yet another retail space, what could be better than unplugging in your kitchen while following a few simple steps to create this almost effortless delicacy that will elevate anyone's holiday cheese board. It is also divine as a dip over whipped ricotta or as a luxurious topping for yogurt, labneh, multigrain porridge or oatmeal. This is my gift to you in thanks and appreciation for your continued support of my recipes and writing here on Substack. Enjoy!
Peace & Love,
Monique
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
zest of one orange or two clementines
1/2 teaspoon Maldon salt
1 lb. dry roasted whole hazelnuts
24 oz. honey (I recommend using locally sourced honey.)
Method:
Lightly toast the spices in a small pan over a medium flame on your stovetop until they “bloom” and you can smell their aromas mingling. Turn down heat if necessary to avoid burning.
Pour all of the honey into a saucepan and slowly heat at medium-low until it is less thick and liquid enough to allow the spices to be stirred in and combined thoroughly with the honey.
On a microplane, zest the orange or clementines into the warm spiced honey and stir well. Add the salt and stir again.
Fill mason jars of your choice halfway with the hazelnuts then pour some of the spiced honey over the using a funnel if necessary to avoid spilling. Alternate adding more hazennuts with pouring more honey until the jar is filled, leaving a small air gap to allow proper closure of the lid. Repeat.
Makes about three 8-ounce jars for gifting. You may double or triple this recipe if you want to make more.
Another quick and easy idea for the health-minded person in your life are date and nut “truffles” with raw cacao, tahini and coconut. Just blend any combination of roasted or toasted nuts, seeds, medjoul or other moist dates, coconut flakes, tahini or almond butter, cacao, bourbon vanilla, and a little maple syrup if desired in a food processor until you have a thick but workable paste. Add a little water if necessary to loosen it so you can shape it into balls. You can then roll them in the cacao, coconut or chopped nuts then pack them into your gift boxes, tins or pretty jars for gifting! Easy, gluten-free, vegan and delicious.
*JOY, LOVE, LIGHT *