A Winter Wonderland of Honey Flavors

The festive feel in the air, gatherings with family and friends, and of course, the delicious holiday feasts are among the many reasons we look forward to the winter months. From decadent dishes to comforting drinks, the aromas and tastes of winter are unlike any other time of year. This season, the National Honey Board and Melissa Bailey, author of the popular recipe blog Hungry Food Love, have created delectable honey-based drinks the whole family can enjoy! While eateries and coffee shops may draw us in with their seasonal offerings, nothing beats a warm, homemade drink with honey to get you through the cold winter days.

"Honey has always been one of my favorite ingredients to experiment with in the kitchen because there's simply nothing else like it," states Melissa. "Its wholesomeness and unique flavor has always impressed me, and these qualities have motivated me to try it in a multitude of food recipes and now in these new honey-infused drinks!" Honey's role in these Latin-inspired beverages celebrates tradition by complementing the tones and flavors of holiday favorites. For example, the fragrant Apple, Pineapple and Honey Cider was inspired by the Colombian drink hervido de pia, which is very popular during the chilly wintertime.

Aside from the special touch it adds to this new festive drink menu, honey also contributes its benefit as an all-natural cough suppressant. With options as tasty as the Honey CaraMel Coffee and Spiced Mandarin Orange Tea with Honey, mixing up a warm honey beverage to get through the cough and cold season is both easy and palatable. A native of the Dominican Republic, Melissa grew up with an appreciation for both honey's flavor and its all-natural ability to ease the irritation of a cough. This golden, one-ingredient sweetener is your best ally against the cold weather months ahead.

These honeylicious new drinks are the perfect treat to share with loved ones on a holiday morning, brunch or evening get together and you'll be happy the winter season has enough cold days in it to enjoy each drink! Visit www.mielpura.org today to check out all of the recipes and find more information about honey's natural benefits as a cough suppressant. Make staying bundled up indoors with a hot honey drink in hand your new favorite pastime of the season!

Remember to stay tuned to all things honey by giving Miel Pura on Facebook a "Like". Simply go to www.facebook.com/pages/Miel-Pura/235486869824607 or link through the www.mielpura.org homepage.

Coconut Cream Honey Eggnog

Makes 4

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. honey
1 cup coconut milk
cup condensed milk
1 cup evaporated milk
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. cinnamon, ground
3 tbsp. rum (optional)

Preparation:
Place the three milks, the cinnamon and the yolk in a blender and blend. Next, pour the mixture into a medium-sized saucepan and cook over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add the rum and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain to eliminate any solid residue. Store the eggnog in the refrigerator for 5 to 8 hours before serving.

*The rum can be left out for a kid-friendly version.

Spiced Mandarin Orange Tea with Honey

Makes 4

Ingredients:
4 tbsp. honey
Juice of 12 mandarin oranges (with the pulp)
Rind of 4 mandarin oranges
4 cups water
4 star anise pods
tsp. nutmeg, ground
tsp. cinnamon, ground
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Extra cinnamon sticks (optional garnish)

Preparation:
Place all of the ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan. Cover with lid and heat over high heat. Stir every so often and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and boil for another 30 minutes without lid, until all the flavors are well combined and the aroma of the spices is strong.

Before serving, strain the tea to remove the pieces of rind and any residue. Serve hot and decorate each cup with a stick of cinnamon if desired.

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