Winter has to be all about honey on crumpets, right? Those holey creations are made for the sweet goodness of local, raw honey. Piping hot, the honey melts into the porous, fluffy crumpets, and voila, instantly cosy and warming on a winter’s day.
I’ve come up with some suggestions to up your crumpet game this winter, and they perfectly highlight the floral and delicate flavours of my bees’ honey. Sweet or savoury, the choice is yours. An added bonus of using local, raw honey, is that it naturally ‘candies’ or crystallises over time, which means it more slowly melts into the crumpet for even more deliciousness! If you prefer runny honey, stand the jar in a bowl of hot water (don’t microwave honey, it cooks it and destroys the natural flavours and components of raw honey). You can also pour boiling water over a teaspoon and then scoop out some of the crystallised honey from the jar – the heat of the spoon will start melting the honey to a runny consistency.
Here are some crumpet and honey ideas for you to try:
berries and yoghurt
This is a classic, but with a twist. Toast your crumpets, and while they’re piping hot, dollop on some thick yoghurt (dairy or coconut, your choice – the coconut will provide a great summery flavour with the berries), then a spoon of honey on top of the yoghurt. As the yoghurt melts, the honey will ooze into the crumpet. Top with a generous handful of berries of your choice. Add extra honey on top if you like.
photo credit: BBC GoodFood
caramelised bananas and nut-butter
This combination is perfect for warming you up in winter. Slice a firm banana and heat gently in a pan with a generous dollop of honey until the honey starts to caramelise on the banana slices. Turn the banana slices to brown both sides, and watch the heat setting to make sure the banana doesn’t burn or stick to the pan. While the banana slices are sweeting up with the honey, toast your crumpets, then spread them with your choice of nut butter (or not – if you can’t eat nuts, these are just as delicious without nut butter), add the slices of caramelised banana and enjoy!
photo credit: Taste Australia
hot-n-spicy vegies
If you haven’t tried these, you’re missing out! Pan-fry some sliced red onions, sliced button mushrooms, and halved cherry tomatoes. While these are cooking, toast your crumpets, and mix up a couple of tablespoon of honey with a pinch of cajun spices in a small dish. When the crumpets are done, spread the honey-spice mix on the crumpets. Top the crumpets with the vegie mix, and tuck in!
photo credit: Warburtons UK
Do you have a favourite honey and crumpet recipe?
Until next the next article, stay warm, enjoy the much-needed rain, and keep on buzzing!
BUUKAAR WAARUUNG Boutique Apiary & Artisan Honey 