Book of Days Tales

The third Saturday in August is national honey bee day in the U.S., a day to recognize the vital importance honey bees have in our lives –no bees, no pollination, no flowers, no fruit!!! Honey in Asia is a bit of a sore spot.  In China, a great many brown liquids get called “honey” but are nothing more than colored sugar water. When I visit friends and family in China I usually take at least one bottle of genuine honey from SE Asia, where they sell the real deal (if you know what to look for).

If you did not make mead on the first Saturday in August now is your chance. Or, use honey in any number of recipes – honey glazed ham, honey roast pork, honeyed chicken wings, etc.  Here is a creative take on Brussels sprouts with honey:

Ingredients

3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vegetable oil
thumb-sized piece ginger, peeled and cut into small pieces
1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced
400 gm shredded Brussels sprouts
1 tsp Shaoxing wine
1 tsp sesame oil
toasted sesame seeds, to serve

Instructions

Stir the honey and the soy together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok and fry the ginger and garlic for 1 min. Add the shredded sprouts and stir-fry for 1-2 mins until wilted. Pour in the Shaoxing wine, then the honey sauce. Toss everything together. Season, drizzle with the sesame oil, scatter with sesame seeds and serve.