California Honey: Stoltey's Bee Farm

In December I flew to California to visit my family. My flight arrived around lunch time, so we went to my favorite Mexican food restaurant in Morro Bay (The Maya), and then stopped at the Farmer's Market in the parking lot of Spencer's Grocery.

For me, going to the Farmer's Market in California is like going to a museum: the food is so beautiful it's art. I can't even begin to list all of the produce available, even in December: tomatoes, citrus, apples, broccoli, squashes, kale, root veggies, persimmons, raspberries, black berries, avocados (from my friends at 7th Heaven Organic Farm), and even Brussels sprouts! In addition to fresh produce, you can buy specialty foods, organic meats, raw milk, and of course, local honey.

The young salesman said the Stoltey family has been raising bees for years, and he began working with them recently. They sell baggies of pollen at very low prices, and had orange blossom, alfalfa, and sage apple honey available. This pound-and-a-half jar cost $9, quite a deal. They say it's unfiltered and indeed there are flecks of stuff in it, but no bee legs or anything so it may just be filtered through a larger screen than some. The honey is as close to perfection as I've seen in a while -- we found the Arizona honey to be quite thick though good in flavor -- and it made a nice treat for Mark since he didn't come with me.

The only info. I found online for these Atascadero beekeepers is a review.

Bee Hill in the Snow!

On Monday we were snowed in from work and school so we took an afternoon walk out to Bee Hill. It's hard to believe these pictures were taken in Mississippi!

 I was ready to get out to Bee Hill. It was eerily quiet after hearing them buzz all summer.  I try not to worry.

Above: Hives 1-4, the front view.

 Above: Hives 5-6, front/side view.

Many dead bees were floating in icy cold water in the rain cups on the stands Mark designed. They've likely been there awhile -- probably dead bodies pushed out of the hive, then they fell off or were blown into the cups. I tell myself this is normal, that the bees will experience a drastic reduction in number during the winter. 

Mark & Robert, who was home visiting from Luke AFB.  He can identify all of the birds and animals around and enjoys bees too.

Robert took this picture of me in my pre-MS hat and post-MS insulated overalls. Wish he'd also gotten a photo of my insulated boots so you could see that I'm well cared for and toasty warm. I hope the bees are too!  I've never been so anxious for warmer weather.  Even just one day in the 60s so I can see if the bees are okay . . .

Honey Peanut Butter Candy

When Mark cooks, he's really good at it. He's known for his excellent breakfast-making skills (and has special cast iron biscuit pans for perfectly browned frozen biscuits). During the holidays, he specializes in a treat I'd never eaten until I moved to Mississippi: corn flake peanut butter candy. Once he perfected his system, he began churning out these chewy-crunchy-gooey bits of deliciousness in mass quantities. This year, he adapted the original recipe to substitute honey for part of the sugar. I'll list both of these, so you can experiment. The honey flavor is very subtle, and makes the final product slightly softer, which I personally enjoyed.

Original Recipe, with Keri Commentary:

Ingredients:
1 cup light corn syrup (aka Karo)
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter (your choice, we use creamy but crunchy would be tasty too!)
6-7 cups corn flakes

Instructions:
Bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. (Do not overcook this syrup or you will end up with Rock Hard Peanut Butter Candy Suitable for Breaking Teeth.) Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Pour over corn flakes (use the biggest bowl you own -- see photo) and stir like the wind. Seriously, they set up fast. With a spoon or two, drop 2-inch servings onto wax paper. You will need A LOT of wax paper. Allow them to cool (or be like me and burn your fingers and/or mouth eating the first ones laid down), then package and give away quickly to avoid eating them all.

Mark's Marvelous Adaptation (with Keri Commentary):

3/4 cup light corn syrup (aka Karo)
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 cup peanut butter (your choice, we use creamy but crunchy would be tasty too!)
6-7 cups corn flakes

Bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and honey. Why wait to add the honey? In hopes of preserving more of its helpful qualities! Pour over corn flakes (use the biggest bowl you own or you will have a big mess) and stir as fast as you can. Or get your tall, handsome husband to stir for you. With a spoon or two, drop 2-inch servings onto wax paper. You will need A LOT of wax paper. Allow them to cool (use this time to wash up your kitchen equipment in preparation for Round 2), then package and give away quickly to avoid eating them all.

Repeat. Until the sight of them makes you ill. Then remember someone you forgot to put on the Goody List and make another batch. About March, throw away the odd amount of corn flakes left over that won't make a whole batch and has gone stale.

Bee Sweet,
Keri