Honey Crafts
Beeswax Wraps - Natural Alternative to conventional plastic wrap
Select a light cotton. In fact, handkerchiefs work great as wax wraps. They are cheap, highly pliable, and have a sewn border for added durability. Cut your cloth into desired sizes with pinking shears. 7in, 9in and 2in squares or rounds cover most kitchen bowls, fruits/veg.
Cut two sheets of parchment paper (large enough to cover your largest wrap). Set one piece of parchment on ironing board and place fabric in the center of parchment. Next combine one part beeswax, one part pine tar resin, and one-third part jojoba oil into a double boiler on low heat. Stir until melted. Set your iron to "cotton" (aka med-high), and disable any steam.
Brush the melted wax liberally across the cloth - from the center outward works best. Lay second piece of parchment over cloth, and place iron onto parchment carefully. Apply light pressure til wax begins to bubble under the parchment. Move iron back and forth spreading wax evenly over cloth. Carefully pull back parchment, remove wrap and place on a wire rack to cool and dry. Voila, your wax wrap is ready to use.
Simple fold and warm with your hands to activate the wax's seal. Wash with cold soapy water, dry on rack. Can be reused dozens of times. Reapply melted wax to replenish.
Honey Cake - Simple yet decadent
Great free recipe including step-by-step instructions:
https://www.recipetineats.com/honey-cake/#wprm-recipe-container-71025
Honey Alternative Simple Syrup - for superior cocktails
Dissolve one cup of good quality honey into one and one quarter cups water. Let cool thoroughly, transfer into an airtight jar for later use in cocktails.
Bees Knees
Add one cup crushed ice to a cocktail shaker and combine the following until chilled:
one part Gin
one part Lemon juice
one half part Honey Syrup (3:1 honey/water combined)
Strain into one chilled cocktail stem
Garnish with a lemon twist
Brown Derby
Add one cup crushed ice to a shaker and combine the following until chilled:
one and one quarter part Bourbon
one part Grapefruit juice
one half part Honey Syrup (3:1 honey/water combined)
Strain into a tumbler, add a little ice, and garnish with grapefruit twist
Pollinator Projects
This is an easy project for kids and great habitat for many pollinators, such as mason and leaf-cutter bees. Use a variety of drill bits and scrap wood 6" or longer and some glue. You can buy 3/8 inch hollow tubes at a craft store. We like to use a combination with pithy wood of various dimensions to attract pollinators. Look how some are enclosed in mud and others in grass!
Current Events/Activities
East Avenue Eclectics Open House Sat. Nov. 30
Join us at East Avenue Eclectics, 8409 East Avenue in Gasport for Small Business Saturday. We will have craft stations to make wax wraps, candles and of course comb honey for the tasting!
