Eat, Love & Travel: " She's as sweet as tupelo honey"

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

" She's as sweet as tupelo honey"

I'm almost at the end of a food photography class I've been taking on line. It's from Perfect Picture School of Photography. And if you are looking for an on line class I highly recommend this one. I just kind of stumbled on their web site one night googling food photography information. I checked them out and found they were fairly reasonable and I'm very happy with the course. Lots of great feedback,tips and instructor interaction. And I am not receiving any compensation from them for writing this either. Hmm maybe I should investigate that. I'm getting ready to sign up for a second class !

So why do I ramble on about this course, because one of my assignments involved honey. I decided that I wanted to do a close up of a honeycomb . Living in the city and not having my own little hive in my backyard (although with all my lavender and flowers I do keep the little bees happy in Seattle ! ) I figured my favorite store-Metropolitan Market - would be able to help me. And of course they didn't disappoint. On their shelf I found a beautiful Tupelo honeycomb from Savannah Bee Company. I rushed home with my little treasure and immediately began setting up for my little photo shoot. The entire time I'm setting up all I could hear was Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey" song. Now if you know me ,you know that Van Morrison is my absolute favorite singer-I can listen to him every single minute of the day and not tire of his voice. It takes me to a world of sunshine streaming thru the trees, warm sun on my face,my love beside me off on another adventure. Ohhh,ok I'm back from my day dreaming, but the song was still playing in my head as I took each shot. Somewhere along the way the assignment turned into a moment in time-something sweet and quiet and it was just my moment. I was enthralled with the honeycomb and the sun shining through it and that song still streaming through my mind and soul......

"You can take all the tea in China

Put it in a big brown bag for me

Sail right around the seven oceans
Drop it straight into the deepblue sea
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
She's an angel of the first degree
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee "

Now that the assignment is over I have this beautiful honeycomb all dressed up and no where to go. I have decided to send it to honey heaven , also known as "Lavender & Tupelo Honey Creme Brulee". I found this recipe on the Savannah Bee Company Website. According to the Savannah Bee Website this recipe was created by Sondra Bernstein, the Proprietor of the girl & the fig™ in Sonoma .

the girl & fig Cookbook, by Sondra Bernstein

Thank you Sondra Bernstein for an incredible creme brulee and I dedicate this to Van Morrison and all those sweet little bees who made this beautiful honeycomb.

LAVENDER & TUPELO HONEY CRÈME BRULÉE
4 Servings
7 Egg yolks
2 oz. Sugar
2 oz. Savannah Bee Tupelo Honey
1 1/2 Cups Heavy cream
1/2 Cup Milk
3-4 sprigs Lavender (or 1 Tbs dried lavender)
3 – 4 Tbs Granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put cream and milk into a saucepan with lavender. Bring to a boil and turn off. Let stems steep for about 15 minutes or until the milk has a lavender flavor.

Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks, sugar and honey until smooth. Pull sprigs out of the cream and milk mixture
and whisk into eggs. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and skim off any foam.

Pour into four ounce ramekins or brulee dishes. Set into a baking pan, add enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides. Place in oven and bake 25 - 30 minutes or until they are set. Test by jiggling the dish.