By DAVE KESSLER Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted Every time I hear a report that the number of honeybees is declining, I get nervous. These reports often mention a virus, infection, chemical sprays and the like as the cause of honeybees dying off. I don’t have to tell you that if we don’t have bees for pollination, we don’t have much to eat. Years ago almost every farm family had a bee yard for their own use and in this area we had some large bee and honey operations that even trucked their bees down South for the winter to get more production. Honey obtained from local bees is often recommended as a health food for people with allergies and other issues. Our local honey is always a nice golden color and the honey my daughter sends from Florida is a very dark color. The honey on shelves of local markets, whether local or brought in, has been undergoing constant price increases. So I think it’s time that I give you a recipe for making honey cookies, so you can enjoy nature’s gift. Honey Cookies 1-1/2 cups shortening 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup honey 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 4-1/2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt This recipe will yield about seven dozen cookies, unless you make them a larger size. Cream the shortening and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Mix together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add these mixed dry ingredients to the honey ingredients, and be sure you have everything mixed together well. Roll this dough into 1-inch balls. Place, giving them room to expand, on a greased cookie sheet. You should flatten the tops of the balls a little with the heel of your hand or with the bottom of a glass dipped into flour. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes, or a little more if needed, to get them a nice golden brown. Carefully remove from the baking sheets and let them cool on racks. Put them into sack lunches, into a covered container on the kitchen counter or enjoy them with every meal and between meals. These are delicious, and you should enjoy the taste before they become fewer and further between.
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