4-H Honey Bee Good Recipe Contest

The fourth annual Honey Bee Good recipe contest, sponsored by the Northwest Georgia Beekeepers Association, gave 4-H’ers the opportunity to show off their culinary skills by submitting their favorite honey based recipes. Recipes were judged for nutrition, appeal, creativity, flavor, and technique/presentation.

With recipe entries from across the county, judges from the Beekeepers Association were faced with the tasty challenge of choosing their favorites. After much consideration, 3 county finalists were chosen from each division. Each finalist was invited to prepare a dish of their recipe for a final competition on Monday March 13, 2017.

5th Grade County finalists include: William Wallace from Chickamauga Elementary (1st place overall 5th grade winner, recipe below), Cadey Page from Cherokee Ridge Elementary (2nd place, Honey Oatmeal Apple Cups), and Su’Andra Williams from North LaFayette Elementary (3rd place, Honey Lemon Chicken).

Middle School Finalists were Mattie Day from LaFayette Middle School (1st place, recipe below), Austin Sears from LaFayette Middle School (2nd place, Honey Bars) and Jacey Baker (3rd place, Honey Cinnamon Crescent Roll Bars).

Our 5th grade first place winner, William Wallace, prepared the following recipe:

Honey Garlic Butter Salmon

•¼ cup butter •1/3 cup honey •4 large garlic cloves, crushed

•2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (juice of ½ lemon)

•2.5 pound side of salmon •Sea salt, to taste •Cracked pepper, to taste (optional)

•Lemon slices (to serve)

•2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley •Foil Directions: •Put rack in middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with a large piece of foil big enough to fold over and seal to create a pocket

•In a small sauce pan, melt the butter thoroughly over lowmedium heat. Add the honey, garlic and lemon juice and wisk until the honey has melted though the butter and the mixture is well combined.

•Place the salmon onto the lined baking sheet. Pour the butter/ honey mixture over the salmon and spread evenly over the salmon. Sprinkle salt and cracked pepper to taste. Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon to completely seal it.

•Bake until cooked through (about 16-18 minutes depending on thickness of your fish). Open the foil, being careful of any escaping steam, broil for 2-3 minutes on medium heat.

•Plate with lemon slices and parsley to serve.

Recipe makes 8 servings.

Middle School first place winner, Mattie Day, prepared the following:

Honey Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cupcake ingredients. •½ cup of unsalted butter, room temperature •¾ cup of sugar •2 eggs •1.5 cups all-purpose flour

•1 teaspoon baking powder •½ teaspoon salt •½ cup buttermilk •¼ cup honey •1 teaspoon vanilla extract Cupcake Directions. •Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

•Mix dry ingredients separate from the wet

•Mix wet ingredients separate from the dry

•Combine dry and wet mixtures and place in lined cupcake tins.

•Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly brown Preparing frosting: •¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

•4 ounces cream cheese, softened, not melted •3 tablespoons honey •Yellow food coloring (optional)

•Yellow sugar sprinkles (optional)

Mix ingredients together and pipe onto cooled cupcakes to complete the look.

We would like to thank all 4-Hers and parents who participated in this fun contest, as well as the Northwest Georgia Beekeepers Association for sponsoring this contest.

Walker County 4-H is a partner with United Way of Catoosa, Dade and Walker Counties. To learn more about Walker County 4-H, call UGA Extension at 706-638-2548, come by the office at 102 East Napier Street LaFayette or visit our website at www.ugaextension.com/ walker/4H .