Okay, so let me tell you about my little golden harvest honey adventure. It all started last week when I decided I was tired of buying honey from the store. I mean, it’s fine and all, but I wanted something… more real, you know?
First things first, I did some research. I googled “how to harvest honey” and watched a bunch of YouTube videos. Some were helpful, some were terrifying – especially the ones with all the bees swarming! I quickly realized I wasn’t going to be a full-blown beekeeper overnight, but I figured I could at least try to make something that resembled honey.
Next up, the ingredients. I remembered my grandma used to make a “honey” substitute with apples. So, I grabbed a bag of apples from the local farmer’s market – nice and crisp, the kind that make a satisfying crunch when you bite into them. I also got some sugar (granulated, nothing fancy), lemon juice (for that tangy kick), and a cinnamon stick because why not?
The process? Super simple. I peeled and cored the apples, chopped them into small pieces, and threw them in a big pot. Then, I added the sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick. I stirred it all up and let it simmer on low heat for what felt like forever – probably around two hours. I kept stirring it every now and then, making sure nothing was sticking to the bottom and burning.
As it cooked, the apples started to break down and the mixture thickened. The smell was amazing – like apple pie baking in the oven. I kept tasting it (quality control, you know?) and adjusted the sugar and lemon juice until it tasted just right. I wanted that golden, syrupy texture, so I just kept letting it simmer until it reached that point.
Finally, I took the pot off the heat and let it cool down a bit. I fished out the cinnamon stick (gave it a good sniff – still smelled delicious!), and then I used an immersion blender to smooth out the mixture. You could probably skip this step if you like a chunkier “honey,” but I wanted mine smooth and spreadable.
Then came the fun part – jarring it! I had some clean jars lying around (saved from old pickles and jam), so I sterilized them in boiling water. Once they were dry, I carefully poured the “honey” into the jars, leaving a little bit of headspace at the top. I sealed them up tight and let them cool completely.
And that’s it! My golden harvest honey (well, apple-infused sugar syrup, but let’s not get technical) was done. I tried it on toast the next morning, and it was surprisingly good! It wasn’t exactly like real honey, but it had a nice apple-y flavor and a satisfying sweetness. Plus, I made it myself, so that’s gotta count for something, right?
Would I do it again? Definitely! It’s a fun little project, and it’s a great way to use up extra apples. Plus, it’s a conversation starter – who else can say they made their own “honey”?
Pro tip: Don’t overcook the apples, or your “honey” will turn into apple butter. Also, be careful when stirring – that stuff gets hot! And finally, don’t expect it to taste exactly like real honey – it’s an apple substitute, after all. But it’s a tasty one!
- Gathered ingredients: Apples, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon stick.
- Cooked everything down until it thickened.
- Blended it smooth.
- Jarred it up.
- Enjoyed it on toast!
