Ingredients:

• 4 cups Yummmy Oatmeal
• 1/2 cup almond slivers 
• 1/2 cup walnuts 
• 1/2 cup Yummmy Raw Honey 
• 4 tbsp Yummmy Coconut Oil 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg 
• 1/4 tsp ginger 
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1/2 tsp coconut extract 
• 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Directions:
Prep: preheat oven to 350 degrees F, prepare baking sheet lined with parchment paper

1. In large bowl combine oats, nuts, salt, ginger, cinammon and nutmeg.
2. Combine coconut oil (if hardened, heat in microwave for 20-30 sec), honey and extracts.
3. Mix honey mixture over oat mixture. Pour evenly on baking sheet.
4. Bake for 5-7 minutes and remove immediately.
5. Add coconut flakes and toss to combine. Bake for an additional 12-13 minutes.
6. Allow to cool for 1 hour and store in air tight container.

Recipe and photo credits: Nikki Nedd

Many of us know all about honey as a natural remedy for a sore throat, but did you know that honey can help with your allergies, increase energy and memory, boost your immune system and even help with dandruff?

The average composition of honey is approximately 80% carbohydrates, 18% water, and 2% vitamins. The vitamins included are calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc  Each tablespoon contains 64 fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free calories. Now that’s a guilt-free pleasure!
Raw honey offer many benefits due to its rich nutritional content. It contains minerals, vitamins, amino acids and flavonoids and phenolic acid which act as antioxidants. The nutrition varies depending on the floral variety of the honey but are pretty similar. Some of the benefits include:

Energy booster
Instead of drinking an energy drink that’s full of refined-sugars and high fructose syrup, take advantage of honey’s natural source of carbohydrates to fuel your body, which has demonstrated to provide the same kind of energy boost as energy drinks. Honey maintains muscle glycogen (stored carbohydrates), giving athletes the boost they need when they need it most.
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Sleep Aid
Ditch the fatigue and crankiness due to a lack of rest with honey. Taking a spoonful of honey before bed can help you get a good night’s rest. The reason for this is that the sugar in honey raises your insulin level allowing tryptophan, an amino acid that makes us sleepy, enter your brain more easily.

Reduces allergies
Honey contains small amounts of pollen from the bees. This pollen allows you to trace the origin of the honey and discover its floral variety. But by consuming the pollen, it enables you to get your body accustomed to pollen that aggravates your allergies. It works like a vaccine; the pollen enters your body and your immune system attacks and kills it, and build up immunity at the same time. To take advantage of this, it’s important to consume local honey since it will contain the pollen found in your community that causes your allergy and it is recommended to consume local raw honey (unfiltered and unheated honey to ensure the pollen hasn’t been filtered out) 2 months before allergy season.

Beauty aid
Due to honey’s anti fungal and antibacterial properties, it is a great remedy for scalp issues like dandruff and skin lesions. If you have a minor abrasion, simply dab a little honey and the thickness of the honey will protect against bacteria and dirt affecting the cut. For your hair, just dilute honey with water or mix with olive oil, apply and leave for a few hours. It will not only help with your scalp issue but also moisturize your hair. Honey is also used to moisturize your skin and can be used as a moisturizing exfoliator by simply adding sea salt or rolled oats to the honey and apply to your body.

Sore throat soother and cough suppressant
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies honey as a potential demulcent (relieving inflammation or irritation) for cough so during the harsh winter months, stock up on honey to help reduce cough and alleviate sore throats. Please note, do not give honey to children less than a year old. Their digestive system isn’t mature enough to ingest honey.

As with any food, we recommend to use honey with moderation due to its high level of fructose. Remember moderation is key to living a healthy and natural life!
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You can find Yummmy’s Florida Raw Honey, which is unfiltered and unheated, in a variety of sizes directly on Amazon and in local South Florida stores including Sedano’s, Winn-Dixie and Fresco y Mas. Please contact your local store for availability.

Yield: 5 dozen (it may sound a lot, but in my family of 4 the cookies were gone in 3 days)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks of butter)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips*
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

*You may substitute chocolate chips for carob chips, raisins or dried cherries.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together honey and butter until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and add vanilla; mix well.
3. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well.
4. Add flour mixture to honey mixture in two parts; mix well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
5. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto parchment-lined or greased baking-sheets. (Leave about 3 cm of space between each spoonful so your cookies don't mush together.) Bake for 12-16 minutes or until lightly browned.

Recipe provided courtesy of the National Honey Board.