Monday, September 18, 2023

Hot Honey Caramel Sauce and The Murmur of Bees

Creamy sweet heat that is perfect for pouring onto ice cream, drizzled over brownies, or dunked by a cookie.  This easy recipe is ready to use in 10 minutes or can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator to be rewarmed and used later.

Hot Honey Caramel Sauce

I was inspired to make this recipe while reading The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia....
The Murmur of Bees

This historical fiction is set in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and the devastating "Spanish" flu of 1918.  It follows the Morales family, wealthy landowners, with loyal and generous hearts.  

When an infant with a disfigurement (cleft palate) is discovered abandoned and covered by bees in the small Mexican town of Linares, many believe he is the spawn of the devil.  Francisco and Beatrice, do not believe in superstitions and adopt the child whom they name, Simonopio, and raise him as their own.  Simonopio, though he cannot talk is very intelligent and blessed with the ability to see future events when he closes his eyes.  

This ability and Simonopio's bees who travel with him wherever he goes keeping him safe, he protects his adoptive family from the threats that come from nature, history, and people.  

When the flu threatens to kill off the entire small community of Linares, Francisco, with the aid of Simonopio's urging, removes his family and most of his employees to one of his neighboring properties, away from other people.  

While under strict quarantine, the Morales family finds ways to keep their minds and bodies occupied.  Beatrice's mother finds solace in the process of making Cajeta (Mexican Goat Milk Caramel) stirring, stirring, stirring as she recites decades of the rosary.  

Hot Honey Caramel

 I started listening to this novel shortly before I was forced into quarantine, having contracted COVID.  I decided that making caramel might soothe my mind too.  I didn't have any Goat's Milk and being under quarantine could not run up to buy any so I just used light cream.  I wanted to give a nod to Simonopio's bees and Mexico so I also added some Chile-infused Honey that I had bought to celebrate that September is National Honey Month.

Foodies Read Bingo

Heather of Based on a True Story, hosts a group called Foodies Read.  Regular readers of this blog are very familiar with Foodies Read as I link up to it several times a month.  Many of my friends from Lit Happens also belong to this group that does not require a recipe but does require a blog and a book that is Foodcentric.

Heather decided to try a new theme for our group by making a Bingo board for us to fill out.  I have been having fun with this challenge. To date, I have shared the following recipes and reviews:
This novel could cover many of the bingo squares but we are only allowed one per book so I had to choose between Historical, Foreign Country, Author of a different race than I, Linked up to Foodies Read, Published before 2023, Set on a Farm or Vineyard, and Fruit on the Cover.  I decided to go with Set in a Foreign Country.  

I am having fun with this challenge and hope to be able to complete a coverall before the end of the year.



Sauces, Desserts, Caramel,
Sauces, Caramel
American
Yield: 8-10 servings
Author: Wendy Klik
Hot Honey Caramel Sauce

Hot Honey Caramel Sauce

Creamy sweet heat that is perfect for pouring onto ice cream, drizzled over brownies, or dunked by a cookie. This easy recipe is ready to use in 10 minutes or can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator to be rewarmed and used later.
Prep time: 2 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 12 Min

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c. Chile-infused honey
  • 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 c. light cream (1/2 & 1/2)
  • 2 T. butter
  • generous pinch of sea salt
  • 1/2 t. vanilla

Instructions

  1. Combine the honey, brown sugar, cream, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5-10 minutes, until the sauce reaches your desired color and consistency.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in salt and vanilla.
  3. Serve immediately or pour into a glass jar and allow to cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

123.96

Fat (grams)

7.52 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

4.71 g

Carbs (grams)

14.37 g

Fiber (grams)

0.07 g

Net carbs

14.3 g

Sugar (grams)

13.64 g

Protein (grams)

0.46 g

Sodium (milligrams)

37.04 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

24.21 mg

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