Honey Glaze

Boiling honey for a recipe does several things.  First, it caramelizes it, giving it a slightly toasted flavor.  Secondly, it drives off any remaining water, so that it becomes almost crystalline when it cools. 

This Honey Glaze recipe can be used as a topping in other recipes, such as the Old World Cake, or the Honey Balls.  It could be interesting to see what happens if it is poured on top of the Gingerbread, too....

For this glaze, you will probably prefer a sweeter honey like Orange Blossom Honey.  However, for a lot of the Mediteranean breads this can be used on, Southern Belle Honey would work just as well, while imparting a bit more flavor.  

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups honey
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 ounces slivered almonds for topping 

Directions

1. Boil liquid ingredients until thick. 
2. Remove from heat, and pour over cake.