T hit the kitchen again tonight, this time with a recipe from Sylvia A. Johnson's A Beekeeper's Year. I've been waiting for the girls to demand their turn in the kitchen, but so far they seem content to leave the baking to their older brother. He's been learning quite a bit, working his way through the various recipes, especially the ones connected to stories. So, I'm certainly not going to discourage him, even if it means sacrificing my waistline (we homeschooling mothers are renown for our unselfish nature).
First off, let me say, if you're looking for an informative book about honey bees, or beekeeping, then A Beekeeper's Year is the book for you. It has quite a bit of text, and so is probably more suited to the 8-12 year old set, than to their younger siblings. But, read in an abbreviated form, it tells enough of its story through Nick Von Ohlen's detailed photographs, to interest even the very youngest bee enthusiasts.
As to the cookies, which recipe is found at the back of book, along with recipes for cocoa with honey, and a honey, peanut butter spread - we thought they were okay.
While they are chock full of chocolate chips, with an optional addition of coconut, they don't use any sugar at all, only honey. We kind of missed the sugar. Though, we did find the taste of honey interesting in combination with the chocolate.
But, you don't have to take our word for it. You can try them out for yourself, and learn a lot about bees in the bargain, by checking out Sylvia A. Johnson's A Beekeeper's Year.
(If you absolutely can't find Johnson's book, and you just have to have some Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies - this recipe, from Cooks.com is very close, add a 1/2 cup more flour, and 1/2 teaspoon more vanilla, and you'll have it.)
It's great to be a homeschooler.