Honey Teriyaki Chicken With Squash and Brussels Sprouts

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My all-time favorite line by Tinkerbell is about loving Peter Pan in that strange place between being awake and being asleep. Don’t you feel it’s a strange place between Christmas and New Year’s? It’s like you don’t really know what day of the week it is (or date) or what you’re should be doing? I get that! Before Christmas, we are all on specific missions – to spread cheer and plan presents and create magic. After New Year’s Day, we are on specific missions to go back to school and work, get fit, honor resolutions and embrace winter. As best as you can anyway. I’m on specific missions during this in-between time.

We have our close, close friends over during this in-between time. We look forward to it all year – and it makes that time between Christmas and New Year’s that much sweeter. And “sweeter” is a theme of this post, and this recipe.

Our friends are foodies, and Cassidy is too. I’m often caught “in between” keeping up with the foodie-ing, or just embracing the time to rest and enjoy what they create. For the last few years, I’ve participated more. I enjoy creating something magical from surprising places. Weeknight (and weekend) family dinners can be challenging. Weeknight (and weekend) family dinners in the winter is more so for me. I tend to want to do nothing from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. I need a little kick to jumpstart my days – I need a little inspiration. The light is getting brighter and the days are getting sweeter in the new year.

Cassidy and I both enjoy teriyaki sauces and rubs. The secret ingredient in my favorite teriyaki sauce? Don Victor® Honey! If you’re looking for an added flavor to your dishes, or a substitute, our secret ingredient is the perfect “secret ingredient” for our favorite meal. I can already tell this will be our favorite dish of the new year and beyond. Try it yourself:

What do you think? Not only is our “secret ingredient” wonderful for both sweet and savory recipes, it also can help alleviate the cold and flu. It’s a natural cough suppressant that never goes bad! I’m also in love with the honeycomb that comes inside the Don Victor® Honey jar. It’s perfectly edible and is considered a gourmet delicacy by many, for a reason!

I’ve always been a honey fan. We use it quite a bit for all-around wellness – using it to soothe sore throats, combat allergies, and sweeten our teas, and even coffees! It’s a wonderful way to enrich the flavors of foods, stay and feel well, and also give wonderful gifts. When Scarlet was a toddler, she created a dish and even named it. “Gita.” It means plain or vanilla yogurt, cottage cheese, wheat germ, and then Don Victor Victor® on top. We had gotten a Don Victor® Orange Blossom Comb Honey Globe Jar as part of a gift basket when Des was born and Scarlet was nearly three. The “dish” has still stuck and we have taught it to our friends too. “Gita” is quite delicious, which is unsurprising when you consider honey’s impact on dishes.

Honey is a source of natural energy, and also a rich source of carbohydrates – providing 17 grams per tablespoon. This makes it ideal for your working muscles since carbohydrates are the primary fuel the body uses for energy. Carbohydrates are also necessary in the diet to help maintain muscle glycogen – known as stored carbohydrates. They are the most important fuel source for athletes to help keep them going. Honey is also a humectant – which means it attracts and retains moisture!

What I think is SO cool is that honey never goes bad. It’s been reported that archaeologists found 2,000-year-old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs and said they still tasted delicious! Plus, you can eat honeycomb!

Want some tips to use honeycomb? Toast a piece of your favorite bread, a bagel, or an English muffin. While it’s still hot from the toaster, spread it lightly with butter. Then cut a chunk of the honeycomb with a knife and spread it over the toast. The heat will soften the comb so it will flatten into the toast. It won’t melt, but it becomes soft and aromatic. You can also try this method on hot biscuits, waffles, pancakes, etc. Some upscale restaurants even serve the comb of honey on a cheese plate with crackers. Try it with cheddar or brie, and with multi-grain crackers at your next party. Maybe for New Year’s Eve? As I mentioned in my recipe above, I like to spread it onto my rice to add a sweetness and softness to my rice.