​On the first and third Saturday of each month, Lone Star Bee Company has the privilege of participating in the Lake Olympia Farmers Market in Missouri City, Texas.  And, we love it!  We love it because the Lake Olympia neighborhood is super energized about the market.  It's a great feeling to be part of the neighbors' sense of community and togetherness. 
 
We also love it because we get the chance to meet other market vendors who have their own story to tell.  We’ve made friends with produce farmers, artisans and other food manufacturers at Lake Olympia’s market.

One new vendor at the market, and new friend of ours, is the W.I.D.E School.  Their story is exceptional.  W.I.D.E. is a place where children are supported as they Wonder, Investigate, Discover and Educate themselves and their community.  The school realizes the importance of spending time in nature. The teachers make it a point to take activities that are normally done inside the classroom to the outdoors.  Students spend time outside enjoying reading, making music, eating and gardening.  

The students have hands-on experience in their garden and are taught concepts of creating foods using their own produce.  With help from teachers like Gabby Frausto, the school's nutritionist, students learn lifelong skills for cooking and good habits for healthy eating, both are important concepts that are often overlooked and underappreciated. The students are also eager to help out at the Lake Olympia Farmer's Market.  Gabby and the kids bring baked goods and jams that they've prepared, sometimes using ingredients grown in the school's garden. 

During the W.I.D.E. School's first time at the market, the smell of rosemary filled the air and drew me over to pick up my very own loaf of rosemary bread.  With Gabby's guidance at the market, the students learn skills in business such as setting up shop, marketing their products, interacting with customers, and completing cash and credit card transactions.  I was truly impressed at the kids' excitement and willingness to be involved.  And, I must say the bread was super delicious on it's own, as well as drizzled with our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey!

We're thrilled to have made new friends from the W.I.D.E. School and can't wait to see what goodies they have to offer at the next Lake Olympia Farmer's Market!​

We're placing our infused honeys on a few more H-E-B shelves in Houston!  Wanna know which ones?  Simply download the H-E-B app and search for "Lone Star Bee" to keep up with us.  It's that simple.

Here's a list of H-E-B locations where our honeys are sold:
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1.    Bellaire:   5106 Bissonnet Street, Bellaire, TX 77401
2.    Buffalo Speedway:   5225 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77005
3.    Champions:   20311 Champions Forest Drive, Spring, TX 77379 
4.    Missouri City  (@ Austin Pkwy):  4724 Hwy 6, Mo City, TX 77459 
5.    Missouri City  (@ Sienna Pkwy):  8900 Hwy 6, Mo City, TX 77459 
6.    Montrose:   1701 West Alabama, Houston, TX 77098
7.    Richmond:   10161 W Grand Parkway S, Richmond, TX 77407
8.    San Felipe:    5895 San Felipe Street, Houston, TX 77057
9.    Spring:  5121 FM 2920 at Gosling Road, Spring, TX 77379
10.    Vintage Park:   10919 Louetta Road, Houston, TX 77070
11.    The Woodlands:   9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380

​​I recently posted a recipe on our website that calls for our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey in what we named our “Spicy Turmeric Latte”.   I love this soothing drink!  It brings together turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and other tasty spices, but the turmeric is essential.  Showcasing our spicy honey along with turmeric in the latte recipe was important to me not only for the comforting flavors, but for the health benefits as well.
 
I keep turmeric powder in my pantry and have used it in several recipes over the years.  I already knew that turmeric is a healthy spice that acts as an antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory, and that’s about all I knew about the spice.  I recently met a woman at one of our markets who is far more knowledgeable than I was about turmeric.  And, I was eager to hear how she uses the spice – she uses it the “right” way.  I now know that turmeric is best absorb into the body when eaten as a paste (instead of powder), and with the inclusion of oil and pepper.  How did I not know this already?
 
Turmeric is a plant of the ginger family, native to India and Southeast Asia.  Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric.  Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.  In addition, curcumin helps to boost the levels of brain hormones, effectively increasing the growth of neurons and fighting degenerative processes that occur within the brain.  It's been said that curcumin can contribute to fighting heart disease and helps to prevent and treat cancer.  It’s been touted as a way to prevent and help treat Alzheimer’s disease.  Additionally, it seems to help alleviate symptoms of depression. 
 
Realizing these many benefits, I found it important to change our Spicy Turmeric Latte recipe to call for turmeric paste, rather than powder.  And, I’ll be using the paste for many other recipes, too.
 
Here’s an easy recipe for making turmeric paste at home.  Click on the "Recipes" tab above to try the turmeric paste in our delicious Spicy Turmeric Latte recipe.  Enjoy!
 
Ingredients
 
1 cup water (plus a little extra)
1/2 cup turmeric powder
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 ½  teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
 
Directions
 
Add turmeric powder and 1 cup of the water to a small sauce pan and stir over low heat for at least 7 minutes.  Add water as needed during this process.  A think paste will form.  At the end of cooking, add the pepper and oil and stir very until both are fully incorporated.  Allow to cool.  Turmeric paste will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and can be placed in the freezer to keep longer.

​​Lone Star Bee Company has been lucky to be a part of the University of Houston Farmers Market for the past two semesters.  We just wrapped up the spring 2018 semester and it breaks my heart a little that we won’t be there again until classes resume in the fall. 
 
My favorite part of this market is, hands down, spending time getting to know the students, staff and faculty.  I’ve made many new friends who share in the excitement of our infused honeys.  But, one customer-friend really made this semester especially exciting.  Eric Bittner, who’s a professor in the Department of Chemistry & Physics, took our infused honey to new levels.  And boy, was his time well spent!
 
As a hobbyist mazer, Professor Bittner made a spicy mead using our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey and it was delicious!  I have to say that initially, I was a bit hesitant that the heat from the habaneros would overpower the wine after a showdown between good and evil, but honestly the mead had a perfect balance of spicy-sweet.  The sweetness of the mead hit the front palate and the spice of the habanero trailed from the back of the palate and down the throat.  And, the aroma was icing on the cake; subtle pear and a slight piperine to tickle the nose.  Fun!
 
I’m not suggesting Professor Bittner quit his day job and open a meadery, but…
 
This mead was exceptional!  Thank you, Professor Bittner!

This past week, we were honored to showcase our honeys at a food pairing event at Hotel Emma in San Antonio.  While meeting many of the hotel staff and guests was the ultimate highlight of our adventure, the Hotel Emma herself certainly made for spectacular setting.  Constructed in 1894, the building was originally Pearl's Brewhouse, but more recently was renovated and turned into this stunning boutique hotel in downtown San Antonio.  The brewery's industrial artifacts and gadgets have been incorporated into the hotel's design, and hotel guests feel as if they are a part of living history.

We made great use of Hotel Emma's Exposition Kitchen and celebrated food and drink with roughly 30 hotel guests.  Our honeys were paired with many fine cheeses and charcuterie, roasted vegetables and desserts.   One of the hotel's many talented bartenders created special cocktails to highlight our Lucky Lime & Sea Salt honey and our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey.  And, an equally talented hotel chef prepared a wonderful spicy honey brittle also using our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey.   Watch for these fun recipes to be posted very soon on our website's "Recipe" page!

Most of us already know that honey is created from nectar.  But, not everyone is aware of the actual process that bees use to make honey.  In a nutshell, bees collect nectar from flowers then turn the nectar into honey by adding enzymes and by applying dehydration.  The bees’ enzymes convert complex sugars (nectar) into more the simple sugars, namely glucose and fructose (honey).  Dehydration occurs inside the hive when bees steadily and quickly flap their wings, causing air to move around the surface of the honey and comb.  

Once honey is extracted from its comb, crystallization can occur.  This process is caused when glucose begins to separate from water, taking the form of crystals.  Honey crystallization is a natural process that can occur within just a few months of bottling and is a sure indication that you have raw healthy honey.  If your honey never crystallizes, that is most likely a sign you have pasteurized honey, which contains none of the healthy benefits of raw honey. 

​Crystallization can be somewhat controlled with proper storage.  Be sure to store your honey at room temperature (between 65-75) degrees and ensure the cap is closed completely.  Keep your honey in a dark place, like a pantry, and away from direct sunlight.

If you have honey that has crystallized, the remedy is quick and easy if you have the right tool.  We suggest that you wrap your honey in a heating pad for an hour or two, then the honey will revert to a liquid state and stay that way for several more weeks, perhaps even months.  When wrapped in the heating pad, you might place a book or another object upon it to help give some weight and deliver the warmth to the honey more quickly.
 
If you don't have a heating pad, try using hot water from the tap.  You can place your honey bottle in a small bowl inside your sink and let the hot water run directly onto the bottle.  This process takes awhile, but it will eventually do the trick.
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You can look as cool as Jonathan Walker (Walker Honey Farms) in a Lone Star Bee Company hat just like this!  Check out the apparel on our "Shop" page to see all of our fun wearables.

I'll admit it, I'm not a big fan of cooking.  But, I LOVE to eat tasty foods.  So to bridge the gap, I've created these easy recipes using our infused honeys!

Pork Chops

Coat skillet with EVOO. Pepper the chops and brown both sides over medium heat.  Cover with lid and reduce heat to low.  Cook thoroughly, 30-40 minutes depending upon thickness.  Remove lid and raise heat to high to thicken and intensify flavor of juices.   Remove from skillet and drizzle with Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Heat oven to 400⁰, lightly coat Brussels Sprouts with EVOO.  Sprinkle with cracked pepper and roast in oven for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from oven and drizzle with Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey.  

Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Peel and devein 12 medium shrimp, pat dry.  Coat with EVOO, salt and pepper.  Heat grill to medium-high.  Grill shrimp until pink and curled, turning only once. Warm tortillas and add shrimp. Serve with cilantro, corn, sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, green onions.  Drizzle with Lucky Lime & Sea Salt honey.  Enjoy!

​Folks often tell how much they love our bee cowboy logo and we love it, too.  We give credit to the fabulous branding and design group, Caliber Creative out of Dallas, Texas.  At the start, we knew we wanted our company image to shine with a catchy, unique logo and a sophisticated design that would showcase our personal style.  We think they knocked it out of the park with their creativity.  Apparently, others think so too, as Caliber has won industry awards for their designs for Lone Star Bee Company.

​At this year’s ADDY awards, Caliber took home ten Dallas American Advertising Awards, one of which was a bronze award for their work with our Lone Star Bee Company packaging design.  In 2017, Caliber received five Dallas American Advertising Awards, including a silver award for the creation of our bee cowboy logo.
 
Lone Star Bee Company congratulates Caliber for receiving their well-deserved awards!

March is shaping up to be an exciting month here in the Lone Star State!   The Texas wildflowers are beginning to bloom and folks are eager to get outside and enjoy the fresh spring air.  This is our favorite time of year in southeast Texas and there's no better way to relish the fantastic weather than to head out to the many festivals that have been planned.  Pack up your friends and family and come see us at these fun festivals this month.   

Come join us at the 2nd Annual The Woodlands Shamrock Shindig on March 17 where you can pick up your very own Lucky Lime & Sea Salt clover honey to make margarita cocktails at home. While at the festival you can sip green beer, Irish beers and margaritas!  The festival  includes music of the Kites Band, Metanoia, Jesse & the Midnight Peddlers, Lil' Zac the DJ, as well as Bagpipers.  There'll be food from Mi Patio Grill, Wings on Wheels, Greek Squad, Kettle Express, Menchies Ice Cream, KICPOPS and more.  Shop vendors of all kinds and take the little ones to the Kid's Zone with inflatables and other activities. 
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Join in the fun at the SoTxFEST!  This is a 3-day family fun festival dedicated to supporting the local charity community.  SoTxFEST has 4 stages featuring many genre from Country to Red Dirt, gospel to jazz, from funk to classical, from Cowboy to Zydeco.  The festival schedules Texas musical groups and no matter what style of music you enjoy, you’ll find it at Spirit of Texas Festival.  Take your choice from many food options, which includes one of the biggest and baddest BBQ cook-offs in the Brazos Valley as well as a big, bold Texas-sized food truck competition.   Taste the best our state has to offer with 50 trucks serving award-winning offerings all day everyday.   Find us among the vendors and take home our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey for your meats and veggie meals at home.
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You can’t miss this event!  Experience music and fun at the inaugural Tribute to Woodlands Music Festival.  Enjoy food trucks and the kid's zone, as well as 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s cover bands to include: VHT-Van Halen Tribute Band, Subdivided-Rush Tribute Band, Black Dog-Led Zepplin Tribute Band, Rusted Cage-Soundgarden Tribute Band, Foo Fakers-Foo Fighters Tribute Band, Nightbird-Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band, Grey Vinyl-Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute Band and the Fab 5- Beatles Tribute Band.   We'll be sampling out our honeys so that you can decide which is your favorite to take home to drizzle on your favorite foods!
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