Who doesn’t love a good appetizer to start off their dinner? These small bites set the tone for the entire meal, which is why it’s always important to cook up a delicious appetizer that compliments your main course. Luckily, we have you covered! No matter what’s for dinner, these three tasty appetizers and beginning course recipes are the absolute best to serve. Using honey sticks alongside other interesting flavors, these appetizers pack a blend of sweet and savory that’ll leave you reaching for seconds!
Honey Ricotta Bruschetta
As beautifully elegant this bruschetta looks once plated, this dish is deceptively easy to prepare and absolutely tasty to eat! Each bite bursts with refreshing flavors from the perfect mix of juicy tomatoes, airy ricotta cheese, sweet honey sticks for tea, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup ricotta
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 1 baguette loaf
- Fresh basil leaves, about 7
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees and getting your baking sheets prepped and lined with parchment paper. Next, wash, dry, and dice the tomatoes into halves. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, honey, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Once combined, add the tomatoes to the mixture and toss until evenly coated. On your baking sheet, lay out the tomatoes, making sure they are positioned with the flat side facing upwards. Place the bruschetta mix in the oven for about 30 minutes.
Once the tomatoes are done baking, remove the oven and allow them to cool while you work on the following steps. Turn on the broiler and allow it to preheat while you cut the baguette into ½ inch thick slices. Lightly brush some olive oil over the tops of the baguette slices and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the slices on a baking sheet and broil until golden brown, about 30 seconds on each side. Once they’re freshly out of the broiler, run a clove of garlic over each slice. Finally, it’s time to fully assemble the bruschetta. Spread a spoonful of ricotta over each slice of baguette followed by another spoonful of the tomato mixture. Finally, thinly slice the basil and sprinkle over the dish as a finishing touch and they’re ready to serve! Additionally, you can also choose to drizzle an extra serving of honey or your favorite balsamic glaze for an extra kick of flavor.
Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
It’s almost impossible to go wrong with a plate of crispy and juicy chicken wings! This honey garlic recipe takes inspiration from Asian cuisine to create an unforgettable combination of sweet and spicy flavors that are sure to be the star of any dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- ½ cup honey
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup flour
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees. Next, it’s time to prep and season the wings. Using an absorbent paper towel, dab the chicken to remove as much moisture as possible. Next, drizzle the olive oil over the wings and mix. In a separate bowl, add in the flour, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the wings in the seasonings rub until coated evenly. Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and put them in an oven to bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the chicken and use tongs to flip each wing over before returning them to the oven to bake for 20 more minutes.
While the wings are cooking, you can begin to work on the honey garlic glaze. In a saucepan, add in the honey, water, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, cornstarch, and chili flakes. Combine the ingredients over medium-high heat until the sauce reaches a boil. At this point, reduce the heat and stir occasionally, allowing the sauce to simmer for about 10 minutes or until thickened. Once the sauce reaches a syrup-like consistency, drizzle over the wings and toss to coat. Then, put the wings back in the oven for 10 more minutes. Allow them to cool, garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and your honey garlic wings are ready to serve!
Rosemary Honey Meatballs
Made with an enticing blend of fresh rosemary and savory turkey, these meatballs are perfect for any occasion, whether it be a casual dinner at home or an elegant dinner party. Stick a toothpick in each meatball and you’ll have the perfect bite-sized portion for serving.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ cup shallots, diced
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons honey sticks
- 1 tablespoon sherry or white wine
- ½ tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
Instructions
In a saute pan, drizzle in a bit of olive oil and place over a medium-low flame. While the pan is heating, remove the leaves off the rosemary sprigs and finely chop them. Add the rosemary into the pan along with the shallots and garlic. Cook the ingredients until the shallots have softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure to stir the ingredients to prevent any burning. Next, pour in the wine, turn up the heat to high, and continue stirring. Once the ingredients have completely reduced, stir in the honey. At this point, turn off the flame and allow the shallot-honey mixture to cool.
In a mixing bowl, place the turkey, breadcrumbs, seasonings, and the cooled shallot-honey mixture. Using a large spatula or your clean hands, fold the ingredients into the turkey until mixed evenly. Shape the turkey into bite-sized meatballs, about 2 inches in diameter, and set them aside. Once all your meatballs are ready to be cooked, drizzle a touch more olive oil into the same pan you previously used to make the shallot-honey mixture and turn on the stove to a medium-low flame. Place the meatballs on the pan and cook until the bottoms have browned, about 3 minutes. Next, use tongs to turn the meatballs. Cover the pan, turn the flame down to a lower heat, and allow the meatballs to continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes. Every meatball must be evenly spaced and touching the bottom of the pan, so you may have to complete this step in several batches if your pan is too small. Once fully cooked through, your meatballs are ready to be served.
This blog is brought to you by Bee Man Honeystix, home of the deliciously flavored honey sticks, including cinnamon, sour lemon, and orange.