Milt Latham inquired:

>Any cooks out there?  I am wondering whether anyone has solved the
>challenge of creating a Non-sticky Honey glaze.
>    I know that honey naturally wants to absorb moisture - but is there a
>way to alter this characteristic so I can use it to coat nuts and
>such for holiday gifts.

    For decades I have made my own honey granola in a microwave oven.
A month's supply takes less than an hour.  At the end of the process,
the granola is non-sticky and dry in the hand.  It stays that way
indefinitely when stored in friction top cans.

    Here is the recipe:

**********

MICROWAVE GRANOLA

  Dry Ingredients:
    3  pints multi-grain cereal
    1  pint wheat flakes (if not available, use another pint of
multi-grain cereal)
    1  cup raw cashew pieces
    1  cup raw pepitas (pumpkin or squash seeds)
    1  cup raw sunflower seeds
    1/2  cup brown sesame seeds (unhulled)

Liquid ingredients:
    3/4  cup vegetable oil
    3/4  cup dark honey

*               *               *               *               *
Thoroughly mix the dry ingredients in a large microwave-safe kettle.
Then make a doughnut like groove and pour in the liquids.  Do not
stir yet.

Place the container in the microwave and set controls on high for 20
minutes.  After each 5 minutes, take out, stir very thoroughly, and
put back in the oven.  At the end of the 20 minute period, stir, and
place back in the oven for 4 minutes at second high.

Microwaves differ in the amount of power at various setting.
Therefore, one must keep careful watch near the end of cooking.  The
cashew pieces serve as the best indicator - they turn from pale tan
to a light golden brown when the batch is done.

*               *               *               *               *
After cooking, empty the granola into a large roaster pan.  Stir
occasionally until cool.  Store in large clean coffee tins or other
air-tight container to keep out insects.

*************
    It seems to me that anyone could adapt the above process to coat
"nuts and such" for holiday gifts, starting with raw nuts.  The
secret seems to be using an equal parts combination of oil and honey.
Be very careful, though, about the time spent in the microwave.  (In
understand that some people add a little chili pepper or such to give
some zap.)

    If any of you experiment and succeed, let the rest of us know.

                                                        Adrian

--
Adrian M. Wenner                (805) 963-8508 (home office phone)
967 Garcia Road                 [log in to unmask]
Santa Barbara, CA  93103        www.beesource.com/pov/wenner/index.htm

*************************************************************
*    "People have a right to their opinions --
*  but that doesn't mean all opinions are of equal value."
*
*  Pot Shot #9108 by Ashleigh Brilliant, used by permission
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