H for honey for #AtoZChallenge: warm honey heart pasta salad recipe by ServicefromHeart

First of all, my heart goes to you all who have kindly visited ServicefromHeart and left encouragements and constructive suggestions! Thank you very much ♥

Honey – a symbol of sweetness – is as sweet as granulated sugar. To give our food or beverages a sweet flavor, I often use honey (which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties) to substitute sugar.

Honey is also a symbol of everlasting, sweet new year, and healing in some cultures.

“And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men’s) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought” ~ Al-Quran 16:68–69.

Suitable for long-term storage, as long as we minimize its access to humidity, honey is a must-have food item in our kitchen.

To prevent ants from competing with us, I immerse the honey jar in a shallow bowl containing water, just like a moat-protected mini castle.

Remember to change the water on alternate day to avoid a breeding ground for tropical mosquitoes, especially dengue-causing Aedes mosquito!

Alternatively, use the left-over of soapy water from washing dishes.

♥♥♥

Both Winnie the Pooh and baby Ren loves honey. Many times, we love things that people whom we love, also loves.

Thank you hardworking honey bees! Without you all who diligently collect nectar from flowers, we would not be able to enjoy sweet honey.

For #AtoZChallenge on 2014 April 09 Wed, I lovingly present a recipe of warm honey heart pasta salad by ServicefromHeart.

This easy to prepare recipe calls for many loving and heart-warming ingredients. It is suitable for a breakfast or bruch on the Valentine’s Day, or a birthday of a loved one.

Rich in vitamin C, strawberry is a sweet companion for this salad as it forms many hearts when sliced.

Avocado adds smooth and creamy texture to this honey heart pasta. You may also be interested in a post on avocado for #AtoZChallenge on 2014 April 01 Tue.

Servings: 2

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

♥ 1 tbsp honey (蜜糖)

♥ 1 tbsp sesame oil (麻油)

♥ 1 tsp balsamic vinegar (香醋)

♥ 1 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped (芫荽叶)

♥ 1 tsp black sesame seeds (黑芝麻)

♥ 1.5 rice-cooker-cup heart-shaped 3-color pasta (心形三色意大利面)

♥ 2 tbsp Heinz mini star-shaped pasta (小星形意大利面)

♥ 1/2 avocado (牛油果), peeled, cored & chunked

♥ 3 strawberries (草莓), washed & sliced into heart shapes

♥ 6 grapes (葡萄), peeled & quartered

♥ 6 cherry tomatoes (小番茄), washed & halved / quartered

Directions:

1. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Since the star pasta is much smaller, I added it later.

2. Meanwhile, mix honey, sesame oil, balsamic vinegar, cilantro, sesame seeds, cherry tomatoes.

3. Once cooked, toss pasta with the honey mixture gently to prevent accidentally breaking the heart pasta.

4. Garnish with strawberries, grapes, avocado.

Check also our other #5minutemeal recipes, especially for salad!

With love,
ServicefromHeart
20140409