[cape chef]

Thank you CDS, For the 5/6 Beans what volume of Vodka are you using? Fifth,Liter or 1.5
When you heat the vodka do you need to be concerned with flambe?Do you cool the concoction down first before you add it the bottle? Absolute is not hard to find in my home. I wonder if I used Stoli Vanilla vodka as a base....Might be pretty tasty
Any CDS thanks for the REZ
cc

[Chef David Simpson]

cc,

I do not heat the vodka, only the beans. and I use a liter.

[Live_to_cook]

Darnit, Chef David, that's a tasty sounding recipe (even thought I know it's for vanilla extract) ... I bet it'd make a fine drink with some dark rum and a few mint leaves...

[This message has been edited by Live_to_cook (edited 12-21-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Live_to_cook (edited 12-21-2000).]

Oh, as much as I love chocolate (and I loooove chocolate), somehow I still like vanilla better. I've tried the Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and the Penzey's double-strength and they are both wonderful. I copied Penzey's and added a couple of vanilla beans to the Nielsen-Massey and my oh my!

[greyeaglem]

I always buy Watkins vanilla wxtract form a company in Winona, MN. Watkins has a nation-wide sales force, so you can get it anywhere in the nation. They have bot imitation and pure vanilla extract. Both are good. Imitation is not really imitation as in chemically copied. Vanilla is made by either soaking a vanilla bean in alchohol to extract the flavor, (imitation), or the beans are crushed to extract the essence which is then mixed with alcohol (pure extract). I know this because I have a friend who was a chimist there. This company also has very high quality pepper and cinnamon.
You can use vanilla beans in any recipe requiring vanilla. Split the bean and scrape the inside to remove the seeds. Place the seeds and scrapings into whatever you are making. If you are making something that contains a hot liquid, you can add the bean pod to the liquid while it is cooking, then remove it. The pods can be dried again and used to make vanilla sugar (place pods in and air-tight container with 1 cup sugar per pod. Let stand a few days (or longer) until sugar takes on valnilla flavor. This is good in coffee, hot chocolate or other ot drinks. Or you can slit the pods snd add to any whole grain alcohol (I use brandy) and let stand for several weeks to lmake your own imitation vanilla.

[eathealthy!]

That is great to know, I love when I can make my own homemade version of things,, when it's made with LOVE it tastes betta!

I also really like the Sweetleaf stevia Vanilla Creme liquid, it isn't quit vanilla extract but i use it in place of vanilla extract in all my baking since it sweetens and adds vanilla flavor all in one Stevia has zero calories, zero carbs and zero glycemic index so it is a great choice for diabetics and dieters who want a natural healthy sweetener.

[Free Rider]

Originally Posted by greyeaglem

I always buy Watkins vanilla wxtract form a company in Winona, MN. Watkins has a nation-wide sales force, so you can get it anywhere in the nation. They have bot imitation and pure vanilla extract. Both are good. Imitation is not really imitation as in chemically copied. Vanilla is made by either soaking a vanilla bean in alchohol to extract the flavor, (imitation), or the beans are crushed to extract the essence which is then mixed with alcohol (pure extract). I know this because I have a friend who was a chimist there. This company also has very high quality pepper and cinnamon.
You can use vanilla beans in any recipe requiring vanilla. Split the bean and scrape the inside to remove the seeds. Place the seeds and scrapings into whatever you are making. If you are making something that contains a hot liquid, you can add the bean pod to the liquid while it is cooking, then remove it. The pods can be dried again and used to make vanilla sugar (place pods in and air-tight container with 1 cup sugar per pod. Let stand a few days (or longer) until sugar takes on valnilla flavor. This is good in coffee, hot chocolate or other ot drinks. Or you can slit the pods snd add to any whole grain alcohol (I use brandy) and let stand for several weeks to lmake your own imitation vanilla.

From Epicurious:

Imitation vanilla is composed entirely of artificial flavorings (most of which are paper-industry by-products treated with chemicals). It often has a harsh quality that leaves a bitter aftertaste.

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by greyeaglem

I always buy Watkins... They have bot imitation and pure vanilla extract. Both are good.

Free Rider is correct. They are completely different. I personally can not stand the taste (if you call it that) of imitation vanilla which is not allowed in my house. It tastes synthetic and is not at all comperable to real vanilla extract.

If you have to purchase real vanilla extract, try ethnic groceries, esp Hispanic and Latino markets. They often have excellent quality authentic vanilla extract for a fraction of what you'd pay for lesser quality product from a regular American grocery.

[Susan50]

The BEST vanilla that I have ever, ever used is Ronald Reginald's Melipone Mexican Vanilla.

Just ordered some straight from Ronald's in fact, and this time I ordered the Vanilla Bean Marinade.

It's to die for................use it in my Smoothies..............and everything I can put it in.

TRY IT .............YOU'LL LOVE IT. Made right there in New Orleans.
AND SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO affordable. You'll think it's a $100.00 flavoring for only $4.98 or so. Don't let the low price steer you away..........it has nothing to do with how good it is.

I couldn't make it for that..............IF I knew how to perfect Mexican Vanilla that is.

KUDOS to you guys who do.

SUSAN50 (NEWBIE)

[shel]

Originally Posted by Murrmaid

doughboi, where do you live? If there's a Trader Joe's in your area they sell a rather nice, reasonably priced Tahitian/Burbon blend. I've been using that instead of Nielsen-Massey at home for a while now.

As with many TJ's items, different products may be found in different geographic areas, and even in different stores within an area. The vanilla extract sold in the TJ's in my area is the worst crap I've ever seen. Be careful, read labels ...

shel

[BettyR]

Just wanted to post the place where I buy my vanilla. I've used them for years...their customer service is second to none!!

Vanilla Beans Order Page

I make several gallons of vanilla every year to give as Christmas gifts. I start in January and buy 6-1/2 gallon jugs of McCormick’s Vodka and Tahitian Vanilla Beans 1 lb - Gourmet Pack $28.95.

I put around 20 vanilla beans in my blender and about 2 cups of vodka that I heated in the microwave. Blend for about 15 minutes. Remove about 1 cup of vodka from the bottle and pour the blended vodka along with all the bits and pieces back into the bottle. Put the lid on and stick it in my pantry.

I try to remember to shake the bottles every now and then and let it sit for a year. At Christmas I strain and bottle the vanilla in decorative bottles and give them along with some vanilla sugar as gifts.

Many of my friends tell me that if they run out of vanilla that they can never find any that they like as well as what I give them.