What to do with vanilla beans

[Guest guest]

I found this post that had sent out earlier on vanilla. I thought our

newbies might like it. For those that do not want to use alcohol there are

other recipes for making vanilla flavoring.

Betty in Central California

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Vanilla extract

1 pint GF liquor, will affect flavor, rum, potato vodka

2 vanilla beans

1 pretty bottle with top

Slit bean lengthwise and flatten out, scrap seeds and pod pith into

bottle or container. Place bean pod in container, fill with liquor.

Let rest for two weeks before using. Makes great gifts to cooking

friends. Use like commercial extract. You can make in quantity by

increasing recipe.

Vanilla sugar

2 vanilla beans or more

4 cups granulated sugar

Cut beans into 1/2 " segments. Put one cup sugar in blender or food

processor and blend together until beans are very fragmented. Stir into

rest of sugar. Store in airtight container for at least two weeks

before using. Use in coffee, baking. Make stronger by adding more

beans and aging longer.

To store whole beans, freeze in airtight bag, store in layers in sugar,

or pack whole beans vertically into mason jars and fill with liquor. Be

sure to use the sugar or liquor for flavoring.

Vanilla glycerin

3 vanilla beans

1 pint food quality glycerin

Slit bean lengthwise and flatten out, scrap seeds and pod pith into

bottle or container. Place bean pod in container, fill with glycerin.

Let rest for two weeks before using. Use like commercial extract. You

can make in quantity by increasing recipe.

Sugar free Vanilla flavoring

2 vanilla beans

1 pint water

1 ice cube tray

Blend water and beans together well, pour into ice cube tray, freeze and

store in baggie. Use in recipes like extract but be sure to reduce

liquids to account for the water.