Need to use up my stash of vanilla beans
In the past month I have received three separate gifts of vanilla beans from vacationing friends/family (Indian, Mexican and Tahitian). What should I do with this sudden windfall of vanilla beans (that doesn't involve creme brulee, ice cream, vanilla-infused sugar, or home made vanilla extract)? Any recipes that particulary utilize this ingredient well? Thanks!
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10 Comments:
Lucky you!
I love this macaroon recipe, which uses vanilla bean:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/107951
You could also make vanilla-bean sugar cookie dough, form it into logs and freeze it, or make pound cakes with vanilla beans and freeze them.
Also, don't feel rushed to use them all up right away -- vanilla beans should keep for quite a while in your pantry, just don't refrigerate them. If they start to harden up a bit or look withered, you can revive them in warm water, milk or alcohol.
Hope that helps - enjoy!
CookiePie at 12:51PM on 03/24/08
Send some to me! Haha.
Or, make some vanilla vodka!
lexophile at 1:38PM on 03/24/08
Make Amanda Hesser's Vanilla Bean Loaves! They're reputed to be amazing, delicious, and utterly worth the expensive vanilla beans. Here's the recipe, via the Amateur Gourmet:
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2004/09/vanilla_bean_lo.html
Christina at 4:14PM on 03/24/08
What great excess! Here's a great post from The Traveler's Lunchbox on making your own vanilla extract.
http://www.travelerslunchbox.com/journal/2007/10/9/project-vanilla.html
I add vanilla beans to anything I bake, as well as unexpected things like butternut squash soup or cream sauces. Scrape a couple into your sugar jar and then throw in the beans for added oomph. Try a vanilla caramel souffle, or vanilla maple ice cream. Have fun!
lesliepariseau at 4:46PM on 03/24/08
I like vanilla bean best when it's not competing with other stuff. So if it were mine, I'd make ice cream, and probably some pastry cream to fill a cake or something else.
Also, be sure to hang on to the scraped pods and make vanilla sugar.
renzata at 8:21PM on 03/24/08
A friend and I recently made a Moroccan menu, and we threw the pod scrapings in to our tagine and the pods in to orange-infused couscous. It was fantastic, if I do say so meself! :-)
Curlz at 9:37PM on 03/24/08
In Tahiti they make a delicious savory dish with scallops and vanilla bean. I bet if you do a search you can find a good-looking recipe!
karenita at 9:38PM on 03/24/08
@lexophile - We are so on the same page! Homemade vanilla vodka is smokin'!
One of our favorite special occasion recipes is Lobster w/ Champagne- Vanilla Sauce from Weber's Big Book of Grilling. It is absolutely decadent.
frederika at 9:53PM on 03/24/08
Thanks for all the ideas!
prettytastycakes at 10:18AM on 03/25/08
Man! All I ever get are post cards and magnets! Oh wait, there was that time I got a broken mug.
Enjoy your vanilla.
The vodka is a no brainer--you must! Chocolate martinis with vanilla vodka are the best. And Espresso martinis with vanilla vodka are even better. I've never had a homemade vanilla vodka, but I don't see why it wouldn't be divine. You could host a cocktail party for all you friends who brought you vanilla instead of refridgerator magnets or broken mugs!
wookie at 2:34PM on 03/25/08