vanilla

[amihm]

I'm confused. Several of Alissa's recipes call for vanilla, a tsp here and there. I know I sound stupid, but what is it?

I looked at the health food store and either found vanilla extract (which contains alcohol) and vanilla 'sticks'... which would be hard to measure by the tsp. Do you use that? grind it? or is there something easier!?

help!

Thanks :-)

[RawKnitster]

When recipe calls for a measurement in teaspoons I use an "Alcohol-Free" Vanilla extract, it's in a glycerin base (liquid). A vanilla bean does look like a stick. Slice it open with a knife and scrape out the tiny little seeds inside. Throw away the outside of the bean after you scrape out all the seeds. When a recipe calls for vanilla bean it usually states a measurement in fractions of the bean, or in inches. Hope that helps.

[JEN]

Vanilla beans are sooo yummy!!

[Rinda]

and sooo expensive !:(

I've found organic raw vanilla beans on ebay at a super good price. You might change your mind about how expensive they are. ;) Or you can find these same beans at http://www.organic-vanilla.com/servlet/StoreFront
I know at a store you pay maybe $8.00 for a bean, so, yes, that is very expensive. Crazy!!! Just depends where you find them though.

[RawKnitster]

YES! Shop around for vanilla beans. I get them at PCC grocery for 72 cents. At another grocer they are $6.00. I'll never know if the expensive ones are better, not going to pay that!

[raweater]

and sooo expensive !:(

As someone else said on ebay they are $0.25 a bean or less. What I do is grind some beans into a sort of powder and use that instead of liquid vanilla extract. Or for recipes done in a blender, I just add a vanilla bean peice in and blend.

[lizzyrose]

I love the taste of vanilla and want to use the beans, but haven't really known what to do with them... any simple suggestions?

[RawKnitster]

I love the taste of vanilla and want to use the beans, but haven't really known what to do with them... any simple suggestions?

Do you make any type of nutmilk? Sweeten some with dates, agave or honey, add vanilla seeds, and a pinch of sea salt.

Here's 2 blender recipes that use them without having to strain a nut milk:

3 pitted dates
1 1/2 cups water
seeds from 1/4 vanilla bean
1/2 cup soaked almonds
2 peeled, sliced, frozen bananas


1 cup water
2-3 T. hemp seeds
1-2 T agave
seeds from 1/4 vanilla bean
tiny pinch of sea salt

[RawKnitster]

Or for recipes done in a blender, I just add a vanilla bean peice in and blend.

I've tried soaking the pods in nut milk and blending. Didn't like it. The beans I get have very bitter tasting pods. Maybe I used to much. How big a peice do you put in a smoothie?

[roseyonnex]

Rinda,
Thanks for link on Vanilla beans!! Awesome! I just ordered some. Thanks!

[JEN]

Ive used just the middle of the bean and Ive ground the whole bean into my milk. They are sooo much better than the extract. My vanilla bean frawppe kicks starbucks vanilla frappes butt.

[RawKnitster]

Me, too! Thanks for the link. :)

[raweater]

I've tried soaking the pods in nut milk and blending. Didn't like it. The beans I get have very bitter tasting pods. Maybe I used to much. How big a peice do you put in a smoothie?

I put maybe 1/4-1/2 a bean in a 650 ml/2.5 cup smoothie.

[RawKnitster]

Thanks raweater! I ordered a sample pack of 2 types of beans from Rinda's link. Looking forward to trying it....in the Vitamix I just got at Costco tonight! I'm so excited! :D

[amihm]

Thanks everyone -- very helpful!