Homemade vanilla extract recipes

Vanilla Beans or Extract: Which Should You Choose?

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With more and more of us looking to add vanilla to our recipes, deciding to use vanilla beans or vanilla extract is an important decision.

If you’re thinking of using an authentic vanilla extract, this can be a tough decision. If you’re pondering using a synthetic extract, it’s a lot easier. Synthetic vanilla is poorer in quality, and will taste nowhere near as good as either vanilla beans or pure vanilla extract. So don’t. When it comes to choosing between real extract and beans, well…

Why Use Vanilla Beans?

Of course, vanilla beans represent the best method of adding flavor to your dishes. This is vanilla in its purest form and as such tastes, and smells, better than anything else. Well, almost.

Beans are extremely versatile and can be used in their raw form or altered to make authentic vanilla extract, powder, and paste, each of which is incredibly useful when it comes to cooking and baking.

If there’s a downside to beans it’s that they can be quite finicky, meaning that the time it takes to prepare food is extended. Still, for those that have the time available, it’s an excellent use of time.

Why Use Vanilla Extract?

We said above that nothing else tastes and smells better than vanilla beans. Well, this isn’t strictly true. Authentic vanilla extract, directly derived from beans, also tastes and smells like vanilla beans. Because a scentless alcohol is used to create the extract, it maintains the original smell.

Pure vanilla extract can be more convenient than beans as it is stored in a jar or bottle, and only requires a few drops adding to a menu. It doesn’t have the fun factor of using beans though.

And the Winner Is…

How long do you have? Basically vanilla beans and pure vanilla extract are equally as useful and tasty, the only difference being the time required to add them to your dish.


How sweet foods benefit from vanilla

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Vanilla BeansWhen cooking different desserts, you may be wondering what the best flavorings to use are. With any dish you always have a huge amount of different flavorings to choose from, but it can be a good idea to get a few favorites which you can use again and again, such as vanilla.

The beauty of vanilla is it is so simple to use, especially if you look into getting authentic vanilla beans rather than simply using vanilla essence. As although vanilla essence is all well and good, if you are looking for something which can really pack a punch when it comes to flavoring, vanilla beans are the way forward.

But which vanilla beans should you consider using? In general when looking at sweet foods, the more vanilla the better. Therefore if you can find vanilla beans which are of high quality then you can pretty much assume that the flavor will be good as well. But which are the best to use? Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans are certainly some which you should consider, simply because they can be seen as some of the highest in quality when it comes to vanilla beans.

Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans therefore are not the cheapest of vanilla beans out there, but there is no reason not to invest in these. Any food should be taken seriously, as if you really want to produce a high quality dessert then you need the highest quality ingredients, it really is an investment on your part. As such, bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans really do make for the best ones to use.

So the next time that you are cooking desserts, consider using vanilla as your main flavoring. If you like it then it can really make for a great tradition on your part, so go wild with your cooking.


How savory foods benefit from vanilla

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Vanilla BeansWhen it comes to cooking savory foods for a meal, flavorings may not be at the forefront of your mind. But what is interesting to note is that a large number of professional establishments – both restaurants and supermarkets – will use a wide range of flavorings in their main meals that they have on offer. As such, you may want to consider using flavorings in your own food.

Even with that said though, you may still be curious as to how vanilla can be used in savory foods. And while it is not necessarily widely used in main dishes, this does not mean you should not try it out. A huge number of savory dishes, such as pancakes and the like, can really benefit from the use of vanilla beans and the like. Obviously you will not use as many vanilla beans as you would for a sweet dessert, but vanilla can still play a crucial role in the flavoring of any main meal.

If the idea of using vanilla beans is still odd to you, perhaps consider using vanilla extract instead. In general vanilla extract will not be as strong, and you can better regulate the amount of flavoring that you get from using vanilla extract rather than through vanilla beans – simply because with beans you are incredibly limited on amount that you can add, whereas extract allows you to be precise.

So the next time you really want to add something different to a main meal, consider using vanilla beans if it seems appropriate. It is not for everyone’s tastes, but it can be a good idea to look out for vanilla beans in general simply to add to your ingredients collection, so you have a wide range of ingredients to use the next time you are cooking any type of meal.


Going organic with vanilla

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Vanilla BeansWhether you currently do a lot of cooking or are considering starting, the one thing you will want to ensure that you do is create high quality, healthy food. This is not always easy, but if you can get the balance right between brilliant taste and healthy food then all of your dishes will be absolutely superb.

But the one thing that you really cannot go wrong with is vanilla. Whether you prefer vanilla beans or vanilla extract it does not matter – the taste that these flavorings give is truly amazing and can really spice up any dish that you create. And, unlike a number of additives that you find in shop bought foods, is not unhealthy for you. For when it comes to organic foods, you cannot get much better than through using vanilla beans directly in your food – although vanilla extract is pretty much the same, the concept of using vanilla beans themselves shows that you are willing to use natural ingredients, in order to make your food as healthy as possible.

And although vanilla extract is effectively the same as vanilla beans in taste, you will find that using vanilla beans gives a far more whole taste to the food overall. Vanilla extract is all well and good, but if you really want to be able to produce a high quality dish then using vanilla beans is the best way forward, there is simply no substitute.

So the next time you are cooking at home, consider adding some vanilla beans to your dish and see how it turns out. You may be surprised at just how well your dish turns out, simply because vanilla can add a much needed flavor to the food as a whole, creating a really well balanced and healthy dish for you and your family to enjoy.


Getting the best vanilla products

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Vanilla BeansHave you ever considered making your own fun treats at home? A lot of the time I tend to get bored with having the same dishes over and over again for my meals and desserts, and it can be incredibly costly having to buy pre-made desserts from the supermarket all the time.

The general problem that I find is getting over the idea that buying individual ingredients is a waste of time and money. If I see vanilla extract and the like on sale, I tend to think about buying it, only to then refuse based on the idea that I will not be saving money that way, and go for a shop-made dessert instead.

However this is why you need to plan long-term. If you start to stock up on vanilla beans and other vanilla ingredients such as vanilla extract, you will then start to notice just how many different desserts you have ingredients for. And the best part is, when you have purchased the vanilla beans and vanilla extract, you then don’t need to go shopping for these kinds of things again for some while, meaning it is worth the money in the long run.

Having stocked up on all the best ingredients possible, both from the internet and the shop, I am then free to really experiment. I can make a huge range of different foods to try now, all through simply adding some vanilla beans each time – it really keeps things new and interesting. It really is great just how versatile vanilla beans can be – simply through adding one here and there I can really keep things different, while saving money on desserts and the like in the process.

So I’d really recommend purchasing some vanilla beans. Even if you only get a few vanilla beans to begin with it really is worthwhile.


Getting kids interested in food

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Vanilla BeansKids are renowned for being fussy eaters. No matter how hard you try, if they don’t like the food that they have been given then it’s more than likely that they will simply refuse to eat it – I know I have this problem with my kids!

But there are ways around this. My kids really love the taste of vanilla, so I’ve started to use vanilla beans and vanilla extract a lot more in the food that I make. This can help to achieve two things – if I can use it sparingly in main courses then they’re more likely to eat all the food, and if the desserts I prepare are that bit tastier then they’re more likely to sit through food they don’t like if they get the desserts with vanilla extract.

Obviously it will very a bit from child to child, but the basic premise is the same. If you like vanilla beans then put them to good use – find savory meals where vanilla beans and vanilla extract are suitable, and see what your kids think. So long as you make sure that the food is appropriate for their age, then using vanilla beans in this way can prove to be extremely effective.

And when it comes to dessert, this is one of the amazing things I love about vanilla and vanilla beans – as they improve taste that is already there, it means I can simply take a pudding I know my children love, add some vanilla beans to it, and it suddenly becomes something to die for. This means I can then pretty much make sure they eat a healthy meal beforehand, until they then get to have the dessert I’ve prepared for them. Simply find a way which works for you and see how it goes!


Getting kids interested in cooking

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Vanilla BeansIn today’s society, it is becoming more and more important to ensure that our kids are having healthy diets. One of the best ways we can do this is to make sure that they take an interest in the food that they are eating. How best should we do this? Encourage them to get involved with the cooking.

In my experience, kids love dessert, so start there. Especially if your kids love vanilla, consider making desserts such as crème caramel where you add plenty of vanilla beans or vanilla extract to them, to really get your kids having some fun.

As this is the thing – even if crème caramel is not the healthiest to start them with, vanilla beans are natural at the very least, and it is about ensuring that cooking stays fun. There is no better way to ensure your kids hate the concept of healthy eating than by making eating and cooking dull, so if through using vanilla extract and vanilla beans you can make things interesting then it is well worth it.

Obviously you can move onto healthier foods later on, but if you can begin by introducing them to the concept of using vanilla extract in crème caramel, so that they can see exactly how it is made, they will be more likely to enjoy the whole idea. Talk about the taste of vanilla and how it originates in the vanilla beans – anything to keep them interested will work, all through simply using any vanilla beans that you already have.

The finer details can be left up to you of course – you know your kids better than anyone, but if you can show them how a simple flavoring such as vanilla beans works to produce really tasty food, they should gain a passion for cooking and eating healthily.


Superb Vanilla Flavor, From Mexico to Madagascar

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Vanilla BeansWe are certain that you will enjoy Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans more than any other vanilla beans on the market today. We also think you may love learning a bit of the history of the not-quite humble vanilla bean. Our history of vanilla beans starts out in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, in the area we today call Mexico. While the specifics (where, when, and how ) regarding the discovery of vanilla still remain a puzzle, it is understood that civilizations including the Totonacs and Aztecs were using vanilla in their food and drinks preparation.  It is maintained that on his arrival in Tenochtitlan, Spanish conquistador Hernn Cortes was offered a chocolate and vanilla tempered drink by Aztec ruler, Moctezuma. Cortes would at last bring vanilla back to Europe after wiping out the Aztecs.  But for the Continentals, cultivating the orchids that vanilla grew on proved difficult.

This was due to the fact that orchids were pollinated by a local bee known only to Mexico.  There was a long line of hard work performed by botanist Charles Francois Antoine Morren, and then the discovery of hand-pollination by Edmond Albius before vanilla beans was successfully grown abroad.  Following these findings, vanilla beans were cultivated in a bunch of tropical regions, including the Isle Bourbon (today known as Reunion) and Madagascar, each of which give their name to Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans. Other islands in the Indian Sea also started cultivating vanilla orchids.

Today Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans are among the most well liked vanilla beans internationally. For an extended period of time the island of Madagascar produced the most vanilla internationally. Today it’s been out-produced by Indonesia, though the latter’s beans are thought to be of lesser quality. So the next time you are slurping on a vanilla coffee or enjoying some vanilla ice cream, remember the journey vanilla beans have taken from Mexico to Madagascar and beyond.


The Expert’s Choice is Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla Beans

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Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans are the best kind of vanilla bean, globally. Such is our belief in this statement that we never suggest buying anything else.  We only buy this variety ourselves.  To be fair though, the premier quality of Madagascan beans is anything apart from a secret.  Professional chefs and home cooks the world round are privy to the superb taste and scent connected with these beans grown off the eastern coast of the African continent. But why are they so great? A lot of the success of Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans can be assigned to their heritage. These beans are born of the Vanilla Planifolia plant, the same plant that brought us the first Central American vanilla bean.

Originally, vanilla beans had been local only to present day Mexico and the encompassing area. Vanilla orchids were exported in an effort to cultivate vanilla in other places globally and after much failure, hand pollination made this practical. As such, Madagascan beans are a direct descendent of the first vanilla. This implies that lots of the original’s endowments have been genetically passed along to their African counterpart.

This is particularly clear in taste. If you were going to compare Bourbon vanilla (that has originated from Madagascar, Reunion, or Comoros) to the Tahitian vanilla bean, you would find it not only darker in color but also richer in taste. Likewise, a vanilla bean produced somewhere else on the planet including India, China, and Turkey also have a special taste, again one that isn’t as loaded as the Madagascan equivalent. The Madagascan climate could also impact, though plenty of other tropical regions produce a less powerful vanilla bean. Or maybe it is the nurturing farming. No matter what the reason, Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans have a good taste and scent, and are perfect for spicing up your house recipes.


Don’t Discard Your Vanilla beans, Recycle Them

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We know that when you purchase vanilla beans, you truly get what you pay for.  At the very same time we understand that beans are pricey and the last thing that you need to do is ditch the left-overs.  Here you’ll find a collection of ideas that will help you get the best from your vanilla beans, even if they’ve been sitting on your shelf for a while.

Extract, powder and paste

If you are the type of person that does not mind spending some extra time in order to economize, you can take any leftover vanilla beans and create vanilla extract, vanilla powder, or vanilla paste. Each one of these derivatives will last a considerable time, providing they’re stored properly, meaning that you’ll eventually save yourself time and cash.

Sugar

If vanilla powder and the other derivatives of vanilla beans sound a little too labor intensive for you, try making your own vanilla sugar.  It is an extremely simple process.  Take any leftover vanilla beans, slice them into small pieces and submerge them in granulated sugar.  It does not need to be beans either because you can mix some vanilla powder with sugar and get a similar effect.

Alcohol

If you have whole vanilla beans sitting around with no purpose, try adding them to a bottle of liquor. Vanilla makes an extremely good companion for the likes of vodka and rum. Simply add the beans to the bottle and store for between 6 and 8 weeks. You will find yourself with an extraordinary adult drink.

Scent

Whether you have whole vanilla beans or simply a few offcuts and seeds, you’ll find yourself with a lovely-smelling scent for the house, and for you. The odor of vanilla is certain to make any house feel warm and cozy.

Use these strategies to reuse your vanilla beans and you will never waste the product or your cash.