Name one thing you should never go cheap or skimp on in life

[skylark]

Originally Posted by scbelle

that is so true! I had to bonk the commissary manager on the head to get real vanilla extract here... they only had the imitation kind. Ick!

I'm actually pretty picky about my vanilla. I think that real mexican vanilla (sold in mexican liquor stores) is the absolute best. If you're anywhere near the border (or know a place that sells it under the counter here) I highly recommend it.

[scbelle]

Originally Posted by skylark

I'm actually pretty picky about my vanilla. I think that real mexican vanilla (sold in mexican liquor stores) is the absolute best. If you're anywhere near the border (or know a place that sells it under the counter here) I highly recommend it.

That's the only kind of vanilla I get! My extended family lives in TX and sends shipments of the good stuff to my mom, who is *sometimes* kind enough to remember to ship a bottle my way.

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by scbelle

That's the only kind of vanilla I get! My extended family lives in TX and sends shipments of the good stuff to my mom, who is *sometimes* kind enough to remember to ship a bottle my way.

How about "fresh" vanilla beans? I love to make vanilla sugar, and would love to find something fresher than the dried ones in our grocery store.

fyi...vanilla sugar is when you bury a vanilla bean in sugar in a sealed container for several weeks. It has a great vanilla hint to many things.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by sageofages

How about "fresh" vanilla beans? I love to make vanilla sugar, and would love to find something fresher than the dried ones in our grocery store.

fyi...vanilla sugar is when you bury a vanilla bean in sugar in a sealed container for several weeks. It has a great vanilla hint to many things.

Wow! I haven't had that since my aunt passed away! How much sugar to one vanilla bean? It's really great for baking!

And I'll add Pam, or whatever you want to call lo-cal cooking spray. Some of them have seriously nasty smells!

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Wow! I haven't had that since my aunt passed away! How much sugar to one vanilla bean? It's really great for baking!

And I'll add Pam, or whatever you want to call lo-cal cooking spray. Some of them have seriously nasty smells!

I had to read that twice to realize you mean "pam" the cooking spray...rather than me ;0!

One vanilla bean to about 1.5 cups sugar. I use a sugar dispenser you might find at a coffee stand in the office work room and duct tape the spout shut.
Works like a charm. BEST sugar evah!

[skylark]

Originally Posted by sageofages

How about "fresh" vanilla beans? I love to make vanilla sugar, and would love to find something fresher than the dried ones in our grocery store.

fyi...vanilla sugar is when you bury a vanilla bean in sugar in a sealed container for several weeks. It has a great vanilla hint to many things.

Yeah, the only vanilla beans I can get in my area are the nasty dried ones, plus they cost about $10 a pop... and I think the mexican vanilla tastes better than these dried beans anyway. I've never had the pleasure of cooking with a fresh vanilla bean, but I can only imagine how pure that must taste.