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

[scbelle]

Originally Posted by sageofages

In the same note....imitation vanilla extract.......EWWWWWWWWW!

Talk about an easy way to ruin any dessert...

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!

[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!

[macallan25]

clothing
hotels
fishing and hunting apparel
food
tires
liquor
.....and a couple of other things that I'm not going to say, haha.

[SWTXBelle]

"seafood - what the HAYLE is imitation crabmeat???"

YES - tld, I hear you.

I love Puffs with Vaporub - the scent alone makes me feel better!

Scotch - I will only drink Blair Atholl. Never heard of it? Of course not - you can only get it in the U.K., and you have to hunt there. It is AMAZING.

Paper towels - Viva is so much better than all those thinner ones.

Spices - go to Penzey's, or order on-line. They are great - you can't believe they are the same spices as are in the grocery store.

[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.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by macallan25

fishing and hunting apparel

You and my husband, both. His philosophy is that he wants to be as warm and dry as humanly possible when he's out doing things. Same philosophy with equipment, too (which I totally support). I wouldn't want him lost or ill-equipped in the middle of the wilderness if one of his devices crapped out at the wrong time.

[catiebug]

Very, very true!

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Paper towels - Viva is so much better than all those thinner ones.

[Leslie Anne]

Pasta (I will only buy De Cecco.)

[scbelle]

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.

Originally Posted by sageofages

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!

I may have to try that! The things you learn on GC!

And I had to re-read honey's post to figure out she was talking about spray cooking oil instead of you, too!

[southernfrat]

whiskey
cigars (or for that matter any tobacco product)
fishing equipment
clothes
hygeine products
gifts
most foods (not mexican because it is usually better from a cheap hole in the wall place)

[DaemonSeid]

Common Sense