Uses for vanilla beans?

[LabileLotus]

My friend in Florida e-mailed me to say that her mom had meant to buy a bulk container of something like 25 beans and instead accidentally ordered the one with 50 so she was giving them away to friends. She sent me 5 vanilla beans (which I never buy because they are PRICEY!) but I have no idea what to do with them. I know I can cook with them but frugal guys/girls always give me more creative uses for stuff. So what the heck can I use these for?

[cstadt]

You might get more results in the Food Discussion, too!

Depends on what you like to eat?
You can stick a whole bean in a jar of sugar and make vanilla sugar that way. Just store it in there and use it when you want. That way you can get two uses out of it

[LabileLotus]

Vanilla sugar? What is this thing that sounds blissfully delicious? I've never heard of it!

And I was thinking that maybe you all had ideas that weren't food related is why I posted here first :D

[hoodedclawjen]

yeah, vanilla sugar is good. its just sugar that's vanilla-y, but as you can imagine its very nice. :) could you make vanilla soap or candles? :think:

[Skylark]

Hot chocolate mix with vanilla flavorings. :)

[jenni-anti-fur]

Hot chocolate mix with vanilla flavorings. :)

thats an awesome idea and gonna try that...thanx for suggesting it:)

[Skylark]

thats an awesome idea and gonna try that...thanx for suggesting it:)

Someone suggested it back in December when I was trying to come up with cheap variations on homemade hot chocolate mix. It wasn't economical for me because I didn't have any freebie vanilla beans and they're expensive, but I'd love to try it sometime.

[Starblossom]

I've never actually used vanilla beans before, but if you happen to make your own yogurt, dairy or otherwise, you could probably use vanilla bean to flavour it. Vanilla automatically makes me think of coffee or cappiccino, so maybe you could make your own specialty flavoured coffee. Or...vanilla flavoured cookies or wafers..

[MrFalafel]

Non-Dairy Crème Caramel with Summer Berries
Serves 4

Ingredients
300g caster sugar
500ml soya cream
250ml soya milk
1 vanilla pod split lengthwise
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp Vege-Gel (vegetarian gelatine) or agar-agar
200g mixed summer berries (e.g. strawberries, blueberries, redcurrants)

Method
Put 250g of the sugar into a saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of water. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Continue to heat until dark golden and caramelised. Pour a thin layer into the bases of four 200ml ramekin dishes and allow to cool.

Meanwhile, put the soya cream and soya milk into a pan. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla pod, and then add the pod. Add the remaining sugar and the vanilla essence. Sprinkle the Vege-gel over the mixture whisking as you do so. Bring the mixture slowly to the boil, whisking constantly.

Strain the mixture into a jug and discard the pod. Pour into the ramekins. Chill for 2 hours until set. Run a small, sharp knife around the edges of each crème caramel to loosen, before turning out on to a plate. Pour the caramel sauce over and serve with the summer berries.

--------------------------------------

Wine Poached Stuffed Pears
Serves 4

Ingredients (for the pears)
300ml freshly squeezed orange juice or ruby orange juice
70cl dry red wine
finely grated rind of 2 lemons
4 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla pod, split
125g caster sugar
6 firm ripe pears

Ingredients (for the stuffing)
100g hazelnuts, toasted and ground
3 tbsp soft brown sugar
25g currants or sultanas or raisins
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 heaped tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 tbsp orange flower water

Method
Put the orange juice, wine, lemon rind, spices and sugar into a deep pan. Bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Peel each pear, leaving the stems in tact. Slice off a small piece from the base so the pears can stand up, then scoop out the core from underneath using an apple corer or small teaspoon. Stand the pears in the pan with the syrup. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes until tender. Leave the pears to cool in the syrup.

Remove the pears from the syrup. Put on a large plate and set aside. Strain the syrup, return the liquid to the pan and boil over a moderate heat until reduced and thickened (do not boil too rapidly or the syrup will caramelise and become bitter). Leave to cool.

Meanwhile, mix together the stuffing ingredients. Press the mixture firmly inside the hollowed pears. Stand each pear upright on a serving plate and spoon the spices syrup over them.

----------------------

Kahlua

2 1/2 cups sugar
12 tsp instant coffee
1 quart water
3 cups vodka
1 broken vanilla bean

Blend together and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Cool. Add vanilla bean and vodka. Bottle. Shake everyday for 3-4 weeks before serving. Store in a dark place or a brown paper bag until ready to serve.

[LabileLotus]

^Wow, never thought I'd say this but I actually have EVERYTHING for the pear recipe at my house right now!

[Spidergrrl]

Take a few and slit them and put them in a jar of sugar and they will make the sugar all yummy and vanilla.As you use the sugar just top up with more and it will infuse the new sugar. i've had the same vanilla pods making vanilla sugar for 3 years and it is still going strong.

or make your own vanilla essence. slit a few pods and put them in a dark glass bottle with vodka and wait a few weeks, shaking every day and voila! real vanilla essence with lovely vanilla flecks in the now brown vanilla vodka. As it gets low just top up with more vodka and every year or so add another vanilla pod. Mine has been going strong for 5 years.

[wanberry]

You can make ice cream with it. Scrape out the beans and let it steep. If you really want to be frugal, just rinse the bean and use it for something else. Vanilla beans are so potent that you can use them more than once. Make your own vanilla extract.

[LetoTheTyrant]

creme brulee :drool:

steep it in some sort of liquid to make a vanilla something

[rabid_child]

I've bought them and used them in homemade vegan ice creams. I just scrape out the insides and add it to the mix when it's simmering. (Yes, you heat it to dissolve the sugar then cool it, then freeze it) I then stick the scraped out bean into a jar and fill with sugar. Vanilla sugar is really yummy sprinkled on cookies and pies and things.

[Aristede]

steep it in some sort of liquid to make a vanilla something


You could steep the vanilla beans in bourbon or vodka and create your own vanilla extract.

I personally haven't tried it, but I do have some vanilla beans around so maybe I'll try it too.