The Queen of Beans: Vanilla Recipes

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10 Vanilla Recipes

• Hot Vanilla Milk
• Vanilla Syrup
• Vanilla-Scented Sugar
• Homemade Vanilla Bean Extract
• Vanilla Vinegar
• Waldorf Salad
• Tropical Fruit Salad with Vanilla Mint Syrup
• Vanilla Layer Cake with Sour Cream
• Vanilla Butter Cream
• Decadent Vanilla Creme Brûlée 

I have always adored the fragrance of vanilla. More than once as a child, I tasted vanilla extract from the bottle — knowing full well that I wouldn’t like it. I just couldn’t resist a little taste because it smelled so good.

The fragrance of pure vanilla extract and its essential oil is at once exotic, tropical, warm and sensual. We often associate vanilla with sweets because it is used in many confections and sweet foods, but vanilla’s flowery, resinous quality allows it to partner with many flavors. It works well with spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger, and subtly enhances just about any baked good. It complements dairy products: Fats such as butter, cream and milk seem to intensify its fragrance and flavor. Coffee and tea work well with vanilla, and it brightens any fresh fruit bowl or cooked compote. Vanilla highlights most foods without being too forward or overbearing. It is a harmonious ingredient, but also can stand on its own and shine.

Vanilla is everywhere today, sometimes in inconspicuous roles, used in many foods, including drinks, soups, sauces, rice dishes, with seafood, as a glaze for poultry and pork, in barbecue sauces, condiments and even mashed potatoes.

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