“My Friends”..(if I heard John McCain say that one more time last night during the debate I thought I would shove his bumbed arm up his butt..I am sooooo over this election)..anyways, My friends, what you are looking at is 1/4 pounds Grade A Gourmet Tahitian Vanilla Beans. I thought I would be thrifty and purchase some vanilla beans on Ebay, and this is what I buy! What in the hell am I going to do with 1/4 pounds of vanilla beans? I have never really used vanilla beans before. I mean come one, a little goes a long way.
So seriously, what was I thinking? Am I ever, in my life time ever going to use all of these?
Any one have any bright ideas?
Of all the impulse buys in the world, this isn’t the worst! Think of all the great things you can make. I’ve had this bookmarked for quite awhile:
Giada’s Butternut Squash and Vanilla Risotto though it only uses one vanilla bean so you’ll have to come up with some more recipes 🙂
I did the same thing and almost a year later, I am still using them, lol. Thankfully, I have been able to keep them preserved so far. Don’t be stingy with them! Throw them in anything and everything? Vanilla sugar, pound cake, rice pudding, vanilla pudding, panna cotta(my personal favorite), shortbread, have fun with them.
You could make vanilla sugar. Just slice one pod down the middle, and stick in a container of sugar. So much better than plain old sugar.
Actually, I was planning on making bottles of homemade vanilla extract for christmas gifts. I found a great how to at evilchefmom.com.
Let us know what you decide to do.
I bought the same 1/4 lb. of beans! There’s a lot you can do with vanilla beans. Use them in place of vanilla extract, make vanilla sugar, and best of all, you can make your own vanilla-infused vodka!
I actually think it’s a great buy. I just made vanilla panna cotta with beans, a great platform to taste all that Tahitian goodness…
–Marc
you can make vanilla extract. Martha stewart has a recipe on her site, can’t find the link right now. But you soak the vanilla beans in vodka in a jar for over a month and it creates the extract to use in baking.
I have a whole bunch of vanilla beans as well. I use them in anything that calls for vanilla extract but is overall a higher end or more delicate recipe… creme brulee, vanilla cupcakes, donuts etc. You’ll soon love having them and will re-order. Mark My Words! LOL
I have the best idea…you should send some to me.
Hey, great photo.
Ice cream, vanilla sugar, all kinds of desserts!
wow… maybe you can send me a few pieces? lol… perhaps, vanilla infused sugar? 🙂
NOTHING beats high-quality vanilla beans!! :0)
Can’t wait to see how you use them!!
definitely make vanilla sugar. i like real vanilla in cupcakes& in strawberry red wine sauce…yum!
What a great buy!! There is SO much that you can do with them. I could have used them in my creme brulee!!
Wow! Just rub yourself in it (hubby will like it) lol!
You can have so much fun with it, of course you can do extract, sugar, ice cream, etc. You also make vanilla salt, and add it to the most simple things and tranform them into something great, like a pound cake, french toast, whipped cream, infused it in milk for cappuccino, rice pudding, shortbread…
Now that is totally something I would do. I need some…maybe I will hit up ebay! As for what to do with them??? Creme brulee, ice cream, use them as shoe strings? Damn that’s a lot of vanilla!
I’ve got a bajillion ideas {I just started categorizing my recipes with vanilla beans, I have so many, I need to go back and add in the old ones}. I buy them on ebay too so I get them cheap and use them up.
For startes how about homemade vanilla?!
I did the same thing about a year ago. So I started making Vanilla extract. It sure does take a long time to make. But the Vanilla sugar idea sounds good.
I did the same impulse buy about a month ago. I made vanilla pots de creme and I need to do a vanilla sugar. I am stumped beyond that, but I am trying to figure out a way to replicate Starbucks vanilla bean scones. 🙂
I came across your post on Recipe Muncher or Taste Spotting (I was roaming around both last night). Just wanted to say you have a great blog! You might want to try the recipe at the Traveler’s Lunchbox.
A couple of months ago I was in your same boat when I bought a bunch of beans from the Vanilla, Saffron Imports store that Travler’s mentioned in her post. I’m not sure how prices compare now, but they were even cheaper than ebay at the time.
One recipe off the top of my head that I can really recommend is for Canelés from Chocolate & Zucchini. I just whipped up a batch of the batter today. I plan on posting about it on my blog. I’m seriously going to have to mine your blog for recipes! 😉
I bought the same vanilla beans off of ebay! I only got the 10 pack though because I figured any more would be too much. Such a good deal though! I’ve only used mine for creme brulee and vanilla sugar. But I think a vanilla bean cupcake is calling my name.
Vanilla pudding!!!
Look at all of those amazing vanilla beans! I am looking forward to seeing how you use them!
Impulse buys are the best kind! I’m sure you’ll think of something great. I don’t have any recipes that use vanilla bean but try marthastewart.com – I feel like she’s had a few over there!
Leslie, I just saw this and thought of you!
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/007340how_to_make_vanilla_extract.php
Thank you for asking that question my friend 🙂
It was like a drinking game. I would have been drunk after the first half hour!
No suggestions on the vanilla 🙁 I have some beans sitting in my pantry, drying out…
Wow … lots of ideas here already. ALMOST makes me want to get my own – haha. :: resisting urge ::
I’ve never worked with vanilla beans. Can’t wait to see what you do with them.
I love the smell of real vanilla beans! Great impulse buy!
But what a beautiful picture! I love whole vanilla beans and I’m sure you’ll be able to use them up. Bottles of vanilla sugar would be a great gift and I’m sure very appreciated by any cook!
My first thought was CREME BRULEE for days…Mmmmmm…you wouldn’t wanna post that on WW Wednesday though…hee hee hee
Anytime I make creme brulee i use the vanilla bean and throw it in a bag of sugar…divine (just as everyone else has said.)
YUMMY
Oh, my! What a wonderful life you’re going to have using up all those beans!
Just think… vanilla something for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Oh what a great buy! If I were you I’d make a ton of Vanilla Sugar in a gorgeous glass apothecary jar to be sprinkled liberally on and in everything!