Daily Dish the Sonoma Market blog
Vanilla V.I.P.
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Sometimes the simplest ingredients can make the biggest impact. Take vanilla, for example. What all too often can be taken for granted as basic or boring (forsooth!) is actually a rich and complex flavor that can shine in a multitude of recipes. From extracts to paste and even the beans themselves, vanilla in its purest form can bring out the best in more than just baking. Keep reading to learn more about this pantry V.I.P. (Very Important Pod).
Sometimes the simplest ingredients can make the biggest impact. Take vanilla, for example. What all too often can be taken for granted as basic or boring (forsooth!) is actually a rich and complex flavor that can shine in a multitude of recipes. From extracts to paste and even the beans themselves, vanilla in its purest form can bring out the best in more than just baking. Keep reading to learn more about this pantry V.I.P. (Very Important Pod).
Vanilla Beans: Whole vanilla beans are dark pods filled with thousands of aromatic seeds that can be scraped out and added to recipes for visual flair as well as deep, complex flavor.
- Get cooking with... Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Beans: If you want the whole vanilla experience, start with these premium beans sourced from the Bourbon Island of Madagascar. Hand-selected for freshness and aroma, they offer a sweet, almost creamy flavor and stunning presentation.
- PRO TIP: After scraping out the seeds, use the empty vanilla pods to infuse cream, sugar or coffee grounds!
Vanilla Extract: The most common form of vanilla found in any baker’s pantry, pure liquid vanilla extract is easy to measure, cost-effective, full of flavor and blends into batters like a breeze.
- Get cooking with… Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract: This exceptional extract is crafted with the highest standards, a blend of carefully sourced vanilla beans and a proprietary cold extraction process to preserve all the rich, naturally occurring flavor compounds found in vanilla beans.
- PRO TIP: Also try their Pure Almond Extract for a nutty twist!
Vanilla Bean Paste: Made of real vanilla seeds immersed in vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste offers the best of both worlds with flavor, convenience and those sweet, coveted specks.
- Get cooking with… Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste: This vanilla variation pairs their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract with real vanilla seeds to create a thick, flavorful paste similar to molasses that lets you impart more fantastic flavor without affecting the consistency of your recipe.
- PRO TIP: Use any form in any recipe with this conversion:
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste = 1 tablespoon vanilla extract = 1 vanilla whole bean
For even more vanilla fun, try using whole vanilla beans to make your own Homemade Vanilla Extract!
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