Vanilla beans.
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 19:56:58 -0600
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: "Janet S. Brunner" <wajabrun.WIN.BRIGHT.NET>
Subject: Vanilla Beans?
Hi all,
My Uncle has a "dried" vanilla bean (in a glass tube). He's wondering if it has any use at all. Can it be used for anything?
From: Marilynne Durrett-Johnson <Mjbdj.AOL.COM>
I don't personally know of any medicinal purposes, but you can extract your own home-made vanilla by splitting it and placing it in alcohol (vodka or everclear is usually recommended). Keep it in a sunny window and after several months, the vanilla will be good in all of your baking recipes. Or you could put it in a closed container of sugar and make "vanilla sugar" which is very good sprinkled on cookies or other sweets and used in coffees and teas. I make my own vanilla extract all the time.
From: CB Leek <cleek.TERRA.NLNET.NF.CA>
> My Uncle has a "dried" vanilla bean (in a glass tube). He's wondering if it has any use at all. Can it be used for anything?
Certainly! In the kitchen!
A very simple way of using it is to put in a jar with sugar, seal tight, and you will have vanilla flavoured sugar.
In recipes, I believe you have to cut the bean, immerse in the liquid, perhaps boiling, and remove prior to final cook/eating.
From: "Fran E. Rich" <frich.TENET.EDU>
> My Uncle has a "dried" vanilla bean (in a glass tube). He's wondering if it has any use at all. Can it be used for anything?
Janet, he can make about a gallon of "Kahlua" with it. Here's the recipe in case your interested. I give bottles of this to half my family as Christmas presents every year - it's something they all expect and look forward to! And extremely easy.
Coffee Liqueur
2 cups water
2 cups white sugar
½ cup instant coffee
½ vanilla bean -- chopped
1 ½ cups vodka
Boil water and sugar until dissolved. Turn off heat and slowly add dry instant coffee and continue stirring. Add a chopped vanilla bean to the vodka, then combine the cooled sugar syrup and coffee solution with the vodka. Cover tightly and shake vigorously each day for 3 weeks. Strain and filter.
