What should I do with 50 vanilla beans!?!?!

[wolftracks]

hmmmm send half of whats left to me?

 

[silkiechicken]

I got the beans from Amazon: JR Mushrooms & Specialties. They came out to be only like 50 cents a bean. I don't really have anything to judge against for "fresh beans", but they were all about 8-8.5 inches long, plump, moist, and very pliable. From what I read, that is everything a well aged grade A bean should be. They smelled great. Compared to the 8-14 dollar single skinny dry bean at the grocery store in a tiny glass bottle, these things look great! They really do look just like the picture. They were vacuum packed in a resealable plastic baggie and came in a padded envelope.


As for left over beans... I ended up buying two bottles of vodka, so was left with 10 after putting 20 in each bottle. One bottle is going to my mom. 20 may have been a bit much, but I'm going for real strong extract!!! Mmmmm...

Then from that remaining 10, I put two in my coffee jar, two into the granulated sugar jar, and two into my powdered sugar jar. Everything is going to be vanilla scented!!!!

So I've got 4 beans left, one of which I plan on making sugar cookies with tomorrow! I should have bought the one pound bag! Or not... there are three beans left. I'm going to have to try BethieofVA's sweet potatoes!!!


I also found this site:
http://www.saffron.com/

But had already ordered from Amazon. I may try them next time just to see the quality of beans, but was very pleased with JR M&S so may just stick with them. They have good reviews.

 

[bigmike&nan]

Quote:
I use a really lovely Mexican Vanilla Extract I buy off eBay in 32 oz. bottles - I think with shipping it comes to around $20.00... There are lots of folks selling what are called "B Grade" vanilla beans. In the trade there are certain cosmetic issues that separate the A Grade from the B Grade and so on: size, plumpness. Grade B beans are used to make vanilla extract. Nothing wrong with the B Grade, and at that price if it takes a few more to get the desired result why not ?? Creme Breulee Baby, that and a very pungent Vanilla Ice Cream and of course some homemade Kahlua ...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, I saw lots of grade B's on e bay, but none on amazon. Even saw some grade C beans recommended for stuff like soaps and lotions. Sometimes I wish I had pay pal since some of those were like half the cost of the grade A's.

 

[QH Girl]

I just bought 30 from exotissimo2008 on ebay. They were $9, including shipping. Took a few extra days to ship as they came from France, but they seem to be decent.

8 are swimming in vodka now and a couple are stashed in a bag of sugar.

 

[CarrieW]

If you want a homemade Kahlua recipe, let me know, I have a great one, and you use a vanilla bean in each bottle.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
WOW, that is a really good price! Comes out to only 30 cents a bean! I had to cut all the 8 in beans in half anyway to get it into the jar.


CarrieW, I'm sure someone would love a home made Kahlua recipe! I don't drink myself.


ETA: Looked at listing and they say 6 inch beans. So that's a difference of 5 cents/inch of bean vs 6.8 cents/inch. Guess if I got their madagascar bourbon beans they'd only be 4.1 cents an inch from that seller! Were they pretty plump?

 

[CarrieW]

This is really easy...

KAHULA

Dissolve 3 1/2 C sugar into 3 C boiling water.

Dissolve a 2 ounce jar of instant Yuban coffee into 1 C boiling water, and combine with sugar water.

Add 1-1/2 fifths of vodka.

Split into 3 one quart bottles. Soak 1/3 of a vanilla bean in each bottle for 23 days. (I take the vanilla bean and pierce the end with a needle and a very long piece of thread, soak the bean and hang the end of the thread over the lip of the bottle and tape it, then screw the lid on.)

 

[silkiechicken]

A bean on a string is a great idea to easily get it back out of the bottle! No need to spill the stuff everywhere. LOL

I might pull out one of the beans in my sugar to make one for a friend I know who does drink.

 

[flowerchild59]

Thanks for posting such good ideas, and I love the kahlua recipe...........gotta try it.