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[gruselig]

As a small, early Christmas gift, my girlfriend gave me a single Tahitian vanilla bean. I'd love to turn it into a dessert of some sort, but I've no idea what to make. Since I rarely have such fine things in my possession, I'd like it to be something special. I've checked the tags already, but nothing really spoke to me - I don't particularly want

Comments

[tracy_allison]

I've never done so myself, but you could make vanilla extract. You put the bean in a small bottle with some vodka, wait a couple weeks, and voila!

[tracy_allison]

ok I'm an idiot. I just re-read your post and you don't want to make extract. Sorry, I skimmed over it too quickly. My bad.

[gruselig]

Hah, it's definitely the easiest thing to do, but I'm notoriously impatient. I may have to try it in the future, though, so I don't have to keep depending on my mother to send me the large, cheap bottles she can buy and I can't.

[progoddess]

vanilla bean ice cream? marshmallows?

[gruselig]

I love vanilla bean ice cream - we make it at the bakery I work at, and it's the highlight of my summer. My last attempt at making ice cream without a machine failed miserably, though, and I still haven't acquired one.

Marshmallows, now, sound like a fantastic idea!

[rainy_days06]

Apricot Vanilla Bean Muffin RecipeFor batter

[rainy_days06]

And a couple more:

Ethiopian Style Samosas With MarmaladeIngredients

[reactoss]

Oh, I would definitely go for the strawberries, could be very romantic!

[rainy_days06]

Yes. :] Especially since your girl gave them to you! That and it isn't an extremely complicated recipe.

[progoddess]

http://coconutlime.blogspot.com/2006/08/vanilla-bean-cupcakes.html

[gruselig]

I don't think the words "om nom nom" can convey how absolutely fantastic these sound.

[a_boleyn]

Pears poached in a vanilla syrup served with a french vanilla ice cream.

[gruselig]

That sounds absolutely delicious. I think I may have to try this soon! You wouldn't happen to have any tips or recipes for the pears, would you?

[a_boleyn]

I just winged the poaching liquid with equal parts sugar and water. A tablespoon or so of lemon juice adds brings some zip to the overall sweetness of the syrup. After bringing the syrup to a boil, I added a sliced and scraped vanilla pod and then peeled, cored, sliced in half and put as many pears as would fit snugly in a single layer, core side down, in a large pan with a lid

[gruselig]

A bit belated, but thank you so much for the recipe! I'm trying it out tonight as a belated Christmas dessert.