secret cookie ingredient

[patrice]

Hi,Everyone,Want to make the best cookies ever?I use Cook's vanilla powder in all my sweet recipes.Just substitute 1/4 cup vanilla powder for 1/4 cup of sugar in any sweet recipe.Add vanilla as called for.(I recommend-Cook's cookie vanilla)
Be ready to guard your cookies...I have been making Christmas cookies to give away-for about fifteen years.You would not believe how many people think I have secret cookie recipes.Cook's Flavoring...nuff said!

[carolivy]

I make my own Pure Vanilla Extract...and have been for years. Just take a bottle of the highest proof Vodka you can get ahold of. Take about 6-8 Vanilla Beans and slit them several times with a sharp knife without going all the way through. Pour off just a bit of the Vodka, to give you room for the vanilla beans and put them in the bottle. Put it away in a dark room for about 3 months. After that time, you can pour a portion of the Vanilla Extract in an old Extract bottle. After you get down to about 1/2 way, top it back off with more Vodka. You can do this 2-3 times before you need to add a few more beans to the bottle. I've been using the same bottle since I started about 15 years ago. Haven't paid for Vanilla extract since I started.
You can also make your own Vanilla Sugar by taking the beans, slicing them as you would for the extract and putting them in a cannister of sugar. Let it sit, shaking the cannister every couple of weeks, for about 3 months and you will have some wonderfully vanilla sugar.

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

I make my own Pure Vanilla Extract...and have been for years. Just take a bottle of the highest proof Vodka you can get ahold of. Take about 6-8 Vanilla Beans and slit them several times with a sharp knife without going all the way through. Pour off just a bit of the Vodka, to give you room for the vanilla beans and put them in the bottle. Put it away in a dark room for about 3 months. After that time, you can pour a portion of the Vanilla Extract in an old Extract bottle. After you get down to about 1/2 way, top it back off with more Vodka. You can do this 2-3 times before you need to add a few more beans to the bottle. I've been using the same bottle since I started about 15 years ago. Haven't paid for Vanilla extract since I started.
You can also make your own Vanilla Sugar by taking the beans, slicing them as you would for the extract and putting them in a cannister of sugar. Let it sit, shaking the cannister every couple of weeks, for about 3 months and you will have some wonderfully vanilla sugar.

Carol, do you find vanilla beans in your local grocery?

[Marie N]

Carolivy,
I love your idea! Will try it when I can get hold of some vanilla beans. Thanks for sharing....

[Susan B T]

I like to make my Vanilla with a very good brandy... adds an extra richness.

[Judy]

FYI, my vanilla bean supplier, Penzey's, puts them in a lovely long glass tube that's perfect for tatting needles!

[delseylynne]

We have Penzey's here in Portland - I put one of the vanilla beans in a fruit jar of sugar and made vanilla sugar - it was so good over strawberries.

[Judy]

We have Penzey's here in Portland - I put one of the vanilla beans in a fruit jar of sugar and made vanilla sugar - it was so good over strawberries.

Delseylynne, did you get your Secret Santa package from me? If I'd known, I'd have included some of my favorite spices!

[crazytatter]

wow, I gotta get myself some vanilla beans to make vanilla sugar. The mention of strawberries sounds so good.

[patrice]

Pensey's is my other secret for the kitchen.They have the best spices-herbs-herb blends and flavorings ANYWHERE!