Monthly Archives: August 2012

Homemade Graham Crackers (S'mores Part 2)

As promised, here is part two of the homemade marshmallows recipe that was posted on Tuesday. Homemade marshmallows are delicious and definitely a treat to have around the house. But, what would a s'more be without the graham cracker?

When I was much, much younger, I had a best friend whose mom would give us graham crackers sandwiched with leftover homemade frosting. I still love it to this day!

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This post was posted in Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Vanilla Extract and was tagged with smores

Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows (S'mores Part 1)

Part one? This week I would like to do a recipe for homemade s'mores in two parts, so be sure to check back on Thursday for the graham cracker recipe.

Living in beautiful West Michigan has its perks. Great lakes surround us, beautiful scenery abounds, wonderful communities of friendly neighbors and four seasons. Spring, summer, fall and winter -- that time of year when no one can go to the lake, the cabin, or the beach. Summer is a time for Michiganders to soak up the sun in preparation for winter hibernation. Labor Day weekend is usually the last weekend when we are able to go to the lake, the cabin or the beach house. In celebration of these last days of summer I am presenting you with a quintessential summer camping recipe, s'mores!

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This post was posted in Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Vanilla Paste and was tagged with smores, Fall, Camping, Vanilla Paste

Fall is just around the corner! I've missed fall, the changing leaves, crisp air, cider and donuts and, of course, fresh picked apples. I remember as a child picking apples right off the trees at a local orchard. They were crisp with just the right combination of tart and sweet.

I contemplated waiting to post this recipe until after labor day, when fall officially starts, but those beautiful apples in the fridge kept calling to me; begging to be made into a crisp, strudel or pie. I begrudgingly, but happily, gave in and pulled them from the fridge. What can I make that is easy, tastes delicious, and strays slightly from the traditional? Almond-Vanilla Apple Tarts! Simple, elegant and oh-so-delicious!!

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This post was posted in Baking Extracts & Flavorings, Desserts, Recipes, Vanilla Paste and was tagged with Apples, Dessert, Almond Extract, Vanilla Paste

I recently received two very different vanilla beans from Beanilla. Did you know that there are different varieties of vanilla beans that grow in various regions around the world? In each vanilla producing region, vanilla beans are uniquely cured by vanilla farmers through a very labor-intensive process. Curing techniques, which have been passed down from generations of farmers, contribute to the aroma, texture, length, girth and flavor characteristics that make each bean so different, according to region.

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This post was posted in Drinks & Cocktails, Recipes, Vanilla Beans and was tagged with Drink, Cocktail

We recently moved back to the Midwest from sunny Southern California. Although I miss the ocean and mountains, I am thrilled to be closer to family! One of the benefits of being so close to family is the ability to "stop" by and raid my father's garden.

Looking for inspiration for a breakfast pastry, I gathered up my camera and the kids, and drove up to his house. I was very pleasantly surprised by the abundance of tomatoes, but tomato muffins did not sound appealing to any of us, so we continued our hunt. Beneath large green leaves I spied a very large zucchini, and then a second one. Perfect! Zucchini bread it is! The moisture from the zucchini keeps the bread moist for days, and even after it has gone past its prime I have been known to make french toast out of the leftovers. But that's another post...

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This post was posted in Recipes, Vanilla Paste and was tagged with Chocolate, Bread, Vanilla Paste

Raspberries are my absolute favorite fruit. The sweet tartness is amazing all on its own, but when paired with lemon you create the perfect combination of sweet and tart. Combine these two flavors into a muffin that is sweet, has a light crumb and is low in fat, and you will have an amazing way to start off your day.

Jumbo bakery muffins are loaded with sugar, fat and calories. Did you know that one jumbo muffin from your local coffee house can total in excess of 800 calories? Add in a latte, and you're almost halfway to a normal daily intake of calories. I don't know about you, but I feel incredibly guilty eating that many calories early in the morning (I'll save those calories for a dessert after dinner). Low-fat muffins often leave a lot to be desired because they are either too dry, too sweet or simply taste downright disgusting. Not this recipe! Delicious, moist, not too sweet and very addictive is the best way to describe this recipe, and at 350 calories per jumbo muffin you can save your guilt and your waistline.

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This post was posted in Baking Extracts & Flavorings, Recipes and was tagged with Muffins, Lemon Extract, Breakfast

I know what you are thinking..... That is a very long title for a dessert. Well, I have to agree, but I couldn't think of any other way to describe in one line the deliciousness that is Vanilla Fleur de sel Dulce de leche.

While living in California I had the opportunity to work for a non-profit that fed low income children. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a chef. The children were beautiful and it was a pleasure to introduce them to healthy eating while maintaining a budget. Every Wednesday I would go into the classroom and we would have a kids-kitchen cooking session. Often times I learned about a food item or dish that I had never heard of, due to the ethnic diversity of the children. Once monthly, I asked a parent to bring in a treat that represented their culture or family. This is how I was introduced to sweet, delicious dulce de leche.

"Dulce de leche is a sweet prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that derives its taste from caramelized sugar. Literally translated, it means "candy of milk" or "candy [made] of milk", "milk candy", or "milk jam" in the same way that "dulce de frutilla" is strawberry jam. It is popular in South America, notably in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. In Chile and Ecuador, it is known as manjar. In Peru, Colombia and Venezuela, it is referred to as manjar blanco or arequipe, depending on regional variations. In Brazil, it is known by its Portuguese name doce de leite. Dulce de Leche is believed to have been created in Argentina in 1829 in Cañuelas, Buenos Aires”. (wikipedia.com)

The traditional way to make Dulce de leche is to slowly boil an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk. I find that this method sometimes lacks the complexity in other caramel sauces. So, I altered tradition and adapted my own recipe to include Beanilla Vanilla Fleur de sel. Vanilla Fleur de Sel

Beanilla's Vanilla Fleur Del Sel is hand harvested sea salt from the Brittany region of France. Ground Tahitian vanilla beans are added to the salt to add a sweet floral note. The Fleur de sel adds a complexity to the sauce and the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Dulce de leche beautifully complements classic vanilla ice cream, can be drizzled over cream puffs, used as a filling for chocolate tarts, added to chocolate truffles and sprinkled on caramels or just simply eaten straight off the spoon (my personal favorite!).

This post was posted in Fleur de Sel, Recipes and was tagged with Caramel, Dessert, Vanilla Fleur de Sel

Hello! Welcome to the Beanilla Trading Blog. My name is Chef Sarah and I will be your photographer, author and chef. It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce you to myself and the Beanilla product line.

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This post was posted in Baking Extracts & Flavorings, Recipes, Vanilla Extract and was tagged with Mexican Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract