Drinks & Cocktails

We recently hosted a holiday cocktail party with a few family members, co-workers and neighbors. Hosting and welcoming friends into my home is one of the greatest joys in my life. I enjoy providing delicious food, lively conversation and a beautiful atmosphere which I  have been doing for many years. Over the years, I have learned what works and what does not. With many successes and a few colossal failures, my guests seem pleased and return year after year.

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

Christmas is slowly creeping upon us. Have you started your naughty or nice list yet? Store bought gifts are nice, but a handmade gift is so much more thoughtful and personal. Beanilla is the perfect place to start! Whether you are making Christmas cookies for your neighbors, vanilla-lime infused vodka for your dad, or homemade vanilla extract for your friends and family that love to bake - we have the perfect products and gifts that will have your friends and loved ones thinking you are the next Martha Stewart.

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This post was posted in Drinks & Cocktails, Recipes, Vanilla Bean Recipes and was tagged with Christmas Gift, Homemade, Cocktail, DIY

Saffron is a beautiful spice that is plucked from the center of a crocus flower. Each strand is hand harvested from the flower, and it is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Saffron has a sweet earthy flavor, and imparts a yellow-orange color into any dish it is composed with. It is most commonly used in risottos, Indian dishes and Persian cuisines.

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This post was posted in Drinks & Cocktails, Recipes and was tagged with Saffron

The craft beer movement has been gaining popularity over the last decade. My husband has been an avid home brewer for the past 15 years. It began for us in Seattle, continued on to Iowa, three years in beautiful So. California and, most recently, back home to Michigan. Each region has many independent craft brewing companies; Stone in So. Cali., Pyramid in Seattle, Cedar Brewing in Cedar Rapids and, of course, Founders in Grand Rapids are some of the small craft brewing companies that have gained popularity over the past few years.

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This post was posted in Drinks & Cocktails, Recipes and was tagged with Beer

Sweet, creamy, vanilla-based soda is often used to describe cream soda (even though true cream soda contains cream or half and half). Cream soda is said to be created in the early 1900’s to recreate the ice cream floats in soda shops at the time.

Approximately 6 days ago I posted a recipe for Vanilla Lime Infused Vodka. My vodka infusion has rested and the vanilla has infused into the vodka for about 10 days now. The result is smooth, vanilla flavored vodka with undertones of fresh lime. It is, by far, one of my favorite infusions I have created.

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

Tahitian vanilla beans are gorgeous! They are exceptionally large compared to other varieties and are brimming full of vanilla "caviar". They smell sweet and fruity with a touch of chocolate and caramel. True Tahitian vanilla beans from Tahiti are prized for their aroma, size and abundance of vanilla seeds in each pod. Lucky for you, Beanilla is one of the few retail sites that sell true Tahitian vanilla beans from Tahiti!

Upon receiving the Tahitian vanilla bean, I held onto it for about a week before I decided what I wanted create with it. The bean is so special and has such a beautiful aroma and flavor profile that I really did not want to overpower it. Vodka is the perfect vehicle for the flavor of this bean. A good quality vodka has very little flavor and should be smooth and not astringent. This will allow the Tahitian vanilla bean to shine.

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

Italian soda is light, crisp and fruity. A refreshing change from sugary sodas, they can be made with all natural products in any flavor you desire. The most popular flavors are fruit-based, but these drinks can be made with botanicals and even savory herbs. I prefer the fruity version, so when I pulled out my Beanilla Raspberry extract I knew that it belonged in a crisp Italian soda.

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This post was posted in Baking Extracts & Flavorings, Drinks & Cocktails, Recipes and was tagged with Raspberries

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 Bean Recipes and was tagged with Drink, Cocktail

By Garrett McCord, author of Vanilla Garlic

This cocktail utilizes a modern, summery mix of unique flavors that blend together surprisingly well. A modern simple syrup infused with rhubarb, rosemary, and vanilla is splashed together with a vodka and sliced cucumbers.

Served from a pitcher into glasses filled with waiting ice the mix is topped off with a bit of ginger ale. The drink is intriguing and mellow and sure to be a hit at your next party.

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