Lynn Smythe
Vanilla Dessert Recipes
January 21st 2008 08:10
Bowl of Vanilla Pudding
Vanilla Sugar, Vanilla Pudding and Vanilla Infused Hot Chocolate
© Lynn Smythe
Overview:
Here are three delicious, dessert recipes to try out which feature real vanilla beans and vanilla extract. Vanilla beans come from the dried and cured fruit of a variety of orchid flower. The curing of vanilla beans can take up to six months to produce a bean of superior quality, making this one of the more expensive spices available.
Author's Note:
My entire article, Vanilla Bean Dessert Recipes; Vanilla Sugar, Vanilla Pudding and Vanilla Infused Hot Chocolate, can be read on the Associated Content website.
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
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Comment by Lynn Smythe
The Pagan Path
I Love Herbs
In theory you could grow your own vanilla. I have a few friends that grow all different kinds of orchids. However, vanilla is grown in tropical areas where there is a specific type of wasp that pollinates the orchid flowers which turn into the fruit which eventually turns into a vanilla bean.
The wasp isn't found anywhere else so I guess it's difficult but not impossible to pollinate by hand. And the process to turn the green vanilla pod into a brown vanilla bean is a bit time consuming (months and months) and involves many different processes.
So it's just easier to buy it. I buy fresh vanilla beans in bulk from San Francisco Herb company - nothing like the dried out, leathery vanilla beans you find in most grocery stores.