Vanilla Bean - What to make

[AlaskaChick]

He proudly presented me with the Costco pack of vanilla beans accompanied by "look what I got for you - what will you make?"

So I need some help here - I'd appreciate your best ideas for using up lots of vanilla beans. Thanks!

[thew]

last year i was doing a lot of experimenting with vanilla in savory foods. it really works in complex asian-ish dishes, adds a nice floral bottom note to anything with spice

[AlaskaChick]

You are awesome -thanks so much for the suggestions. I must say that I love tapioca but he doesn't - but if I made it with coconut milk he might just be won over. Then there is the white chocolate risotto recipe calling my name. The good thing is that I have enough vanilla to try a little of each!

[purple goddess]

add one to the canister in which you store your sugar.

Voila! "Instant" Vanilla sugar!!

It will last about a year.

[ipsedixit]

Custard

Angel food cake

Creme brulee

Poaching liquid for pears

[Agent Orange]

Pudding! Tapioca pudding. The creamy fish-eye glob of dairy goodness looks even more luxurious with flecks of vanilla bean. Mmm... Sometimes I sub half the milk with coconut milk.

[maplesugar]

I don't suppose you'd share your Tapioca pudding recipe? My Mom always used the instant stuff, I'd love a good solid recipe. TIA :)

[Agent Orange]

I suppose I would, especially since it's not my recipe:
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/...

I don't sweat the organic milk; I just use plain 'ol iodized salt; I usually only have large eggs around so I use the yolks from 2-3 of those. And with coconut milk I use the thick part at the top of the can, and the rest from the cow. I get my tapioca pearls from the Asian grocery store... The stirring, stirring, stirring that this recipe demands can be quite soothing.

[pilinut]

Hot chocolate!

[maplesugar]

Other than what's already been mentioned: vanilla infused vodka, vanilla extract and vanilla sugar.

[Nancy Berry]

Go to this link for many great recipes:

http://www.vanilla.com/html/food.html

[gordeaux]

Scrape out the seeds, and add them to a teriyaki. Great for a glaze for fish, chix (i like it on wings.) I think this would generally be called "polynesian teriyaki."

Of course - ice cream and - your other general "custards" group:
flan, bread pudding, creme brulee.