Vanilla Beans: Different ways of working with vanilla beans
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Posted On :
Dec-13-2011
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Article Word Count :
789
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The smooth flavor and unmistakable aroma that comes from pure vanilla cannot be duplicated or made with chemicals
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Using real vanilla beans when cooking rather than substituting them for artificial vanilla flavoring will make your dishes hard to resist. Any chef, whether self-taught or professionally trained, will surely tell you that using the true, natural ingredient in your recipes, no matter what the ingredient, is definitely the best way to cook. Not only do natural ingredients give your dishes authentic flavor and aroma, they also make your dishes much healthier and leave a cleaner taste on the pallet. But if you are going to attempt to use authentic whole vanilla beans in your own kitchen, it's a great idea to gain an appreciation of what is involved when working with whole Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans.
Fresh vanilla bean has a better flavor and a better smell in comparison to the man-made vanilla extract that may be found in your local grocery store. Using fresh real vanilla bean pods will make the food taste far better than merely using a touch of vanilla extract that comes out of a bottle. The bean is cropped from the orchid plant and is thought of as a very precious commodity, as reflected in the price. The high price is due to the difficult work involved in growing, harvesting, and preparing the beans for use. And vanilla beans have quite an array of uses, dessert recipes to main dishes to drinks and it's used in perfumes and tobacco. If you would like to buy vanilla beans to be used at home, then you should know a few tricks when it comes to handling the beans and ensuring you get the most out of your purchase. The first thing to keep in mind is that the pods contain seeds and both can be used in recipes.
The pod is a bit thick and may be a little tough to split, but you must also be gentle so as not to lose any of the valuable seeds found inside. If you handle the pod with care and take some precautionary measures you should be able to gather all the seeds from inside without losing any. To make the pod a little easier to slice, you could steam it by holding it over a pot of boiling water, using tongs or something of that sort, of course. Holding it over steam for about two minutes should do the trick. This is a reasonably simple way to make the vanilla bean's skin pliable enough to cut it open with a paring knife. The pod has a really greasy surface and boiling it will also permit you to melt the skin enough for cutting.
Regardless of which method you use to prepare the bean for cutting , be certain that when you cut the pod that you do so lengthwise. This is the most effective way to open the pod so you can simply scrape all of the valuable seeds out. The seeds within the pod are extremely valuable so don't let the seeds fall. You can catch all the seeds with by laying wax paper on the counter or table before you begin cutting the bean. The seeds are so small that they can slip through your hands so catching them on wax paper is a great alternative.
After removing the seeds from the vanilla bean, it's a good idea to stick them in a sealed jar and store them in a spot that's cool and dark, near your other spices. Just take precautions not to put them by a heat source as this could destroy the scent and flavor of your vanilla before you have had the opportunity to use it in your recipes. Be sure to save the pod as well, but in a different sealable jar so as not to run the risk of losing any beans when you go to remove the pod from the jar. Or, you could store your pods in a canister of white sugar in order to produce vanilla sugar, which can generally make your baked products taste much better. You could also use the vanilla flavored sugar to sweeten your tea or coffee for an additional treat.
Once you taken the time needed to make your own vanilla extract from whole beans, there’s a good likelihood that you will never use artificial vanilla flavoring again. The smooth flavor and unmistakable aroma that comes from pure vanilla cannot be duplicated or made with chemicals. You and your family will love the difference this additional focus on the details makes in your baked goods. So always keep Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans in your pantry and enjoy your recipes even more.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Vanilla Beans: Different ways of working with vanilla beans _118167.aspx
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Author Resource :
Looking for Authentic Italian Recipes and Gourmet Italian Food? Check Olive Nation for healthy foods for you and your family. Sarah Neil enthuastic about recipes feature vanilla. Check out these fabulous Authentic Italian Reciepies & to make using your homemade vanilla.
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Keywords :
authentic italian reciepies, gourmet italian food, authentic grocery olive, extra virgin olive oil,
Category :
Food and Beverage
:
Recipes
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