Whenever we go Starbucks, I always load up my drink with vanilla sugar. At first, I didn't know what it was, thought it was just vanilla powder. But someone told me it was, in fact, SUGAR. Since then, I've tried not to go overboard with it. But its so delectable, that its hard to do that!
Hehe, then, Justin decided to try and make our own vanilla sugar! We were very enthusiastic about this and have left the vanilla to "marinate" in the sugar for about a month now. How'd it turn out??? Well, here we go!
What you need:
500g caster sugar
1 vanilla pod, split in half
What you do:
Place the sugar in an airtight container and add the split vanilla pod. Store in a cool place, and leave to infuse for at least a week, shaking occasionally.
And that's it! What results is delicious vanilla-flavoured sugar! Go crazy with it, hehehe. Use in stuff like baking, sprinkling over some desserts, or maybe to add a touch of vanilla in your coffee? Its up to you! Apparently, you can just "top up" the sugar once it runs low (leave it to infuse a bit more then). The vanilla pod should be able to last several months. :D
The actual infusion time differs from person to person. Some people suggest as little as three days, whilst others run for months. Justin wanted to get it as strong as possible, so we left it for about a month - before temptation overcame us and we decided to break the container open. ;) Hehe, I'm happy now.
I am actually very sensitive to sugar. Having a lot of sugar...makes me very happy. As in, so "happy" that I laugh at anything and everything, zoom round the room pretending I'm an airplane, pretend to be an opera singer or a rock star, etc etc etc. I'm sure you get the general idea. It can get pretty embarrassing, but I haven't been on a sugar high for months, so I thought, hey! I'm immune to sugar already! Not quite so. I must've crossed my limit today, or something, with all the hot chocolate, clementines, raspberry trifle AND vanilla sugar that I've been sampling. I was practically bouncing of the walls, to Hadi and Justin's consternation, while to me, everything was happy and fuzzy. Hee~! Ah well, I can live with this kind of embarrassment, I guess! ;)
Quote of the day: Little girls are made up of sugar and spice, and everything nice.
Ihsan! If you are in AUS, how much does ONE vanilla bean cost? Expensive right?
ReplyDeleteActually in Guan Hock Lee Brunei sell $7.50 for one bloody stick! So if its cheap in AUS, please in the name of Food God, bring lots back to Brunei.
Actually Australia can mail order them quite cheap - if interested - just leave a msg in my blog.
Real vanilla extract is made from vanilla beans soaked in clear vodka for months. I can't wait to actually get my hands on some and soak them in my bottle of vodka at home!
ReplyDeleteHehe, I'm actually in UK. Its about B$6 per stick here, slightly cheaper but quite expensive masih. They sometimes have offers, but very rarely :P
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Ihsan - one of these days - I will get my hands on one big big bunch then can explore the wonders of this expensive spice.
ReplyDeleteApparently, vanilla beans are the second most expensive spice - second to SAFFRON ;)
Haha, sounds good ;) We can have an competition or something... who can make the best thing out of vanilla :P ahahaha
ReplyDeletereally??? I knew that vanilla was expensive, but not that much! Although, apparently, a little goes a long way, so its quite worth it (I read that somewhere :P)