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The Vanilla Queen's Blog

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…the best vanilla extract to buy? In some respects, choosing a vanilla extract is like selecting a fine wine. How do you know which one to buy? Read on for…

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Recipes

Roasted Ratatouille

…of red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, a pinch of sugar or honey, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Whisk until the ingredients are…

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Beverages

Hibiscus Refresher

…it, and I often make it into a punch similar to sangria but with rum or white wine. And this is the best part about hibiscus refreshers — it welcomes…

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Sailing the Amalfi Coast

…easy to make; super satisfying to eat. If you drink, have it with a crisp white Italian wine. The mainstays of Neapolitan food are tomatoes, lemons, fresh vegetables, red peppers…

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Culinary

Vanilla Festival Santa Cruz, 2016

…bean gelato. It was served with a Champagne and Raspberry-Vanilla wine cocktail made by local Pelican Ranch boutique winery. Somehow we all managed to eat every bite. The Contessa, Gina…

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Roma in Late May

…had discovered a charming trattoria about a mile away, and the rain lifted by the time we were on our way for thin-crusted pizza and good Italian wine. Okay, also…

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Cookies

Almond Macaroons

…days ahead.  Great served with kosher dessert wine. Print Almond Macaroons Print Recipe ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★…

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Cookies

Almond Meringues

…make meringues. However, it was designed to go with Baked Ricotta Custard with Cherries in Port Wine with Star Anise   Look Delicious? Pin it for the world to see!…

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Book Reviews

A Tribute to Diana Kennedy

…Restaurant (an excellent restaurant and wine bar, in Santa Cruz), was a fund raiser for the Diana Kennedy Foundation, a program designed to fund her environmental projects with the goal…

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Perfectly Delicious Maple Granola

…much rain. We then tasted the additional grades used by the sugaring experts, an experience not unlike tasting olive oils or even wine. At the end of the tasting, we…

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Healthy Cooking

Too Many Tomatoes Gazpacho

…stale bread soaked in some water, olive oil and red wine vinegar was added to create a slurry of sorts. Vegetables were chopped and added, then soup was seasoned to…

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Book Reviews

My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz

…au Vin and Beef Bourguignon, drank red wine, ate crusty breads with olive oil and was given my first vanilla bean. Thank you David for conjuring my old friend through…

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Vanilla in Tahiti

…panoramic view of the lush countryside and the Opoa Hotopuu Bay in the distance, drinking French wine and talking about vanilla. Yannick is the president of the local bank in…

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Choclatique: 150 Simply Elegant Desserts

…company, Choclatique.  I visited the site and was astonished by how many choices of chocolates there are, including wine-filled chocolates from Napa, California!  You must visit his site to grasp…

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