Vanilla Beans - particularly Aussie posters

Bronwyn said:

I have just found a terrific mail order site for Madagascan vanilla
beans. They are based in Cairns, Queensland and don't change postage
for domestic orders. The order was received by return mail.
You can buy the beans in different quantities. I bought pack of 40
beans for AUD50 and shared them with three foodie friends. Whooohooo!!
Check their site out at www.palmplantations.com.au

Cheers Bronwyn, who might just make vanilla cream caramels for dinner
tonight!!

Arrrrgh! That's free. Well, nearly so. I've paid as much as $5 US
for one. What good fortune to have such a treat so cheap.

Have you ever used vanilla in savory dishes? I've seen it in
Caribbean seafood recipes, but never tried it myself.

modom

"Dallas is a rich man with a death wish in his eyes."
-- Jimmie Dale Gilmore

I've found a couple of websites which have some good recipes for
vanilla -- one is the following:
http://www.lavanillere.com/recettes_eng.htm#glace

which is a Tahitian vanilla bean site. Check out the fish baked in
paper, sounds wonderful and well worth trying.
I have on occasions made a savoury vanilla cream sauce for rich seafood
such as lobster.
Interesting to read about vanilla infused olive oil and vinegar. May
just put a bean in a bottle of e.v.o.oil seeing I have plenty of beans
to play with (<g>😉.
I use the pure vanilla extract as well as Bourbon vanilla powder, the
latter adds a subtle flavour balance to chocolate/coffee cake, mousse
type recipes. I also keep a little jar of the powder mixed with equal
qty of dutched cocoa powder for dusting.
desserts/cakes.
Oh, this is making me hungry, or at least the desire to get into the
kitchen and start baking......
Cheers
Bronwyn

Here at the grocer we can pay $7 per bean.