Recipe(tried): Vanilla Sugar

Sharon, you can buy vanilla sugar at Penzey's Spices. They have a store on Manchester Road in Maplewood. You can also get it from them by mail order.

You can easily make your own vanilla sugar, too, using beans you can buy at Penzey's or even from your local grocery store. Here's how I did it:

VANILLA SUGAR

1 plump, moist vanilla bean
2 cups granulated sugar

Slice down side of the vanilla bean; with the back of the knife, scrape the seeds into airtight container with the sugar.

Bury the bean pod in the sugar and seal tightly with lid. Let sit for 1 to 2 weeks.

Use as regular, granulated sugar.