Vanilla Vanilla Vanilla

I love Vanilla.......when cooking with Vanilla many times I would put some on my wrists or behind my ears just to enjoy the fragrance.

I do use vanilla in hot cocoa, store bought or homemade. I have also put a drop in my coffee.

Vanilla Brown Sugar
4 cups granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, or confectioners' sugar
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise

Fill a 1-quart jar with tight-fitting lid with one of the types of sugar. Add vanilla bean.
Seal jar and store at least 1 week in cool, dark, dry place. When sugar is used up, add more until vanilla bean looses its flavor.

Suggestons~~stir in cappuccino or use in cakes.....sprinkle sugar over oatmeal. You can also sprinkle over fruit. {From Victoria Magazine 1995}

Vanilla Hazelnut Biscotti {I love this and used to make it and will again one day}
2 eggs
1 cup of Vanilla sugar like recipe above {Vanilla flavored sugar}
Pinch of salt
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cups hazelnuts, coarsely chopped {I do not use nuts but you can choose other nuts too}
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees....lightly butter and flour large baking sheet.
In medium bowl, beat eggs with a fork until foamy. Slowly add sugar and salt, mixing with a fork until blended. Set aside. Sift flour and baking powder into large bowl. Make a well in center of dry ingredients. Add egg mixture. Stir with a fork until flour is moistened and is crumbly.

Turn out on lightly floured surface. Knead gently, gradually adding nuts. When dough is smooth, divide in half. Shape each half of dough into a log 16 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter. Arrange logs on baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Brush with egg white.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on pan set on rack for 15 minutes. Reduce oven to 300 degrees.

Remove logs from pan. Cut logs diagonally in slices 1 /2 inch thick. Stand slices upright on baking sheet. Bake a 300 for 20 minutes until biscotti are dry and lightly golden. Cool on a pan set on rack {Cookies will be crisp throughout.}

Store in airtight container up to several weeks. Great with coffee or tea....even egg nog.
{From Victoria Magazine 1995.}