6 Unexpected Ways to Use Vanilla
By Kristie | May 14, 2020 Angel food cake. White chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Vanilla ice cream. Fruit tarts. You probably know that vanilla can bring these classic dessert recipes to life. But did you know that vanilla can elevate savory dishes, too? That’s right. And not just in fancy French recipes, either. Think mashed…
Read MoreWhy Add Poppy Seeds?
By Kirsten | May 1st, 2020 The World Loves Poppy Seeds Poppy seeds are popular around the world, where they are enjoyed in both sweet and savory recipes. They are especially popular in Eastern Europe, where poppy flowers (Papaver Somniferum) are native and the seeds are considered a symbol of wealth. You will find them…
Read MoreReal Vanilla is Always Better than Fake Vanilla… Right?
By Kristie | April 30, 2020 When it comes to vanilla, we may be tempted to assume: of course real is better. But you may be surprised to learn that in some cases, people — experts, even — can’t tell the difference between real and synthetic vanilla. In fact, when asked to choose between real…
Read MoreAbout the Writer: Kristie Chairil
Kristie Chairil is a freelance writer and Los Angeles native. When she isn’t tutoring high school English, traveling, or writing, you can invariably find her immersed in a new Netflix series. Her non-streaming hobbies are all book-related: doodling calligraphy in notebooks, reading novels, sight-reading piano scores. If she had to pick a favorite bake, she’d…
Read MoreAbout the Writer: Kristen Desmond
Kristen is a chef and culinary consultant based in Washington, DC. A certified food safety manager, she trained at New York City’s Natural Gourmet Institute. Kristen specializes in cooking and baking with whole, natural ingredients. For more than 6 years, Kristen owned and operated Flagstone Pantry, a healthy gourmet concept, located at the Santa Barbara…
Read MoreBenefits of Buying Online vs. Retail
By Kristen | April 24, 2020 I always keep a variety of seeds around to use in salads, baking, and all sorts of recipes. My favorites are flax, chia, and poppy seeds. More often than not, I buy them in bulk and I store them in my freezer to improve their shelf life. See my…
Read MoreHow Madagascar Vanilla Farmers Have Recovered from Recent Cyclones
By Kristie | April 14, 2020 When we think about the vanilla going into our coffee, cakes, or ice cream, we don’t often give it a second thought. We might even spoon in a little extra sometimes because it’ll make our food taste that much better. But the volatile vanilla trade is worth a bit…
Read MoreHow Poppy Seeds are Harvested
By Kristen | April 17, 2020 Poppy Seeds: From Pod to Pantry Poppy seeds make delightful additions to pastries, salads and dressings. Available in shades of blue, gray and white, poppy seeds have a nutty flavor and may be eaten raw, toasted or ground into a paste. But, where do they come from…? Poppy Seeds…
Read MoreVanilla: The World’s Second Most Expensive Spice
By Kristie | April 14, 2020 Call it what you want — many people say “basic” — but you may be surprised to learn that at one point, all-natural vanilla was a more precious commodity than silver. In 2018, the price of vanilla per kilogram peaked at $600, $60 higher than the price of a…
Read MoreHow One Island Produces Over 80% of the World’s Vanilla
By Kristie | April 10, 2020 If you remember the Madagascar film franchise from the early 2000s, chances are you recall the quirky yet inaccurate portrayal of wildlife in that country. (I myself was dismayed to learn that there are no penguins in the real Madagascar.) It shouldn’t come as a surprise, though; the island…
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