Vanilla Bean Paste?

Click on the picture to see those beautiful bean specks!


I love to bake and I've been told I'm pretty good at it. I've seen a lot of recipes and cookbooks. But did you know there was such a thing as vanilla bean paste? I came across it by accident one day surfing the Internet. So, my mission began. I went online to see if I could find it local and saw Trader Joe's carried it. We have a Trader Joe's 70 miles away. So I sent my husband on his way down the freeway. Trader Joe's or Bust!
When he got there he found the isle, found the spot, found the sticker price.

No Paste.

There were 2 empty row of nothing. I guess other people knew about vanilla bean paste.
But I had a cake to bake. You can imagine my disappointment. I ventured out and started pricing the vanilla beans. OMG!
They are outrageous. I found a package of 2 @4.99 at a nation wide retailer but they were so brittle. I found a bottle of 2 at two different grocery stores priced $8.99-$9.99. But that hurt too bad to purchase. So I stopped by our local kitchen store. They had a 4oz bottle of the paste for $8.99. I snagged it. I did have a cake to bake!

Pure Vanilla Bean Paste, Madagascar Bourbon Island Vanilla Bean Paste
Vanilla bean paste is a convenient, easy-to-use replacement for whole vanilla beans. Whole vanilla beans will dry out and become hard to use over time, while this vanilla bean paste will last indefinitely.

Since you can see the vanilla bean seeds, it adds a gourmet appearance, in addition to delicious flavor. Add this paste to homemade ice creams, custards, creme brulee, cakes, icings, etc. One tablespoon of vanilla bean paste is equal to one whole vanilla bean. Each four ounce jar contains 12 tablespoons of paste. You do the Math!
HT:The Spice House