Screw pine is a generic name for several varieties of trees that are closely related, but none of which is a pine tree at all. In fact, they look like palm trees, with long, thick, dark-green leathery leaves, shaped like swords. Some varieties of screw pine are cultivated for their fruit, which is edible. Some…
Flavourings
Screw Pine Essence
Screw Pine Essence is a pale, yellowish-orange extract distilled from the male flowers of the Screw Pine. The Screw Pines are cultivated. The variety named Pandanus odoratissimus (aka Pandanus fascicularis, Pandanus tectorius) is preferred as being the most fragrant. The flowers grow about 18 to 20 inches (45 to 50 cm) tall, surrounded by leaves….
Screw Pine Water
Screw Pine Water is a diluted version of Screw Pine Essence and therefore less expensive. It is sold as a clear liquid. You can buy natural or artificial. In Northern India, it is used mostly to flavour sweets. Sometimes, it is sprinkled over rice before serving.
Vanilla
Vanilla Extract © Denzil GreenThere are over 30,000 different kinds of orchids in the world, yet only one kind produces something edible, which is the vanilla plant. It is a thick climbing vine, native to Mexico. The vine, now grown on plantations, produces yellowy-green flowers once a year, which are hand pollinated. The blooms last…
Vanilla Bean Paste
Vanilla bean paste comes in a small, dark brown jar with zillions of little vanilla seeds in it. The paste is made of sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans and gum tragacanth. One manufacturer of it is Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. A 4-oz bottle contains 12 tablespoons. Equivalents 1 tablespoon vanilla paste = 1 vanilla pod =…
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Extract © Denzil Green Vanilla Extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol, so that the alcohol absorbs the flavour. Pure Vanilla Extract will be at least 35% alcohol. The alcohol used is ethyl alcohol; when extract is used in cooking, the alcohol burns off but the flavour remains. The first artificial Vanilla…
Vanilla Pod
Vanilla Bean Pods A vanilla pod is a whole, long pod of vanilla beans, used in cooking for the flavour that is procured from the beans inside it. (See separate entry on vanilla.) When buying vanilla pods, look for long, supple ones that are moist and will bend a bit. The colour should be either…
Vanilla Sugar
Sugar that has been flavoured with vanilla. Very popular in German cooking especially. Nice sprinkled over fresh fruit such as strawberries, etc. Take vanilla beans or leftover pods, place in a jar that can be sealed tightly, and cover with sugar. It doesn’t really matter how much sugar you use; probably a cup or two…
Vanilla Wafers
Galveston Daily News, Texas. 7 June 1930. P 14. Vanilla wafers are small, crisp but soft plain vanilla-flavoured cookies. They are seen now as rather plain Jane. Consequently, they are perhaps now used more as an ingredient in cooking than as an out-of-hand snack. You can now get kosher ones, or ones from made spelt…