The Magic of Spices: A Childhood Memory

I have an unabashed fixation with the taste and blissful aroma of spices. It dates back to my childhood. The affair began in my great aunt's kitchen. I will never forget the day she showed me how she released the magnificent power contained in a vanilla bean. Honestly, is it any wonder the Aztecs used vanilla pods as currency? See how I perceived her kitchen as a place with an almost magical quality. In addition, try making your own vanilla extract with bona fide vanilla beans and a simple recipe.

My Great Aunt - An Amazing Baker

My love affair with spices, and particularly vanilla, is something I credit to my great-aunt Dorothy. If the woman were alive today, she definitely would be the host of a reality TV baking show. For all I know, she may have reincarnated as "Cake Boss" star, Buddy Valastro. It is just a thought. My aunt was such an amazing cook overall, she could easily be Paula Deen for that matter. Hmm!

My aunt was adept at, and appreciated the challenge of tackling highly complex desserts and baked goods. She produced amazing sweets that rivaled pastry chefs with degrees. When I was a kid, I adored watching my aunt create her incredible sugary masterpieces. She always let me help with the simple baking tasks.

The Enchanted Kitchen

I loved hanging out in my aunt's kitchen. Her kitchen was not very big, but it was certainly a place of wonder when she was baking. I remember the bright red counter tops covered with flour. I also remember the stack of aged mixing bowls. The women in my family passed the bowls down through several generations. If those mixing bowls could talk, I bet they would have quite the stories to recount.

My great-aunt lived in the hustle bustle of the big city. She never married nor had children. She spent her life as the accountant at the YWCA. I was enthralled that she took a cab downtown to work every day. I was a country bumpkin from the woods so a cab was a very big deal. She also made plenty of delicious goodies to bring to the "girls at the Y."

Oh, and she stashed string, scraps of tin foil, and crinkled waxed paper in a little draw in the kitchen. She most likely developed that habit during the depression. In fact, right up until the end of her life, she stashed snippets of things she thought she might need eventually.

After my aunt passed, I was the one to empty out that little draw. I laughed and cried at the things she had accumulated but never did use after all.

The Magic of Spices

Through my young eyes, everything in my great aunt's city kitchen and pantry, looked and smelled intricate, intoxicating, and positively exotic. Even her spice jars looked magical. Maybe it did not take much to excite me, because I was fascinated with her spice collection. Real vanilla beans were odd looking to me, but captivating. I am confident there was no imitation anything in her quaint and orderly Victorian-era kitchen.

Anise Seed Awakening

I will never forget the day I smelled anise seed for the first time. I thought the name anise sounded neat. The seed tasted like black licorice, but sweeter. My aunt made bread that day with anise as one of the ingredients. Her house filled with the most unbelievable smell. Even now, when I smell anise I think of my great aunt, and the beautiful bread she baked that day. Ah, for the love of childhood memories and spices!

Vanilla Extract Recipe

What You Will Need
2 cups vodka (inexpensive is fine)
6 fresh vanilla beans (premium grade)
1 quart size Mason jar

Directions

Carefully cut the vanilla beans in half lengthwise, leaving about an inch unbroken at the end. You may use a knife, but scissors work better. Pour the vodka into the Mason jar. Place the vanilla beans in the vodka.

Using a spoon or skewer, push the beans down until they completely submerged in the vodka. Cover tightly and move to a dark spot such as a cabinet. The longer you leave the mixture, the better the vanilla extract. Eight weeks is the minimum, though. The extract will turn dark brown in color. Use a funnel to transfer the extract to a clean jar or bottle. You can run the extract through cheesecloth if you so desire.