Vanilla bean sugar recipe

I've been working on an easy vanilla pudding mix recipe to go with my chocolate pudding mix recipe. I wanted to have to add as few things as possible other than milk, so I thought it would be a good idea to have some vanilla flavored sugar. Since I've been trying to do everything as much homemade as possible, I figured this would be a perfect addition. It would also make a deliciously quick and easy homemade gift idea.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of Sugar
1 Vanilla Bean


1. Cut along the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds out.


2. Mix the vanilla seeds with the sugar, then add the vanilla bean cut in pieces.
3. Put in an airtight container and let sit for 1 week.


You can use this sugar in anything you want: milk, coffee, tea, cakes, puddings, milkshakes... That way you don't need to add vanilla essence or syrup!

It came out tasting quite strong and gets stronger the longer you leave the beans in. If you're looking for something a little less strong, you can use 2 cups of sugar with 1 vanilla bean. I'd also suggest removing the beans (not the seeds - obviously, lol) after a couple of weeks, or when the taste is strong enough for you.

Strawberry syrup

I don't drink alcohol. I don't like it and I never have. Yes, I've tried it (the accepted 3 times), but the after taste just kills it for me. People keep telling me it's an acquired taste, but I don't feel like forcing myself when it's not good for me. I much rather drink milk, juice, coffee or bubble tea ('cause you know, bubbles are fun).

All that being said, it saddens me when I go to restaurants & all the cool looking drinks are alcohol based. I know, I know, you can order virgin drinks, but wouldn't it be more fun if there was a menu for non-alcoholic drinks? Well, there will be at my house! At least that's the plan...

What kind of cool non-alcoholic drinks do you make?

In order to make a menu, I need some basics. Things like syrups. So here is my very first syrup recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Water
1/2 cup Strawberries


First, clean & mash the strawberries.
Second, heat the water on low/medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Stir constantly.


Third, add the mashed strawberries and continue to heat for about 5 minutes.


Fourth, strain & put in container.


Keep the strained strawberries for other recipes... ;)