Weekend Cooking: Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever

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Stand aside you deeper, darker, more loved chocolate. Vanilla is tired of being in the shadows and is ready to take center stage. Its current starring role is in Shauna Sever's beautiful, mouth-watering Pure Vanilla: Irresistible Recipes and Essential Techniques.

In a word, Sever's new cookbook is simply gorgeous. I love the cool, soothing lavender and cream theme; easy-to-read, yet playful fonts; and the stunning photography (by Leigh Beisch). But Pure Vanilla isn't just another pretty face; it contains both useful and fascinating information and doable, delicious recipes.

First of all, this cookbook isn't about skipping the chocolate. Instead it's a celebration of vanilla. Whether waffles, baked goods, candy, or drink, Sever's dishes showcase the bean in its many forms. And some, like the recipe I share below, offer up double and triple vanilla heaven.

For many home cooks, Pure Vanilla will be an eye-opener and the gateway to new kitchen adventures. Did you know that vanilla comes in many forms? My pantry holds pure vanilla extract, vanilla paste, and whole vanilla beans. Vanilla also comes powdered and ground. Furthermore, not all vanilla extracts are the same, and some people swear by Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, whereas others are interested in vanillas from Mexico, India, Africa, or someplace else. Yes, vanilla can be just as complex as chocolate.

There are so many fantastic recipes in Pure Vanilla, I really couldn't decide what to try first. Here are some I've flagged:

• Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding
• Vanilla-Stewed Fruit
• Triple Vanilla Pound Cake
• Vanilla Biscotti
• Salted Vanilla Chip Oatmeal Cookies
• Frosted Vanilla Almonds
• White Hot Fudge (for ice cream)
• Vanilla Martini

Frankly, I could have listed almost every recipe: doughnuts, iced tea, ice cream, cookies, cheesecake . . . you get the picture. The recipes are very straightforward, and Sever offers tips when needed. She also includes instructions on how to make your own extract, vanilla sugar, vanilla coffee creamer, and other useful mini recipes.

You may think that you'd never give up your chocolate, but that's only because you haven't yet seen Shauna Sever's vanilla creations. Pure Vanilla may just change your life.

Lemon-Vanilla Dream Bars
1 dozen

• 10 ounces white chocolate, chopped divided
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla bean paste
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• ½ cup store-bought lemon curd

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-by-8-inch pan with cooking spray and line it with a strip of parchment paper that's 8 inches wide and 14 inches long, so there is an overhang on two sides of the pan; this will make it easier to remove the bars from the pan after baking.

Melt 8 ounces of the white chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring. Remove bowl from heat and stir in sugar and salt.

Whisk in eggs 1 at a time and then whisk in vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste. With a spatula, gently fold in flour; when just a few streaks of flour remain, fold in the remaining 2 ounces of white chocolate. Scrape batter into prepared pan.

Dollop lemon curd onto batter in 5 to 6 equal portions. With a knife, swirl curd into batter with a figure-8 motion. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean but not dry, 25 to 28 minutes.

Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Grasping the parchment overhang, lift out the entire block and cut into 12 bars.

Note: Sever suggests other flavors and types of spreads that would work well with these bars.

For more information about the cookbook, Shauna Sever, and vanilla, visit the Pure Vanilla page at Quirk Books. For recipes, photographs, and more, visit Sever's super blog, Piece of Cake.

Buy Pure Vanilla at an Indie or at a bookstore near you (link leads to an affiliate program).
Published by Quirk Books, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781594745966
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).