Vanilla Syrup

Oh, it's Friday afternoon and I haven't even gotten a chance to blog yet. This week has just flown by! I usually like desserts on Friday to celebrate that the weekend is here, but I'm actually going to put a recipe up for vanilla syrup.

I found a website that you can order vanilla beans from www.topvanilla.com. I paid about .65 for each bean, which is a much better deal than I can find around here. The closest I've been able to find is $1.30, so it's 1/2 the price. They look identical to what I get at my local health food store.

We use vanilla syrup in our coffee... and yes, our kids drink coffee too. So, it goes rather quickly for us.

Vanilla syrup

1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 vanilla bean, split

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once mixture boils, reduce the heat and simmer the syrup for 5 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally. Cool the mixture completely and pour into a glass container with a screw-top. Store in refrigerator for up to 4 months. Remove the vanilla bean before serving.