Sugar and Spice

I've decided to start a new category called "nyam pantry" to share some of my favorite homemade pantry staples.

I like to have things on hand that can easily turn the everyday into extraordinary, and flavored sugars are a great way to do this.

Last summer, I came up with an aromatic twist on vanilla sugar that quickly became a favorite.

A sprinkling of this sugar adds a subtle, spicy aroma to many desserts and drinks…

It's good as a rim sugar for cocktails too.

Exotic Spiced Sugar
(I'm sure there's a better name for this, just couldn't think of one, lol)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean
10 cardamom pods
8 star anise

Split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds. In a small bowl, combine the vanilla seeds with the sugar until thoroughly mixed. Then, using a mortar and pestle, crush the cardamom pods with a small portion of the sugar, and return everything to the bowl.

Lighty crush the face of the star anise pods with the pestle, then add to them to the bowl and mix.

Place the scraped vanilla bean at the bottom of an airtight container, pour in the sugar mixture and seal. The flavor really develops after about a week.

This sugar is really tasty in coffee, and it gives tea an exotic chai-type flavor. It’s pretty good sprinkled on oatmeal too :). Basically, use it as you would any other sweetener.

As the mixture runs low, you can top it off with more sugar a couple of times before having to start over fresh.

*Adding a heaping tablespoon of ground cinnamon to the mixture would turn it into Chai-Spiced sugar. Experiment and see what works for you!