I was in a rare baking mood tonight and I got in gear to make Chex Mix Muddy Buddies (aka puppy chow) and no bake cookies...So, if I were to be honest, I wasn't in a baking mood, I was in a mixing mood...

I have all of the ingredients...or so I thought...no vanilla...I hardly bake (mix), but I think I have always had vanilla...not today...

So, I look online to see what could be a substitute...whiskey, rum, almond extract or maple syrup were my findings...yeah...don't have those either...

I opted proceed with the Muddy Buddies...no issues there...

Now onto the no-bakes...well, Sara came to the rescue and brought some vanilla by...

However, I don't know if vanilla really makes that much difference...and as Marchelle mentioned to me via twitter...recipes always seem to ask for 1 tsp...that's nothing...

I think adding vanilla is something that we've all bought into so we can purchase the Pure Vanilla Imitation Extract...so someone(s) out there is really rich because of us who continue to be fooled by this ingredient...almost the pure imitation definition of vanilla is "bland"...who wants bland Muddy Buddies...not I, says the one who probably ate her weight in vanilla free Muddy Buddies...

Other food conspiracies you've discovered? Let me know...

7 remarks:

humm I lve never thought about levieng the vanilla out. I always have bottles and bottles of it on hand. I will have to try leaving it out on a few recipes and see how it turns out.

November 26, 2008 at 7:21 AM  

I'm with you on vanilla. sometimes it goes in, sometimes not. And in no-bake cookies that are so chocolaty it doesn't seem like it's needed.

November 26, 2008 at 7:25 AM  

Hmmmm...I was in a mixing mood last night too...LOL! I made some fudge and sure enough it needed 1 tsp. vanilla!

November 26, 2008 at 7:45 AM  

i think you're right. it is a conspiracy!

November 26, 2008 at 7:52 AM  

hmmm...never thought about this. I really never thought what importance vanilla actually has in recipes. I agree it's probably some sort of conspiracy!

November 26, 2008 at 8:36 AM  

I hate cooking and baking, mostly because I am no good at it, but when I do...I have to follow the recipe to a T. So, I had never thought of this either. Hmmm. I bet there are so many other ingredients you just don't need.

November 26, 2008 at 9:04 AM  

just stopping by from sits to say hello and happy thanksgiving! what are muddy buddies?

November 26, 2008 at 6:25 PM  

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