Tuesday, March 20, 2012

New Gardenings: Carrot & Vanilla Soup & Beanilla Giveaway

-Nothing to do with the post, but feel free to also comment your thoughts on the new banner. Spring Red Fire garlic wrapped up with Tahitian vanilla beans. It was time for a change.-

I plant bombed my old apartment. Not intentionally, mind you. Rather, it happened because my old apartment complex was run by a bunch of managerial hellspawn who feed off the wails of their tenants. Cenobites of property management unleashed after you sign the Lament Configuration Lease.

When Fiance and I were gardening we took very good care of everything at our old apartment's precocious little square of dirt. We planted tomatoes and tomatillos, enough so that we were gaurnteed volunteers the next season and assuming that no one totally rips the ground apart volunteers will spring forever more year after year.

In fact, whoever gets our old apartment with its untreated mold and possible cancer risk will get a boon of food from the plot of land out back. Tomatoes, sage, rosemary, eggplants, chilies, basil... oh they are in for a treat. Assuming they garden and don't let some of the other plants go Napoleanic on them like the blackberry bush or the two types of mint we planted. In the ground.

You see, we kept a rather close eye on them both and kept them in control. Now, I imagine, they are running wild and are creeping across the yard with the stealth of ninja. When the hot weather comes they'll raze across the yard and the neighbors' yards with a fury of a million women scorned.

-Fueled by rage. Pure rage.-


However, I assume that most everything is probably dead (minus blackberries and mint) considering the fact that the new tenants likely don't garden. It's a shame. We put so much work into that space. What was a plot as neglected as the dust idleing on a bookcase was transformed through not just a small bit of labor on our part.

The weeds were pulled, the soil turned, stone pathways laid, boxes built, vegetables and fruits of so many kinds planted. Then before we could harvest our home was flooded by old pipes underground. The damp water, poorly treated, was soon followed by a black mold that began to spot and vein itself through the carpets, walls, and air ducts reaching out for new surfaces to colonize. Evacuation was imminent and slow moving, but the garden was left abandoned.

So now we're starting all over again. Of course, this time we live in a house proper with an actual yard and not just a plot. We're building boxes for herbs and chili peppers of all kinds. Lavender and rosemary sit in the boxes out front and when the wind blows they wave with their color and fragrance to the people walking their dogs. Mint and lemongrass line the sides of the house to ward off ants and other unwelcome guests. Blueberry bushes sit here and there reaching out to the sky with shocking vigor. Boxes for tomatoes and tomatillos are being built as I write this by Fiance' who just yesterday potted the dwarf lemon and orange trees.

-And no, we did not plant or grow these. These are from the Farmers' Market.-

We're starting again though I'm afraid it won't be the same. A fire pit and grill sit where Sassy's little outdoor bed once sat. Our Garden Guardian since passed away a few months ago after 17 very long and fruitful years. We're planning to put a spot of catnip down in a sunny spot of the yard where she would roll in the dirt to her endless amusement and my personal distress as I knew all the dust would result in ochre paw prints dotting the couch and counter.

Still, it'll all come out. We'll have this place ready, green, growing, and productive soon. We're looking forward to nights outside by the fire place, picnics and plenty of cocktail hours, and an engagement shoot with the photographer who has agreed to let us pay her in a summer lunch (gracefully, thankfully, her idea).

As Fiance' finishes turning the ground over I'm whipping together a simple soup. It's a bit chilly and overcast outside today so a pot of onions, carrots, and apples in vegetable stock is simmering on the stovetop. It's laced with ginger and speckled with vanilla, which may sound a bit odd for a soup but I assure you results in an almost achingly sweet, coy as a crush, and creamy without cream soup.

-Da' Falva' Enhanca'!-

Sadly, we can't grow vanilla. California can grow almost everything, but not vanilla to my overwhelming dismay.

Lucky, I have my bean hookup: Rob, over at Beanilla. My bud as always, he sent me over a package of a new breed of Tahitian vanilla. (he's the one who helped me put together the Vanilla Variety Guide.) Many Tahitian vanillas are actually grown elsewhere, so the Tahitian species develops a different flavor. When this particular strain is grown on the fertile and tropical ground of actual Tahiti the resulting beans are stunning. The beans themselves and thick, sticky, and oily with seeds and flavor. A simple touch and the chocolate-cherry heady scent of this musky vanilla will stay with you all day. Used in foods the vanilla adds the flavor of sugar, cream, and a scent of vanilla that stands up against more pushier ingredients.

It really does make a perfect home of this tender carrot soup.

Lucky, for you all Rob and Beanilla are more than happy to share the vanilla wealth so you can highlight your own garden gatherings. He's put up a lovely vanilla prize package for one lucky winner:

-Tahitian Vanilla Beans
-Madagascarian Vanilla Beans
-Tongan Vanilla Beans
-Premium Vanilla Paste
-Premium Almond Extract
-Premium Vanilla Extract

There are two ways to win. One is to leave a comment on this post. The second is to go to Beanilla's Facebook page. ENTRY IS NOW CLOSED The winner will be announced next week, March 27, 2012, and the winner will need to contact me with an address to send the prize to. if you post as Anonymous please leave a first and last name or an e-mail.

Best of luck to you on your own gardens and the giveaway.


Carrot Vanilla Soup
Serves 4

1 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
3 cups peeled carrots, coarsely chopped
1 apple, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 vanilla bean, seeded and scraped (or 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract or paste)
pinch of salt
sour cream (optional)

1. Place the oil in a medium-sized pit and place over high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering add the onion and saute for 4-5 minutes or until fragrant and the onion has softened. Add the ginger and stir for 20-30 seconds or until fragrant.

2. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Add the carrots, apple, and vanilla seeds and pod and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until carrots are soft and easily pierced by a fork. Remove the vanilla bean and then puree the soup in batches with a food processor or blender or with an immersion blender until smooth.

3. Serve in bowls and garnish the a spoonful of sour cream if desired.

146 comments:

  1. would love to try this
    tammie betz
    tkbetz@juno.com

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  2. I may have to give this recipe a try, sounds yummy.

    I didn't realize there were so many varieties of beans out there. Would love to win to try them all.

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  3. Though I don't like cooked carrots, your carrot soup looks lovely. Also, I love the picture of the fresh picked carrots. I would love to win some Beanilla products.

    cereza25 at yahoo dot com

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  4. I made a carrot and sage soup last week -- this sounds intriguing! Also, very excited by the giveaway.

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  5. I'd have never thought of adding vanilla beans to soup. I just started playing around with vanilla beans and love them!

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  6. This soup looks fantastic! I've had vanilla with carrots before... but never in soup form. It's supposed to be rainy here all week, I hope to try it out!

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  7. Sounds divine! Wish i had the patience for such a wonderful garden...

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  8. I have never been a decent gardener although I aspire to it every year. This year I am getting some hands on help with my own little plot and weekly classes at a gardens in my area. Your post inspires me even more. Look forward to trying this soup, especially if I can grow some of the ingredients!

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  9. You put mint into THE GROUND???? Crazy men.
    My husband and I will be over the moon if we win this package. Just last night we were discussing what our 3 favorite scents were, and he listed a freshly sliced open vanilla bean.

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  10. What a fun giveaway!

    I love the new banner!

    It is sad to leave gardens behind in a rental. I've always said the first thing I'm going to do when I buy a house is plant rhubarb & aspragus. They take a few years to mature before you can harvest, and normally, I don't know if I'll be in the same house in a few years so I don't plant 'em. But soon I will! :)

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  11. Love the new banner and love this carrot soup recipe. Vanilla just makes everything taste better!

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  12. Incredible ideas, incredible recipe and an incredible giveaway!

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  13. I loved reading about your new garden and all the thought you've put into it. Does mint and lemongrass really prevent ants/pests? I've been longing for a home/apartment with a garden for ages but haven't made it happen yet—fingers crosses this is the year!

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  14. What a lovely giveaway! I also like to use vanilla in unexpected ways; but I've never thought of it in a carrot soup. I'lll have to give that one a whirl.

    Best of luck in the new garden!

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  15. I love Beanilla--I'm using some of their Bourbon vanilla beans to make homemade vanilla extract!!!

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  16. I just became a fan of Beanilla!

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  17. Wow now that looks interesting!! Would love to try!

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  18. i am a staunch advocate for the awesomeness of vanilla, patiently explaining to many people how unboring it can be.

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  19. A delightful garden story! I have yet to try vanilla in a savory recipe, but your carrot soup is enticing!

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  20. I never would have thought to combine carrots and vanilla in a soup, but it makes perfect sense. I can't wait to try this!

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  21. Love it! I just made the most divine rice pudding using half of a vanilla bean. It makes such a difference in flavor!!

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  22. You would post something that looks so fascinating when the local carrots are gone for at least another couple of months. I shall have to try it later.

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  23. wow, I didn't know there were so many different kinds' Love vanilla. It has always been my favorite flavor.

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  24. I have never tried carrot and vanilla together, but now I am curious. Maybe this is what that last lone vanilla bean in my pantry should be used for?

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  25. I can admit no small amount of jealousy towards your garden. Unfortunately, I was born with a black thumb and can't even take care of a cactus. Hopefully my daughter will be able to do better, though, and I can put her to work in the garden when she's older. In any case, the soup looks and sounds delicious, and I'll have to look up Beanilla; I'm looking for a new vanilla bean distributor since the one I was using is no longer around.

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  26. It is so sad to leave behind a garden! I had to say goodbye to my lovely raised beds, my grapevine, my plum tree. But there's a new space to be designed and planted and doesn't that ease the sting?

    The soup look divine! I can't wait to try it.

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  27. One of my biggest regrets is not bringing vanilla beans home when I visited Tahiti several years ago. Now's my chance to get some!
    dmoe1@ymail.com

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  28. New fan! This soup looks amazing! And I love your page!

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  29. Memories of gardens past - it's hard to leave them behind, isn't it. The recipe looks fascinating.

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  30. New FB fan as well (Maureen Chapman) and fan on my page (Delicious Dining Catering and Decadent Desserts.)

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  31. Love carrots, love garlic, love vanilla - what a lovely way to start a Tuesday. Have a smashing day my pug loving fan of my lil pony :)

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  32. glad you added the motto back into the header.

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  33. havn't used vanilla beans before, but i LOVE vanilla in all my baking recipes, always use just a little bit more than required.

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  34. That's so sad about the garden at your old apartment, but it's wonderful to hear you are pushing forward with the new place! I hope it's even more wonderful than the last, can you post pictures for us when it's more complete? :-) Also, vanilla rocks! One of my favorite things!

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  35. O. M. G. I would love to win this! One of the pastry chefs at school made the absolute best vanilla creamaux, and the secret is using several different kinds of vanilla together to get the best flavor ... I would love love love to recreate it!

    And I'm super jealous of your yard. I dream about the day that I have a real yard of my own in which to plant things I can eat. Right now I live in chicago and have a 1.5 x 3 ft plot of land I can use for a few months of the year ... its not the same!

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  36. I've never been a fan of carrot soups, but this recipe sounds just heavenly!

    BTW - one of your previous blog posts inspired me to try a hand at making homemade mustard the other day. I never imagined it could be so simple... or kickass. Thank you!

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  37. I love your new header. The colors are beautiful. I'm hoping for some free vanilla goodness! I have been continuously extracting vanilla since reading your vanilla guide and refer to it often.

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  38. The new banner v. 2.0 is much better than the first new banner. This vanilla prize would be awesome to win!

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  39. The new header is a great picture! I would love to have some vanilla beans to use

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  40. This sounds lovely and I'm a big fan of making soup ahead and freezing in lunch-size portions. Thanks so much for the recipe and the vanilla giveaway! :)

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  41. I love vanilla and love beanilla! Pick me pick me!

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  42. Looks delicious can't wait to try with a couple modifications for my Vegan daughter

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  43. Aha -- the vanilla would add depth to the natural sweetness of the carrots. Interesting, must try.

    And thanks for reminding me to send in the dues for my community garden plot. Time to plant the kale!

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  44. I have yet to play with vanilla beans. This soup looks lovely-I discovered root vegetable soups this winter, and this seems like a great transitional soup from winter to spring.

    What a bummer about your old garden. I can't wait to live in a place where I can dig in dirt and plant all kinds of delights. Sounds like your new garden will be much greater than the last!

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  45. Ohmygosh! I want! I want! I want!

    I've been having to forcibly restrain myself from gardening. I live in Minnesota, and although it's been unseasonably warm, it's still just March, and not safe to get started yet. We had snow on April 29th last year. May is for planting. But the sun keeps shining, and the dirt is calling me. Of course, living in an apartment, my garden is very small and kept in pots. Maybe I CAN get a jump on things, if I just leave them indoors until it is safe...

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  46. Too bad you don't live a little further south in the Golden State, perchance you'd have had better luck growing them! ;-) ~Ben

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  47. Soup looks lovely. I have tried carrot soup multiple times (when the CSA is overwhelming us with carrots in the summer) and have never been happy with the flavors. But now I am intrigued and will have to try this out.
    If I happened to have some Beanilla products to try it with, well that wouldn't be horrible.

    Oh, and I love the new banner, the colors are beautiful.

    Melrod333 at hotmail

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  48. I loved your conversation about gardening! I'm hoping to try some myself this year! Would love to win the giveaway and try some new stuff!!

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  49. New vanilla beans to try would be awesome!

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  50. i keep saying i need to "play" more with vanilla - this would certainly give me some incentive to.

    jacquieastemborski AT comcast DOT net

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  51. This soup will be in my bowl by the end of the week.

    I'm already a fan of Beanilla, love their beans!

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  52. I love carrot soup and some time I like to pair it with roasted peppers or roasted tomatoes.
    I would love to win some Beanilla products :)

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  53. First of all, love the new banner.

    Secondly, I am usually not a fan of sweet soups, but I love vanilla so I'm going to try this one out. It sounds delicious.

    Thirdly, I still have not put in my garden even though I've owned my home well over a year now. I have the perfect gated in area on the side of the house. I just need to clear it and raise it up a foot or two. Some day.

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  54. What an awesome blog!! My hubby & I are starting a garden this year after not having one for over 10 years. We were just too busy with activities for our son to keep proper care of it. Last fall we started canning, so this spring we have decided to try our hand at gardening again.
    Good Luck with your garden!!

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  55. Nice to have a new vanilla bean resource. I was a professional pastry chef for a while and I want to share a trick. I store whole vanilla beans in a jar covered in brandy. The brandy gets a lovely flavor but the real bonus is...the vanilla soaks up a little of the brandy making it plump and juicy so all you have to do is snip off the tip and squeeze all that lovely vanilla out. No more scraping...then put the spent bean back in the brandy to flavor it more. :-) Wish clever ideas were the criteria for winning some beans! GOod luck with the new garden, sad story about the black mold. :::shudder::: I have a B&B called Victoria's Last Resort in Cambria and now do all my cooking for our guests.

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  56. Christie RichardsonMarch 20, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    If I hadn't stumbled across your blog a few years ago I would never have had the courage to try cooking with vanilla beans!

    Congrats on the garden; yes it is bittersweet to leave one, but you get to create something new too. My family has a species of mint that has been transported from house to house for...oh...at least three generations, soon to be four as soon as I can get my hands on some pots. It once managed to take over an entire garden bed one season. Stubborn little plants!

    And, your new header is awesome, I love the colors!

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  57. Who wouldn't love to win this sweet, aromatic prize, I certainly would. Thanks for sharing with us, and that soup looks delish.

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  58. I only discovered vanilla beans last year, and now they're my favorite thing. Especially since I'm dating a vanilla-holic. Would love to win this one, of course!

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  59. Love the new header and ADORE vanilla. It's key to my baking and this recipe makes me curious to introduce it more into my savory cooking.

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  60. That looks lovely! Those carrots are beautiful!
    Katieboo15@cox.net
    :)

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  61. I love the idea of trying a few different types of vanilla. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  62. I'd noticed the new banner and wondered where the vanilla and garlic went. Glad to know I just couldn't recognize garlic as such when it's such a pretty pink.

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  63. I am about to go through all of the garden work, only to leave my apartment at the end of July (GROWING SEASON gahhhh) when the lease ends. I kind of feel the pain, though in a future sense. I guess?

    Thanks for giving the rest of us the chance to try these beans, I'm sure I'll invent a new recipe or two that allows these little beauties to shine!

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  64. Great post! You are an amazing writer Garrett!

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  65. wow, is it sweet? I once had to move mashed sweet potatoes to a different plate b/c the vanilla made them smell too much like lotion.

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  66. Yum. Would love some vanilla. Thanks for sharing. Your soup looks amazing. Thanks for the great work.

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  67. You must have wonderful soil to get such long carrots. We always wind up with odd shapes.

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  68. I make a roasted carrot-ginger soup as well as roasted root vegetables with vanilla, but I never thought of all of the flavors together!! Sounds divine. I would make it tonight if it weren't 80 degrees here in CT (CRAZY Hot for March). When it cools down, this is on the menu!!

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  69. Still mulling over the new banner, and although I prefer this one to the 1st new one, I think it's the blue background that's throwing it off for me. Having said that, the un-cropped photo of the handful of vanilla beans looks great...that with a garlic bulb atop, and it'd be perfect.
    Don't ask, Garrett, I'll just have to answer. ; )
    Happy gardening in your new place.

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  70. I miss having a garen My new place doesn't have the space or sun requirements for veggies. :( I wish you the best of luck on your garden. It seems like a good year to grow veggies in NorCal.

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  71. I admire gardeners and gardens since I seem to be perpetually stuck with trying to perfect growing herbs in pots! I love vanilla and would love the opportunity to experience all these wonderful varieties

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  72. Carrot soup is a favorite - yours looks delicious and am intrigued by the addition of vanilla. Came back from Mexico several weeks ago and now have some Mexican beans to play with! Your talk of gardens and gardening is bringing on a spring itch - our temps here have been in the 70's and the next two days they say we will see mid eighties! But I cannot allow myself to be tricked into thinking that spring (nevermind summer!) has arrived because... this is New England! Very bad and cold things can still happen. I will enjoy through your posts!

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  73. I am torn about my own garden. I will be moving this summer, so I won't get to harvest what I plant. Best luck with your new garden.

    M.L.Smith at sbcglobal.net

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  74. My roommate and I just started our first garden; hopefully it survives this week of rain!

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  75. Beanilla is a new friend of mine!

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  76. I had the good fortune of being in Tahiti for 6 weeks last year, and found the vanilla beans just as you describe....sticky, smoky sweet, and wonderful flavor. I especially liked to use them in Tahiti's version of cerviche!

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  77. That soup looks delicious, and I happen to have a nice bunch of carrots without a plan.

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  78. I like your writing style... clean and fresh, like a garden. I'm also grateful for your giveaway, shared via "news" from Cooking With Books. Thank you. (I already "liked" Beanilla... off to comment there now.)

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  79. P.S. I also like your new header photo... it's very fragrant looking!

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  80. I have to confess I hadn't thought about how different vanillas would taste.

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  81. I cannot wait to get a place with a garden! Growing herbs and chilli's on miniscule windowsills is not an easy task.. but vanilla makes everything better, even if just to lace a cup of coffee, or to replace perfume! (yes, I've done that) Enjoy your garden just that little bit more for me ;)

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  82. As it appears my former source for vanilla has gone out of business, I'm super excited to try Beanilla's products sometime soon. I'm already dreaming of homemade vanilla bean ice cream this summer...

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  83. My garden always dies, but vanilla beans would assuage the pain...

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  84. Would love Beanilla's prize. I've incorporated the beans into my desserts and am curious as to how the paste would turn out.
    The new header looks fresh! Love it!
    Pamela O'Brien

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  85. Chris Brown! chbrown@ucdavis.edu

    :-)

    Lovely soup!

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  86. Looks delish! Good luck with the garden.

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  87. When you posted about carrot vanilla soup on facebook, I thought I would try my hand at it without a recipe (dun dun dun) and ended up with a pretty passable soup. I used carrots, chicken stock, vanilla bean paste, a touch of cream, ginger, and onion and garlic powders (as an afterthought). I served it with a lemon wedge, which played beautifully with the vanilla. Now to try your recipe!

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  88. Sadly, unless I put up an 8 ft fence, the deer eat everything in my yard. I have had success with herbs since they won't touch them, so I will be planting my basil, oregano and rosemary. Would love to win this selection!

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  89. Yum! Good vanilla makes all the difference!

    deshobbes at yahoo.com

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  90. I would never have thought of combining carrots with vanilla! Brilliant as always.

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  91. What a beautiful soup! And all those vanillas? Delish. Would love to try them.

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  92. Those carrots are beautiful! And I love the new banner. I opened the page and was like "Ohhh!! Look at Garrett! He better werk!" (that's a good thing lol) Beautiful banner. Very interesting aesthetic :) Also, I want this soup for lunch tomorrow with cornbread :D Thanks for the opportunity to win some awesomeness ;)

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  93. Btw, for an aspiring pâtissier like myself...THIS GIVEAWAY WOULD BE SWEET!! (no pun intended, I don't think) haha :)

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  94. Julia Joun (jjoun@yahoo.com)March 20, 2012 at 7:59 PM

    Does the apple provide the creamy texture?

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  95. What I wouldn't do for some good vanilla! Lovely soup, it'll be the first thing I make if by some lucky chance I win.

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  96. I would love to try this soup and those vanilla beans!

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  97. Vanilla, the best flavor in the world!

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  98. We're going to try gardening for the first time this year. I don't have a green thumb, so I'm not sure how it will go. Thanks for the contest!

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  99. Tahitian vanilla is probably my favorite flavor. Somehow it seems more floral than madagascar vanilla.

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  100. Would love love love love love to win this!!!!

    Thanks to you both for the awesome giveaway!

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  101. Lawsamercy, that sounds like a fantastic prize. Thanks!

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  102. OOH, fancy vanilla! Aside from garlic and chocolate, it's one of my favorite things! I would LOVE to win if I could!!

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  103. I am always looking for new vanilla bean sources - they are my favorite. I went through a whole pile of Tahitian beans in record time.

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  104. Darn, I forgot to leave my name for the drawing! I hope there's a chance for me!

    Kate Opseth
    kateopseth@gmail.com

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  105. Vanilla. In my almond milk, yoghurt, creme brulee, protien powder,+++. I adhore vanilla and recently cooked scallops with vanilla. Now I haven't tried it in soup but your soup sounds invitingly good. BTW, like the change of pics!

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  106. Can't wait to try it.
    It's still a blog baby but come check me out: www.foodwinemine.com

    xoxo
    Meg

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  107. I adore vanilla beans and always have a few on hand to make vanilla sugar. However, I must admit that I'm a total philistine and never thought about how there might be so many different kinds of vanilla! The soup looks delicious as well, and I should be able to pick up everything at the market this weekend. Thanks for the recipe!

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  108. This recipe is perfect for my Day-Before-Easter brunch with my Mom! While I absolutely love soups, I rarely ever make them but this recipe just seems so simple and delicious that I'll give it a try (unless you'd fly some soup to New York for us?). And I have to tell you: your scone recipe has been my go-to for everything sweet and savory since the day you posted it. I've made so many different types of scones and they're perfect every time. Thank you.

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  109. Can't wait to try this recipe. Also, very excited about the giveaway.

    bernicemendez (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  110. I'm so jealous...we haven't started our garden here in Iowa just yet. I'm getting antsy!

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  111. I love the new banner! and i love vanilla, i'm in the uk, but have american friends willing to accept parcels?

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  112. Sounds delish and healthy! Just what I need for my work "husband" and I as we are both trying to lose weight and eat healthier.

    Also, thank you, Garrett, for introducing your readers to Beanilla. I've been lusting over their products for countless months.

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  113. I adore vanilla and carrots! This sounds like an excellent soup.

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  114. Parsnip and Vanilla go so well together. No surprise that carrot with its sweetness goes well with vanilla too!

    rene_elkaslasy@yahoo.com

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  115. Would never have thought of putting vanilla in with carrot soup... yumm... sorry about your apts issues, but happy you found a great place and are starting a new journey. What an awesome giveaway!! Vanilla dreamin'. Hope to try this recipe soon!
    Thanks also to the folks at Beanilla!
    Cathy B pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com @projecthope7

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  116. Ooh, I adore vanilla! I'd love to get my hands on some vanilla beans to make some ice cream.

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  117. As a kid vanilla was always my favorite flavor. My ski instructor when I was like 10 had a vanilla body spray that I thought was just the bee's knees. I still have an obsession with vanilla, it's such a heavenly, comforting smell.

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  118. Any suggestions on what kind of apple to use? I prefer honey crisps but think they might make it a little too sweet.

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  119. Been wanting to try beanilla for a while... just haven't gotten around to it. This sounds like a great giveaway.

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  120. vanilla in carrot soup?! I think we will be friends!
    :)

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  121. am running out of my last beanilla batch...this would be awesome! Thanks!

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  122. Great post and recipe! I could really use those vanilla beans. I hope that you don't have any run-ins with the praying mantis while working in the garden!

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  123. Thanks, and best wishes! Your vanilla post is how I found you.

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  124. I would love to win to make vanilla bean jam

    Cass0289@yahoo.com

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  125. This sounds like a great cozy day recipe with some of the things I usually have in my fridge...well except for the amazing vanilla.

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  126. This looks amazing! I'm so excited to give this a try for me and my husband over the next few days that I just can't wait to make it.

    Thanks,

    Grandma Kat
    XOXOXOXOXO

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  127. I love the way the website looks now and also, this is a really lovely recipe. I think that I will try it this weekend.

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  128. Too bad I live in Canada :(
    The recipe looks very good, anyway, so I'm sure I'll give it a try :)

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  129. What a great soup recipe. Love the blog header as well. I'm looking forward to pictures of your garden, hint, hint!

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  130. I have deer that eat everything except mint, thyme, oregano, and chives. I'm thinking about branching out into garlic! But it's made me a devotee of the farmers' market, and I'm a vanilla lover from WAY back!

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  131. I would love to win the giveaway! Use it for sweet and savory and the in-between. Thanks!

    Sarah S. at fruitionsf@gmail.com

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  132. I'm planting my first garden this weekend! I'd love to win!!

    Valerie Shinnamon
    val.shinnamon@gmail.com

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  133. Hope to win...love your blog.

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  134. Wow, I guess everyone wants vanilla! Me, too.
    I'm selling my house and the thing I'm pretty sad to leave is my strawberry garden and the raspberries I established over the last two years. I really hope the new owners take good care of them! I'll be moving to an apartment, but I have plans for a balcony container garden there--I can't live without fresh herbs at the very least!
    lgbookworm1 at gmail

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  135. I like the new banner. Never heard of Spring Red Fire Garlic. Now I must find some because I am curious.

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  136. That looks delicious! I feel inspired to make carrot soup today now. Maybe I will try a bit of vanilla in it if I'm feeling bold.

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  137. i would LOVE to try these :)

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  138. I just made a parsnip and vanilla soup and host a vanilla giveaway. it made me laugh -what a coincidence, right? Will definetly try the carrot soup too

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  139. I love carrots just about any way you can serve them. I would never have considered them with vanilla.

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Hey, you're leaving a comment! That's pretty darn cool, so thanks. If you have any questions or have found an error on the site or with a recipe, please e-mail me and I will reply as soon as possible.
~Garrett