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When an ingredient is so of-the-moment, so well crafted, so perfect, it not only commands respect, it inspires creativity.
Take Heilala Vanilla Syrup. I talked about it in my June Favorites list earlier this summer, when I confessed I was using it:
- instead of another sweetener on my muesli or cooked oatmeal in the morning
- in a shot of rum for a fantastic cocktail
- in my iced tea
- stirred into thick, plain Greek yogurt
- as a finishing flourish on a fruit sorbet
The love affair has continued. I made Raw Strawberry-Vanilla Chia Jam (delicious!), and the other night we had a 6th grade friend over for dinner, and when we were done, she batted her eyelashes and asked, “Are we having fresh raspberries and that vanilla syrup for dessert? I really want that.” Well, sure! I hadn’t recalled that I fed her that before, but done, and done!
I really wanted the vanilla flavor this morning, so I put it on my cooked-but-cold quinoa for breakfast. Yes, it’s that good.
You know what? I declare, here and now, that maple syrup is over, and this is the new maple syrup.
Made from the world’s richest grade of vanilla grown in the Kingdom of Tonga in organic virgin soil, Heilala Vanilla is hand pollinated and sun-dried before being made into this 100% pure vanilla syrup. A whole bean is tucked into the bottle to ensure the flavors continue to develop over time.
It’s available at select Whole Foods Markets, Draeger’s Market, Oliver’s Market and New Leaf Community Markets all in Northern California, at Bristol Farms, and now online through Heilala’s OpenSky page (there is an easy registration required — email address and create a password). I saw it priced online at $19 for 2 bottles, which is an incredible deal considering a single bottle usually retails for $15.
This syrup is nothing short of an elixir, and I was inspired by it to create a Vanilla Margarita. And I want you all to have a chance at having some, so I have a great giveaway right below the recipe!
This Vanilla Margarita is simple, sincere and sophisticated. Sweeeet!
Recipe: Vanilla Margarita
Summary: Simple yet sophisticated, this Vanilla Margarita has a deliriously good sweet-sour tang, with a heady perfume from Heilala Vanilla.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces good quality tequila (see note below)
- 2 teaspoons Meyer lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Heilala Vanilla Syrup
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a measuring cup or cocktail shaker and stir/shake.
- If you like your margarita cold but not icy, then shake with crushed ice and strain into a pretty glass. If you like ice in your drink, add crushed ice to your glass and pour in the margarita.
- Serves. 1. (Oh, who are we kidding? Double this. Still serves 1.)
Tequila
What tequila should you use? I am overly fond of Don Julio Reposado, made from 100% Blue Agave, double distilled and matured in small oak barrels. Very smooth, rich, with a hint of pear, apple and lemon aroma. It’s pricy at $50ish, but you can often find it on sale for $40ish. Or find something like Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila, more in the $15ish range, which is less special and nuanced, but perfectly fine for a mixed drink such as a margarita. Suit yourself and your wallet.
Another crazy margarita you might like
My award-winning Basilrita (Basil Margarita)!
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Diet type: Vegetarian, vegan
Diet tags: Reduced fat, Gluten free
Number of servings (yield): 1
Culinary tradition: USA (Nouveau)
My rating
Giveaway!
Shockingly Delicious and Heilala have joined hands to bring you a very sweet giveaway. Four lucky readers of Shockingly Delicious will win a Heilala Vanilla Syrup 2-Pack. To enter, simply do any or all of the following:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me how you would use Heilala Vanilla Syrup. (Please make sure you enter your email address with your comment so I can reach you if you’re a winner.)
- Like Shockingly Delicious on Facebook and Heilala Vanilla USA on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did.
- Follow Shockingly Delicious on Twitter and Heilala Vanilla on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you did and what your Twitter handle is.
- Tweet or RT news about this giveaway, using the wording below or your own wording, but being sure to include @Heilalavanilla and@Shockinglydlish in your wording. Leave me a comment with the URL of your Tweet.
This giveaway is for four winners — each gets a 2-pack (2x250ml bottles) of Heilala Vanilla Syrup (value $30 per pack).
- Open to U.S. residents only with mailing addresses in the USA.
- Deadline: Submissions will close at noon Pacific Time on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013.
- Winners will be notified via email within 24 hours of the close of the giveaway, and given 48 hours to respond. If I do not receive a response in 48 hours, I’ll need to draw new winners.
- There is more legal fine print here.
Ready, set, GO!
Disclosure: I received a sample of Heilala Vanilla Syrup for recipe testing, and Heilala will send winners their packs of syrup.
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At ShockD, you’ll find scrumptious, tried & true, "scary good" recipes, tips and coaching to make YOU a fabulous home cook! Don't blame me if you need a 12-step program to wean yourself away!
E-mail me: Dorothy.Reinhold@gmail.com
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The margarita is fabulous. I am making enough to fit in a “growler” for our tailgate before the game Saturday.
I mixed some into pomegranate balsamic reduction to glaze bone-in pork chops, and the kids even devoured them. Love the jam!
I like you both on facebook! sharoo1975@yahoo.com
O would defiantly try the Margarita ! Would be good in iced coffee too! Thanks for the giveaway! sharoo1975@yahoo.com
So many choices! Adding to my cream cheese icing, stuffed French toast would immediately be made, mojitos anyone?
Hi! I would love to see how this Heilala Vanilla Syrup tastes inside a warm and caramely baked apple! And how about gilding the lily with some cold, french vanilla ice cream and topping it all off with more Heilala Vanilla Syrup?
I would make your strawberry chia jam because A) it was delicious and B) How else do you get a sixth-grader to coquettishly bat her eyelashes at you?
In coffee.
I tweeted the giveaway: https://twitter.com/reneedobbs/status/381008116688908288
Following you (Shockingly Delicious) and Heilala on twitter. My handle is @reneedobbs
I “Liked” Heilala on facebook. I already “Liked” Shockingly Delicious long ago.
First, I want that martini glass. You will send it to me right?
Second, I would use the vanilla in baking a simple vanilla cake so I can see how the flavor compares to the vanilla I currently use.
What would you not use this on/in?, vanilla is like ginger it just adds something special to the normal! Kevin
I would definitely try this vanilla margarita
Question… I just saw coconut tequila in the store. Have you tried it?I thought it might be an interesting option for your vanilla margarita.
Looks fantastic! I would use the vanilla syrup in my fzmous carrot cake for the icing! !!! YES!!!
Following Shockingly Delicious on twitter #paused4thought
Following Shockingly Delicious on FB
tweeted….
https://twitter.com/paused4thought/status/380736624037879809
You are speaking my two languages… vanilla and margarita. I would start by making your Vanilla Margarita and then your Meyer Lemon Vanilla Salad Dressing to put on my salmon and finish with Vanilla Syrup ice cream.
I would DEFINITELY try the Vanilla Margarita recipe in your post! From there, who knows??!!!