Vanilla Dreams

It's funny when you're friends with your friend's mum, isn't it? My friend's mum, Robyn sent our family some gifts for our kids and as it happened, a huge gift for me! 50 or so organic vanilla beans!

Right now they are in a jar of sugar, but the sugar is going beyond what I'd call vanilla sugar, so I think I might take them out soon and let them sit in a jar alone.

So far I've made the Strawberry-Vanilla Rhubarb pie and given a few away, but I've been looking for ideas to use them. Other than the usual suspects - custards etc., my research has suggested:

• make own extract by soaking in vodka
• copy Katie's wonderful Peach-Vanilla Jam
• Make Macarons

Any more ideas?