Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner has spent over a decade working as a writer in New York City. She currently covers all aspects of food, dining, travel and lifestyle trends and the intersection of culture, ...

Let's face it: Vanilla beans are pricey. Each is priced at $3, $4 or more, and some vanilla extracts can run nearly $4 an ounce. Vanilla beans can last for years if stored properly, but they can dry ...

There are so many different forms of vanilla: You have the dried, leathery fruit pods packed with thousands of tiny black ...