Vanilla Bean Sugar - Inherited Recipes

Break up all the vanilla bean pods and the whole vanilla bean and add to a food processor with 1/2 cup sugar. Processor about 3-5 minutes or until most of the vanilla beans are completely ground up. Place a mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the vanilla sugar through the strainer. Sift the sugar through the strainer and discard the large pieces that are left of the vanilla bean. Scoop the sugar into jars or tins.You can also make this without grinding the beans. Just simply break the beans in half and pour the sugar into the jars or tins. Submerge the vanilla bean in the sugar and screw the caps on. Let the sugar sit at leas 24 hours so the vanilla has time to flavor the the sugar. Leave the beans in the sugar at all times. The longer they sit, the better.
Slice the vanilla bean pod and scrape the vanilla beans into the sugar.
OPTIONAL: add the whole vanilla beans and sugar and add to a food processor. Process for about 3-5 minutes or until most of the vanilla beans are completely ground up. Place a mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the vanilla sugar through the strainer. Sift the sugar through the strainer and discard the large pieces that are left of the vanilla bean.

If you do not have vanilla beans you can substitute 1-2 TBS vanilla bean paste