This One Simple Tip Will Make Your Sourdough Starter Even Easier

What Is Vanilla Bean Paste?

Vanilla bean paste is essentially a more concentrated version of vanilla. Because it’s a paste, it has a thicker consistency than vanilla extract, which is a liquid. When you use vanilla bean paste you can see specks of a dark color — those are vanilla bean seeds. This allows for a more intense flavor of vanilla in your baked goods.

Why You Should Use Vanilla Bean Paste In Cupcakes

Vanilla acts as an enhancer in many baker kitchens because it allows for floral notes and a sweet aroma to come through the dessert. Due to the fact that vanilla bean paste has a more concentrated flavor, it offers your baked goods a much more robust taste — exactly what you want for your desserts! Instead of a muted flavor, you're sure to get better, bolder cupcakes with this trick!

Trust us, it’s a game changer — especially for vanilla cupcakes, which don’t rely on many other ingredients for flavor other than, well, vanilla. Cake loafs, cheesecakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls are all examples of recipes that would benefit from using the paste instead. Vanilla bean paste can easily be substituted in any baked good that calls for vanilla extract with a one to one ratio.

Despite it not being used as frequently in recipes as vanilla extract is, vanilla bean paste is not hard to track down. You can easily find it in your local grocery store or certain online retailers (and, in some cases, it’s actually more affordable than the vanilla extract version). When you switch to vanilla bean paste you’ll never go back — and neither will your friends, because they will never stop asking you to bake them something.

Shop Vanilla Bean Paste Here!

Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Bean Paste

Farberware Salad Spinner ($22)

Yes, I did in fact fall victim to the untamed TikTok hype. The amount of times I’ve had a batch of strawberries turn rotten in a matter of days is actually appalling, so I had to see what it was all about!

And the girlies were right – the hack of all hacks using a salad spinner to clean and dry your produce kept my precious store-bought berries fresher for *so* much longer, stretching my dollar a little bit further, and making breakfast time all the more satisfying. Beyond berries, I’ve started using the spinner to get veggies ready for weekly meal prep sessions.

I, of course, would be missing the point if I didn’t use this thing for actualsalads. I found that it was just as helpful in forming a big bowl of greens. Thanks to this salad spinner, I’m forever saying “bye bye, soggy lettuce.”

OXO Citrus Juicer ($12)

I went sans-juicer for making margaritas or salad dressings for the longest time, just because I simply thought I didn't need one – my buff forearms and hands were enough to get the goodness out! That’s exactly what I thought – until I had a transformative experience with a friend’s juicer one day. It was so much easier to use! The juice didn’t seep into my papercuts! *And* it measured the liquid! What a delight.

I opted for this one with a grip design that eliminates frustrating slips or spills. The best part about it is the roomy measuring cup attachment that keeps track of how much juice you’re juicin’. No more sore arms and stinging cuts for me.

Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle ($37)

Where I live, it reaches bone-chilling, teeth-chattering levels of cold in the wintertime. And though a solid jacket or scarf does me well, nothing properly warms me up like a steaming mug of tea. This electric kettle *tremendously* changed my hot beverage game, thanks to its speed and convenience!

Growing up using a traditional stovetop kettle, it took me a while to realize that eclectic kettles were… actually a thing. They can boil water so fast, it puts the OG kettles to shame. Beyond tea time, I like using this appliance to preheat my pasta water, so it doesn’t take literal eons to reach a rolling boil on the burner – a personal life hack of sorts.

Maxcocola Mug Tree ($13)

For me, it’s extremely hard to enjoy cooking in a crowded kitchen. And though this pick isn’t an appliance by definition, it’s certainly helped me organize my dishes and clear some counter space for prepping food more efficiently.

This mug tree fits up to 6 mugs (admittedly, not enough for this thrift store mug hoarder) and exemplifies that utilizing vertical space is *the* absolute move for kitchen organization. Besides being a practical tool, it’s also a fun way to display only my cutest mugs in an easy-to-see place!

Steamer Basket ($30)

I’ll admit that heating up frozen dumplings in the microwave is a complete atrocity to tradition – but that’s the old me. Thanks to a gracious gift from MìLà, their Soup Dumpling Experience, I’ve seen the light in a *properly* steamed dumpling.

Using a bamboo steamer gives those little pockets of food some actual life – every variety I’ve made thus far (the MìLà Soup Dumplings, Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers, and bao buns from H-Mart) has turned out juicer and softer than the sad, microwaved dumplings I was tolerating before.

If you haven’t given bamboo steamers a chance, I urge you to try one out. The next time those Asian food cravings hit, you’ll thank yourself for making dumplings the *right* way.

Ninja Creami Breeze ($200)

Baking *is* fun and all, but sometimes I want a sweet treat to magically appear in front of me without any real work. And though I’m no stranger to the gelato shop down my street, it’s hard to avoid the thought that indulging in a frequent double scoop isn’t all that healthy for me.

The Ninja Creami Breeze is a well-rounded winner in my kitchen. It’s *ridiculously* easy to use, making healthy, protein-packed frozen desserts (to replace my pesky gelato habit) in seconds. I didn’t fully understand the wonders TikTokers spoke of until I really got my hands on it. After trying a handful of recipes, I’m all the way in.

1. Swap Sour Cream for Greek Yogurt

Get that creamy tang without the extra fat. Greek yogurt is packed with protein, lower in calories, and often contains probiotics, which are great for your gut health. Greek yogurt is delicious in dips, dressings, or even dolloped on tacos or (my favorite) grilled salmon.

2. Use Olive Oil Instead of Butter

For sautéing or drizzling, EVOO adds heart-healthy fats and antioxidants. It’s a flavorful upgrade that also supports better cholesterol levels than butter. Just make sure to cook it at a lower heat, under 430 degrees is recommended.

3. Choose Whole Grains Over Refined

Trade white rice or pasta for brown rice, quinoa, or whole wheat pasta. Whole grains are higher in fiber — and the secret to a healthy Mediterraneandiet — keeping you fuller longer and supporting digestive health. Cauliflower rice and spaghetti squash are also healthy alternatives to white rice and pasta and you get the added bonus of an extra veggie in your meal.

4. Swap Mayo for Avocado

Avocados, an excellent source of healthy unsaturated fats, make a great swap for traditional mayo in baking and preparing your favorite sandwich. Avocado oil mayo is also a healthy alternative and you'll taste nearly no difference.

5. Add Veggies to Everything

I shred cauliflower or carrots into my daughter's pancakes to give an extra nutrient boost. Sneak in shredded zucchini, spinach, or cauliflower rice into sauces, casseroles, or even baked goods. Swap hearty mushrooms, beets or eggplant for burgers too. It’s a simple way to eat more fiber and vitamins without changing the dish, or taste, too much.