I’m easing back into life home from vacationing someplace tropical.  And these blustery days just aren’t making it any easier!  In lieu of sunbathing on the sand, I decided to make vanilla pudding.  It was multi-tasking if I’m going to be honest.  I wanted something warm and smooth and delicious…and the kids are always begging to buy Jello pudding in the grocery store.  I just can’t bring myself to buy those yellow-hued plastic cups.  So, with a few simple ingredients, yesterday afternoon filled my home with the comforting aroma of vanilla.

I snagged this recipe off Smitten Kitchen’s website, because, well…you just can’t go wrong over there.  Here’s the link:  Vanilla Bean Pudding

It’s amazing how a little unassuming brown stick can have so much more depth of flavor than vanilla extract.

See those little brown specks?  So. So. Good.

I decided to make a little extra for lunches.  Three little blonde heads were bopping around with excitement to hear they would have vanilla pudding in their lunch bag.  Only when they’re older will they thank me in the not the plastic-flavored kind from the pudding aisle.