The Kitchen Door

I just love the Andy Griffeth Show. I love everything about it, the comedy, the message, the actors. Most of all I like the idea of the community, the town of Mayberry. Mayberry is a town wherein everyone knows your name, where integrity and character are valued (even the one and only town drunk locks himself up), where the men hang out at the local Barber shop and not a bar or saloon. I love the idea of an Aunt Bea who wears dresses and aprons and takes pride in her cooking and never misses a Ladies Aide civic meeting. I love how chivalry is not dead in Mayberry and every woman is called Ma’am. I love the fact that everyone knows the amiable sheriff and the deputy and the whole community meets together each Sunday at church.

It’s a corny show, from a bygone age… but I love it. I love the thought of living in a Mayberry.

 Sometimes, in this hustle bustle, crime ridden, scary age something will happen that will pierce the modernity of the moment and minister to me a “Mayberry state of mind”. Laughing babies, playing puppies, boys playing football in the street, the smell of clean laundry hanging on the line, and making something homemade just because no one does it anymore, all make me feel that Mayberry is possible.

 This recipe is one such flash of Mayberry. I just loved the thought of scraping a vanilla bean into the syrup that I would use to flavor my own soda. I was thrilled by the idea of handing my honey-man a tall icey glass of his favorite soda… that I made myself. 

Make yourself a glass today and enjoy a slower pace and simpler time… have a Mayberry state of mind.

With the weather turning toward the warm and sunny I suddenly find myself in the mood for tasty, cool drinks.  This is a recipe that we enjoy around here so I couldn’t wait to share it with the rest of you… even though I only have a cruddy “after thought” photo of it.

NOTES: I think it would be better to make the syrup and then keep it in the refrigerator and just make the soda by the glass but I am giving you the original recipe. Keep soda water on hand for an anytime treat. I made the whole recipe and found it a bit sweet for my taste (though Mike prefers it sweet). It was then that I had the idea to keep the syrup handy and just make it by the glass that way we can make it to suit our tastes.

Hope you enjoy this soda shoppe classic.

Click here for a link to good quality and inexpensive vanilla beans.

Homemade Vanilla Cream Soda and a Mayberry State of Mind

You can also make a Cherry Cream Soda by adding 1 packet of cherry kool-aid and 1/2 tsp. almond extract for a beautiful, bright red soda. Don't forget to put a maraschino cherry in the glass. :)

The Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp of almond extract
• 1 quart soda water, chilled

The Instructions

1. Combine 1 cup of water with the sugar in a medium saucepan.
2. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add to the sugar mixture.
3. Boil over medium-high heat, until the sugar dissolves.
4. Let syrup cool before stirring in the vanilla extract.
5. In a large pitcher or bowl, combine with soda water, stirring gently to combine.

By: The Kitchen Door

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