What's up with Almond extract??

[KristiB]

I'm visiting my parents in Des Moines and was going to do some baking. I went to 4 grocery stores and all I could find was imitation almond flavoring. I could have used that but I'm stubborn :p

I broke down and drove to the Penzeys store and all they had was the huge bottle(which I bought and am taking home with me so now I'll have almond extract forever!)

When I talked to the Penzeys lady she said it's hard to find and as soon as they get the small bottles in it flies off the shelves.

I think have some back in Phoenix and don't remember it being such a challenge to locate...what are these people doing with the all the extract?

[lindrusso]

Well, I can assure you that I have not personally contributed to the shortage - almond extract is on my "yuck" list. :D ;)

That is weird, though. Maybe it's just that time of year....

[Kathy B]

Originally posted by lindrusso
Maybe it's just that time of year....

That would be my guess, too. I was at the store yesterday and thought I'd pick up some more cardamom since we are making large quantities of a recipe that uses it. NONE! All the other spice racks were full, but the cardamom row was completely empty. (Must be all those CL readers making that cardamom bread!)

[swquilts]

I was going to buy some cardamon (can't believe I don't have any), but when I saw the price I went into sticker shock!!! $7.87 for the small Schilling bottle and that was 25% off already!!! I'll wait for 50% off.

[Angelina]

I bought cardamom at Whole Foods (their brand) and it was about $5.00. It was really good too...it smelled so good when I opened it, that at first I didn't even realized it was the cardamom. Who knew! That teaches me not to keep my old spices for so long.

Angela

[VegasDramaQueen]

Cardamon and Almond extract are used so frequently in so many Christmas cookies and cakes that it's hard to find them at this time of year. As for sticker shock, I wanted to make Vanilla Bean ice cream and just about died when I saw the $12.99 price tag on a 3 bean bottle of the vanilla beans. That's some pretty expensive ice cream. I bought it anyway and made 1 batch with vanilla beans and the other just plain ole vanilla ice cream with vanilla extract. We all liked the plain vanilla much better. So much for vanilla beans.