[laurafromtx]

I love putting espresso buttercream on chocolate or mocha cakes, but haven't found the perfect brand of flavoring yet. I've been looking locally for the Medaglia D' Oro (sp?) instant espresso but haven't found it yet. So far I've just been brewing a really strong batch of French Roast coffee and that does ok, but I normally don't like putting that much liquid in my buttercream.

I had a friend that brought me some pure vanilla extract from the Domincan Republic - I don't know what kind of vanilla bean it's made from, but it's more flower-y smelling/tasting that the bourbon vanilla beans. I use it quite often in buttercream too. It's not clear, but I don't mind the extra little bit of color. I love it!