For Immediate Release:

Allow Nielsen-Massey Vanillas to help you plan a romantic dinner for your Valentine

Waukegan, Ill. (January 12, 2015)– Last year 68 percent of people stayed home on Valentine's Day. Join the crowd and celebrate love this holiday by planning a romantic, homemade dinner using recipes from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.

"Valentine's Day is an important opportunity to cherish relationships," said Craig Nielsen, CEO of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. "As a tangible way to express affection, create and share a romantic dinner. Nielsen-Massey's products help keep it simple and still make the evening special."

After spending the day with family, make preparations to share quality time as a couple during dinner. To prepare for the meal, set the table for two, using flowers and a sweet card as a centerpiece to add thoughtful ambience. As the main dish, cook Vanilla Wine Braised Short Ribs (recipe below), including just one teaspoon of Nielsen-Massey's Pure Vanilla Extract, which enhances the flavor qualities of red wine and spicy cinnamon that create the savory dish.

For a splash of memorable flavors, combine citrus fruits, wine, brandy and Nielsen-Massey's Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar, Rose Water and Tahitian Vanilla to make fragrant Rose Sangria. This delicious drink will pair nicely with sophisticated Rose Water Scented Sugar Cookies. Prior to baking, use a straw to make a hole near the edge of each heart-shaped treat and tie the cookie with an elegant ribbon to the base of stemware to add unexpected flair to the sentimental evening.

Vanilla Wine Braised Short Ribs
(Serves 4)

Ingredients
2 large yellow onions, sliced
4 pounds beef short ribs (8 ribs)
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon grape seed oil
1 cup dry red wine
1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract
2 teaspoons sugar
2 cups beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
juice of 1 lime
1 cinnamon stick
8 cloves garlic, minced

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a roasting pan or Dutch oven with cooking spray. Evenly place sliced yellow onions in the bottom of pan; set aside. Generously season ribs with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ribs and sear on all sides, about 2 minutes per side, then transfer to roasting pan; set aside.

In a small saucepan, add wine, vanilla extract and sugar; whisk and place over medium-high heat, reduce by half then remove from heat. In a large saucepan add beef broth; place over medium-high heat and reduce by half. Then add tomatoes, tomato sauce, lime juice, and cinnamon stick; stir to combine and remove from heat; set aside.

Pour reduced wine mixture over ribs, top with minced garlic then pour tomato mixture over ribs. Cover and place in oven. Braise until ribs are fork tender about 3-3½ hours. Turn halfway through cooking time. Serve ribs on home-style mashed potatoes and top with a spoonful of braising liquid, onions and tomatoes.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar, Organic Fairtrade Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract and Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Beans.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas also offers a full line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water. All Nielsen-Massey products are All-Natural, Allergen-Free, and certified Kosher and Gluten-Free. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, with production facilities in Waukegan and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. www.nielsenmassey.com

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Photos are available upon request. For more information about Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, contact:
Gardi Wilks, gwilks@savoragency.com
Savor – the food agency, 847.556.7511