Making Vanilla Extract with Lisa Huizenga & Dani Hainds

Church In The Wildwood – Tatter Hall

Homemade Vanilla Extract and Paste can be a “game-changer” in baked goods.  This class is a deep dive as we explore vanilla’s origins, and pay homage to the farmers in the world’s “Vanilla Belt.”  Learning how farmers hand pollinate each plant, harvest, and cure the beans is inspiring.  Then on we go to the sensory experience of vanilla beans!  Dani and Lisa are looking forward to guiding you in making your own extract and paste.  It’s a class for all your senses! Did we say we’ll start by sampling a vanilla forward desert; crème brûlée?  YUM!

Lisa Huizenga is a longtime resident of GMF since 1989.  She started baking pies decades ago when her Aunt taught her the family recipe for Apple Pies.  She hasn’t stopped baking pies since! Lisa has been teaching pie baking to Green Box fans for 10 years. Lisa’s passion is teaching pies to both her young charges when she was a pediatric Occupational Therapist, and now to bakers of all ages.  Lisa found that her students came to her classes feeling that pies were intimidating.  Seeing her pie students with big smiles, having a ton of fun, and leaving with a beautiful pie that they are so proud of, “floats her boat.” She loves communing with friends old and new over pie.

Dani Hainds is a 36-year resident of Green Mountain Falls! In that time, as secretary at Ute Pass Elementary, she nurtured the students of the Ute Pass region for 28 years. She continues to nurture by helping to create and maintain the Green Mountain Falls Triangle garden and teaching vanilla and pie making classes with her “partner in crime” Lisa Huizenga. Dani is passionate about her beloved Green Mountain Falls and shares her gifts as a member of the town’s Parks, Recreation, and Trails Committee. Dani tries to do her part to make a kinder, beautiful and even tastier world!