May 30, 2008: Vanilla

It conjures up memories of baking cakes and cookies with my grandmother and great-aunt; 'Granny' on the Beverly Hillbillies used to dab it behind her ears; I used to sniff it to almost intoxicating levels when I was a child,
and I oh so miss it now.
I have been trying to pretend that I really don't need it, but my charade is over. I have been making chocolate chip cookies and fudge and so forth for the kids, sans vanilla extract, but the jig is up.
I am contemplating making Tiramisu for dessert and I just don't know how to go about it with that powered vanilla stuff. I have looked for the vanilla pods too but with no success. I have even hit up other expats for an extract connection... :( Nothing!
I never thought something so simple and pure as vanilla would be so painfully absent.
Ideas anyone?