For Immediate Release:

Waukegan, Ill. (February 9, 2015) – The first St. Patrick's Day first parade was hosted not in Ireland but in New York City in 1762 (History.com). The holiday has since evolved on American soil into a collection of cheerful green- and shamrock-themed parades, parties and pints.

"Americans have embraced St. Patrick's Day and made it their own," said Craig Nielsen, CEO of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Inc. "Nielsen-Massey Vanillas invites you to do the same, embracing the celebrations of the day while introducing high-quality vanillas and rich flavors into your favorite St. Patrick's Day treats for an exceptional celebration."

Irish roots or no, all Americans can enjoy the day and surprise their family or guests with St. Patrick's Day decorations and treats that remember the origins of the day:

• Bring back coffee: Add coffee-themed drinks to the traditional Guinness and Jameson offerings. Irish coffee is the fourth most popular drink in Ireland (IrishCentral.com). Create your own version of the traditional drink with Vanilla Mocha Latte Shooters, mocha-inspired cocktails made with Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract, Pure Chocolate Extract and Pure Coffee Extract.
• Spread good luck: Stamp paper plates, cups and napkins with shamrocks or hang paper cutouts from ceiling streamers. The four-leaf clover has been a symbol of good luck in Ireland for thousands of years – Celtic priests believed they offered magical protection. The three-leaf shamrock is associated with St. Patrick. Your chances of finding a four-leaf version? One in 10,000 (bhg.com).
• Theme your cookies: Treat your friends and family to Shamrock Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Glaze and Lemon Piping Icing (recipe below). Known for its fine vanillas and flavors, Nielsen-Massey's Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract and Pure Lemon Extract add a tangy spin to this St. Patrick's Day-themed treat.

Delight your guests with the recipe below for Shamrock Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Glaze and Lemon Piping Icing, or visit www.nielsenmassey.com for additional vanilla-infused cookie and cocktail recipes to sweeten the day's celebrations.

Shamrock Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Glaze and Lemon Piping Icing
Yields about 3 Dozen

Shamrock Lemon Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup superfine sugar (purchase or process granulated sugar for 20 seconds in a food processor)
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
3 1/4 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract
2 eggs
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar (for dusting work surface)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for dusting work surface)

Directions
Position oven rack in the center of oven and preheat to 350⁰F. Line two large, heavy light-colored baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt until blended; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add butter, sugar, cream, vanilla and lemon extracts; beat with a handheld mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to medium-low; add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the dry ingredients one half at a time.

Divide dough into two even pieces, press each piece into a disk shape, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Dough should be cool and firm but easy to work with.

In a small bowl, whisk confectioners' sugar and flour until blended; set aside. Working with one piece of dough at a time, place on a clean, dusted surface. Roll dough to about ⅛-inch thickness. Use a small heart shaped cookie cutter to make three clovers, cut a stem with a small knife; press the hearts and stem together to make a shamrock. Transfer with a thin offset metal spatula to prepared cookie sheets. For even baking, do not overcrowd cookies. Gather remaining dough, cover with plastic and chill. Continue with second chilled dough.

For best results, bake one sheet pan at a time until done, about 10 minutes; remove and place cookies on wire racks to cool. Decorate and store in an airtight container.

Lemon Glaze and Lemon Piping Icing
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon meringue powder
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract (may substitute with Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract)
variety gel food colors

Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together sugar and meringue powder. Add water and lemon extract, stir until smooth. Glaze cookies in desired colors and set aside to dry before piping. For the piping icing, remake the glaze recipe and add additional confectioners' sugar, one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Divide icing into small bowls; add desired gel colors. Select pastry tips, prepare pastry bags and creatively pipe icing onto glazed cookies.

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.

# # #

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