vanilla extract? -- M.M., Flatts.

Dear M.M.: Vanilla beans are the pods of an orchid found in Central and South America. The pods are first blanched, then sun dried by day and covered by blankets to "sweat'' each night for several months. During this process, the pods shrink about 400 percent and take on the characteristic vanilla flavour and brown colour. Recipes using the vanilla bean (actually, the tiny seeds inside are scraped out and used) will have an intense vanilla flavour. Vanilla extract imparts a more subtle flavour to all kinds baked goods and is often used to enhance other flavours, such as chocolate and coffee.

Dear Miss d'Arcy: Can I put bananas and other fruit on the grill after we grill our meat and vegetables? J.J., Warwick.

Dear J.H.: Of course you can grill fruits. Try threading fruits, such as fresh pineapple chunks, seedless grapes and banana slices, on a skewer. Here is a new recipe that is a little different but quite traditional.

GRILLED BANANA SPLIT 1 banana 1 firm peach 1 thick slice pound cake Hot chocolate sauce 2 scoops vanilla ice cream Chopped nuts CUT unpeeled banana in half lengthwise. Halve and pit the peach. Grill fruit, cut side down, until fruit begins to brown, then turn over and grill other side, allowing about 1 1 minutes each side. Grill pound cake until toasted -- about 1 minute per side. Cut diagonally. Peel banana and cut into 2 inch pieces. Place ice cream on plate and drizzle with hot chocolate sauce.

Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Arrange fruit and grilled cake around ice cream.

Dear Miss d'Arcy: I'd like a recipe which is light and easy to make using chicken breast patties. -- A.G., Warwick.

Dear A.G.: Here is a nice recipe using breast patties which is a little different to just warming them up.

QUICK AND LIGHT SPICY CHICKEN SALAD 1 cup light mayonnaise 2 tbsps. honey 1 tsp. EACH hot pepper sauce and Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. ground red pepper 1 12 oz. pkge. frozen, breaded chicken breast patties, cooked and sliced 2 cups shredded lettuce 1 cup diced tomato MIX mayonnaise, honey, hot pepper and Worcestershire sauces, and red pepper.

Arrange chicken slices on lettuce. Pour mayonnaise mixture over chicken and sprinkle with tomato.

Dear Miss d'Arcy: What are Quesadillas, and how can I make them? -- S.K., Southampton.

Dear S.K.: Quesadillas are Mexican appetisers. They are very easy to make, and you can add different things to them.

QUESADILLAS 2 flour tortillas 1 tsp. melted margarine 1 cup shredded cheese 2 tbsp. each bacon bits and diced tomatoes BRUSH both tortillas with melted margarine. Sprinkle unbuttered side of one tortilla with cheese, bacon and diced tomato. Cover with second tortilla, buttered side out. Grill in a hot fry pan, on both sides. Cut into wedges and serve hot, with tomato salsa (see recipe below).

TOMATO SALSA 1 cup finely diced onion 1 large tomato, seeded and diced 1 tsp. olive oil 1 tsp. dried hot pepper 1 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. chopped parsley COMBINE all ingredients in large bowl. Serve with quesadillas.

Dear Miss d'Arcy: Is there a difference between white and pink grapefruit, and can I grow them from seeds? -- Y.A., Smith's.

Dear Y.A.: The difference between white and pink grapefruit is more than colour -- it's mainly the taste. Pink grapefruit is sweeter.

Growing a citrus tree from seed and expecting an edible fruit-bearing tree will be quite impossible. No matter what type of citrus seed you plant, you will always end up with a sour stock tree.