You
can make your own vanilla from vanilla beans and then just add vodka to it to
keep it going - after all, that's all vanilla extract is, really - alcohol and
vanilla beans. All you have to do is pour unflavored vodka into a glass
jar, cut a couple of vanilla beans in half and then split them and stick them
into the bottle. You will need to let this steep for a couple of months until it
is ready to use.
You can get some wonderful Bourbon vanilla beans from Beanilla. They are exceptional - thick and very moist
with a wonderful aroma. You can buy a bunch in bulk and use some for vanilla
extract and then keep the rest for regular baking, in an airtight container in the
pantry.
Cut the vanilla beans in half and then cut them down the
middle, to split them and open them up. The inside seeds of the vanilla
bean is called the "caviar". Just place a couple of the cut
beans right into the bottle.
Add unflavored vodka and seal the bottle and let it steep
for 6 to 8 weeks, until it is ready to use. The extract will last
practically forever. As you use it, just keep filling it up with a little
more vodka. You will never run out of extract. Eventually it will
help to add a couple of fresh vanilla beans to the bottle. Remove the cap
every once in a while and inhale. It's wonderful.
You can order cute little 4 ounce Boston round bottles from Specialty Bottle Company. You can also get a variety
of bottles from Beanilla.
You can order fun little labels from My Own Labels, a great
company where you can get custom labels for lots of things, including homemade
food items, CD’s, bottles, etc.
This a fun and inexpensive way to have all the vanilla extract that you need forever. Give it a try!!
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