#43 Vanilla Extract

Back in January, when I started this "homemade pantry" journey, I ordered some wonderful, big, plump vanilla beans. At that time I also ordered a bottle for making homemade vanilla extract. That's about all you need to do to make your own vanilla extract. I recommend ordering your vanilla beans online. I have not really seen good ones in your typical grocery stores. But then again, maybe I didn't look too hard. I got them at www.Beanilla.com for about 90 cents each.

Vanilla Extract

Cheap vodka, enough to fill your bottle or jar
Spent vanilla beans, at least 3

I used new fresh vanilla beans because I wanted to get it started and didn't know when I would be using my vanilla beans for something else. So I just scrapped my three beans, cut them in half and added the beans and the lovely seed scrappings to the vodka. Then you just need to wait. The book says at least three weeks. I think I waited longer before actually using it.

My rule of thumb was to just give it a whiff....when it smells like vanilla and it's a lovely brown color...it's ready! I've used it in my baking and whipped cream....just divine! The best part. As long as you have vodka on hand, all you need to do is top it off and keep adding used beans to it....unending supply of pure vanilla extract. If you are a baker...can anything be better?!