Well, my vanilla beans arrived from France – and do they ever smell lovely! I ordered them off ebay and shipping did not take long at all.
I know making your own vanilla extract is well heard of in many kitchens – in fact, it is so easy, there’s not much to post about it. It’s barely even a recipe, really …
Simply attain your fresh vanilla beans. Enjoy the beautiful smell of those rich, moist vanilla pods! Slice them down the center of the bean pod and drop 3-5 into a glass jar.
Cover with alcohol – vodka, rum or brandy – and allow it to steep for up to three months. You can leave the vanilla beans inside your extract when it is finished seeping or you can remove them. I usually just leave them in for extra flavor.
My mom gifted me with some brandy and vodka (no, she does not drink alcohol but had them for household projects). What a blessing!
I covered one jar with brandy and the other with the vodka.
For many of us, real vanilla extract from the stores is quite expensive. Using the fake version is not an option because of what may be used to make the imitation vanilla. {Also, here is a good article on the comparisons.} Making your homemade vanilla flavoring is a great option for a healthier and cost-effective vanilla extract.
by Gigi
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