How to Make Vanilla Extract
If you love to bake, you know how expensive it is to buy pure vanilla extract. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice because the beans are difficult to cultivate from orchids. You can make your own vanilla extract right now, in time for Christmas baking... and it's FUN! You can find many websites that sell quality vanilla beans. They can be quite expensive. I bought my beans at my local health food store for $6 apiece. You will need three beans about six or seven inches long. Using a sharp knive, slice each bean lengthwise... Leaving about one inch uncut like this: You will see the fragrant vanilla seeds inside and that's what will leach into the alcohol. You need a fifth of high proof alcohol...at least 80 proof, like vodka, bourbon or rum. I bought this mid-priced vodka for $13 mostly because it was in a plastic bottle. Stick the cut vanilla beans into the vodka right in the bottle. Now just let them sit in the alcohol for at least two months. The vanilla will leach fr...