I got a lot of funny comments on my blog and facebook and some great ideas were thrown out. I would like to address some of those comments.
No, it isn’t for a secret night cap or to get me though the day
It isn’t for cleaning paint brushes, I didn’t even know you could do that!
No, it isn’t for our year supply.
No, it isn’t to keep on hand to barter when times get bad.
Several people guess vanilla extract, and they were correct.
I saw a tutorial for making homemade vanilla and me, being who I am, just had to try it.
To make vanilla extract you need a gallon of Vodka (the cheaper the better, that stuff can be expensive) and 3/4 pound of vanilla beans.
(I got my vanilla beans here)
Place the beans in a gallon sized glass jar
and pour the vodka over the top.
Let it sit for 5 to 6 months, and there you have it, My friend Charlotte wanted to know if I felt weird purchasing the Vodka. I will be honest and admit that I sent my husband for the liquor. In Utah you can’t buy liquor at the grocery store, there are special State Liquor stores that you have to go to, and he said he felt like a fish out of water.
Now the real question: What are we going to do with the extra half gallon of Vodka!
I might have to try this!
You amaze me! I have so many projects like jam and bread making that just keep getting shoved to the back burner – I love that you just keep on truckin'!!
You are going to love cooking with homemade vanilla. I have made my own vanilla for years and when you bake a cake it has the most incredible smell. Here is a link about my homemade vanilla and a photo of aged vanilla;
http://myhomemadelife.blogspot.com/2008/09/homemade-vanilla.html
I have always made my vanilla in the same bottle the liquor comes in; it is easy to pour and I usually use the cap for measuring.
Good luck with your vanilla!
i have no idea what you are going to do with the remaining 1/2 gallon of vodka, and i feel the same way you do, how can people drink that stuff??? i have a drink on occasion, but it far from a habit…i hope the vanilla turns out well for you, i'd love to give that a try, except for the fact that i have NOWHERE to keep a jar that long and not have it be in the way or at risk of getting knocked over!
That is pretty cool. I didn't know vanilla extract came from vodka, what keeps it from having alcohol content?
I would have made my husband go get it, too. We have state stores for liquor out here too. When we first moved here we couldn't figure out why there were so many "packaging" stores. The packies are what they call the liquor stores.
Charlotte, It will still have the alcohol. All pure extracts have this kind of alcohol content. I don't worry about it since, typically, it is only use a few teaspoons at a time.
Looks like we frequent the same sites because I have the same tutorial on my project list. And will probably send my husband out to buy it too. I have no clue where to buy liquor!