One of our new things to do is make vanilla extract. When you make your own extract you can make tons and it tastes infinitely better than store bought stuff! Many brands use fake vanilla as opposed to real beans in order to save money.
Vanilla beans are difficult to grow, as they require either a special type of bee that is small enough to fit in the bean for cross pollination, or are artificially pollinated by man. This makes them expensive if you are purchasing individually from a store.
Note: You must thoroughly sanitize all the items! I accomplish this by running it through the dishwasher.
Items needed:
-Vodka (I bought the big bottle of Vodka from Costco). Supposedly the brand or quality doesn't matter, however we always buy the expensive high quality stuff.
-8oz Vanilla beans (I order from Amazon: S&W Premium Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla Beans - 1/2 lb. JR Mushrooms Brand (around $30))
-Knife
-Cutting board
-2 Quart wide mouth mason jars (optional to spray paint black)
-A super dark cupboard
-At least 6 months of time!!!
Divide you pile of vanilla beans in half (4 ounces each). Take one vanilla bean and slice it length wise on the cutting board. Peel in half. Take one of the lengths and scrape out all of the miniscule vanilla beans. Place bean pod and beans inside mason jar. Repeat until all your vanilla beans have be cut and scraped and placed in the jars.
Open your vodka bottle and pour it into the mason jars until they are full. Screw on the mason jar lids tight enough so they don't leak.
Now, take your mason jar and ... SHAKE!!!
Shake, shake shake you booty!
Now, place the jars in your dark cupboard. Every 2-3 days take your mason jars and shake them up for 6 months. IF you get lazy and forget, that's fine, but the more you shake them, the more the alcohol gets to absorb the agitated beans.
The longer your vanilla extract gets to be in the sit agitate process, the more flavor it gets, so if you pass your 6 month process, that's wonderful too.
I will say that after about 2 months, Hubby couldn't wait to use the extract in cooking so he would agitate and use a little at a time, but then seal it up and return it to it's dark cupboard. Your extract reaches its "Wow this is amazing!" limit after 6 months though.
Now, flash forward 6 months.
Straining Process:
Note: You must thoroughly sanitize all the items! I accomplish this by running it through the dishwasher.
Items needed:
-Vanilla extract in mason jars
-Tongs
-Funnel (make sure it is small enough to fit in your small bottles)
-Handheld small strainer (I got mine at Dollar Tree)
-Coffee filters
-Small bottles; the darker the better! (I ordered from Amazon: from MHB Boston Round bottles,2 Oz Pack of 12 (about $10))
-More patience and a helper
-Optional: If you will reuse your beans, a new clean mason jar and more vodka.
Take out your vanilla extract and remove lid
Now smell!! MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!
Using your tongs, remove the bean pods so that they wont get in your way.
You are given a choice at this point.
1: Discard the vanilla bean pods and small beans or
2: Place bean pods and beans into another empty mason jar along with new vodka to immediately repeat the vanilla extract process. The only thing is that reusing the beans means that your next batch of extract will not be as potent and may take longer.
Take your small, dark, bottle and remove the lid. Fit the funnel in the bottle. Place the strainer on top of the funnel. Place the coffee filter on top of the strainer. Hold the strainer/ funnel and small bottle steady while your helper VERY SLOWLY pours the vanilla extract in the strainer/ funnel. You may have to help the process along by carefully grabbing the coffee filter and ringing it out.
If you aren't making another batch, discard the bean pods and beans, or if you are making another batch, toss the beans into your new jar for the second batch.
Return the coffee filter and pour more extract into the bottle, wring out, repeat. When one of your tiny dark jars is full, repeat for the next, and the next, and the next.
Label jars and give them away as gifts or keep for yourself!
