4.25.2013

VODKA & VANILLA BEAN

V comes in handy when mixing up a flavorful concoction in your own kitchen.

Did you know vanilla extract is made by simply soaking a vanilla bean in half a cup of vodka?  Neither did I.  Martha Stewart told me.

Use a glass jar with a tight seal.  Split open a vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the jar.  Then, drop the bean in as well.  Add the vodka.  Seal the jar and set it aside for two months.  Shake it once in a while.  Over time, you will see the liquid darken.



This is the jar my vanilla bean came in.  I removed the bean, scraped the seeds, then put them all back in the same jar.  I filled the bottle with vodka, about half a cup.

In this next picture, you can see the bean folded in half and the seeds at the bottom. 


This extract is not quite ready.  It should be a bit darker.  Once the extract is really dark (about two months), discard the bean pod and store the jar in the refrigerator.  It will keep for up to a year.  Easy peasy.

I'm not sure this is a more economical way to get vanilla extract, as one vanilla bean is about eight dollars.  (You might get two batches of extract from one bean.)  But, it's impressive to say, "I make my own vanilla extract."

People will then suspect you're friends with Martha. 


15 comments:

Kathy Cannon Wiechman said...

That's amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Kathy @ Swagger Writers

Unknown said...

I've also seen this on Pinterest as a gift-giving idea for holidays - especially to bakers. I love that you followed-through and actually made it. So glad you stopped by my place. Looking forward to poking around some. :)

Rita said...

Okay, I learned something new from you and Martha today. :)

Cathy said...

I never knew that. Thanks for teaching me something new today.

Paula said...

I will be interested in how it tastes when it is ready to be used!

Anonymous said...

Love the vanilla bean insight. How fun. Not sure I'll try it but you never know. :)

Visiting from the A to Z Blogging~
Mary

www.maryeagius.com

Unknown said...

I love to read and love to laugh! What a double pleasure your posts are. I'm so glad you visited my site and even more glad I visited yours. Write on.

Unknown said...

I might want to drink that! lol

Unknown said...

I love this, Mare. A friend from church just made me some a few months ago. It was quite funny her bringing these little jars of vodka and vanilla beans to church to pass out to each of us. She also said that you can continue to fill up the jar with vodka if you keep the vanilla bean in it. She said you just have to wait a few weeks each time you add in. What do you think of that? Thanks for the great post. God bless, Maria at Delight Directed Living

Juli said...

OH... but there is SUCH a difference between the good vanilla and the not so good. :)

I like mine with grey goose vodka, but so long as it's GF alcohol I'm good.

Jaime said...

This is really interesting. I've never ever cooked or baked with vanilla extract. I wouldn't even know what to make. I am not a baker - that probably explains it.

Jaime at Awakenings and Reflections

Kenya G. Johnson said...

Interesting. I have a "bottomless bottle" that should last for years. You just keep topping it off with rum. My mom found it somewhere. So it was ready when she gave it to me. Neat huh. I think its economical. I guess. I use a lot of vanilla and if you go somewhere like WalMart the teeny pure on is priced ridiculously. Before my mom gave the the bottomless one I used to buy a big bottle of vanilla from Sams. Actually I still do and use that one for french toast and things like that. But I use the special vanilla for my homemade goods.

Dana said...

Very cool! I'll have to try this.

Ann Hinds said...

I am also friends with Martha and love making my own vanilla extract. It also was my gift for everyone last year. Great post.

http://completelycalifornia.blogspot.com/

Tracy MacDonald said...

Mare, thanks so much for visiting me during the A to Z. As far as the amount of time goes, I think I've used my vanilla as early as a week after making it. Maybe it's because I used two beans at once in a pint jar? I'm not sure although I would agree it gets better with time, but I ran out and had to use it. I also just keep mine in the pantry and the pods in together. I am also realizing I used Bourbon Vanilla beans which I got at Fairway and only cost about $3 which is extremely reasonable for two vanilla beans! Maybe one of us should as Martha.....
A2Z Mommy And What’s In between