![]() ![]() Everclear is 190 proof neutral grain alcohol. While perusing the aisles, a 1.75 liter of Everclear caught my eye. I was planning a drive to Nevada and the liquor laws are less strict and the selection is much better that my little town’s. They are state licensed stores and they almost keep banker’s hours.Īnyway, my nephew was coming to visit for a few days and I asked him if he wanted anything special to drink. Idaho has oddball liquor laws I found that out when I needed vermouth for your tarragon chicken recipe. Hi Kevin, what a coincidence, I started my homemade vanilla extract July 30th! This is my first attempt. The remaining 2 bottles are mine, all mine. Another bottle will fall into the hands of Brenda Johnson, my ever lovin’ taste-tester. From the 4 bottles I put up today, one will be gifted to my friend David Leite, of Leite’s Culinaria. ![]() As mentioned earlier, homemade vanilla extract makes an excellent holiday gift for bakers. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll give this fun project a try. I’ll update this post in 3 months time, when my own extract is ready to sample. Pure vanilla extract has an indefinite shelf life. Full maturity is attained at 12 months, at which time you can remove the beans and strain the extract. And here’s the best part: You can - and should - top-off the extract with more vodka after each use to insure the beans are completely submerged. Thereafter, you can use the extract freely in cakes, cookies, and more. In order for the extract to develop a deep, complex taste and aroma, the beans must macerate in their vodka bath for at least 3 months. My dark place is behind the closed doors of a kitchen cabinet. Put a funnel in the top of the bottle, and pour on the vodka!Īnd that’s it! Give the bottle or jar a shake, and then set it in a dark place. Now measure out the alcohol, which, again, is one cup (8 ounces) for each 5 vanilla beans. ![]() If the pods are taller than your jar or bottle, just cut the pods in half or in pieces. Put 5 of the split pods in an 8 or 8.5 ounce bottle (increase or decrease the number of pods depending on the container you are using). Making the ExtractĪnd slice them lengthwise to reveal the flavorful seeds inside. Whatever containers you select, wash and dry them thoroughly before use. Avoid bottles with cork tops, as cork can encourage evaporation. The flip-lid beauties pictured above ( click here to buy) hold 8.5 ounces. I found lots of pretty bottles at Amazon. Containers for Holding the ExtractĪny bottle or jar with an air-tight lid will suffice for the extraction process. In fact, the cheapest vodka is often the best vodka for extract. Vodka is the gold standard here, and there’s no need to splurge on the top shelf stuff. The Alcoholįor the purpose of extracting all the vanilla goodness from the beans, the alcohol component must be 80-proof (i.e., 40-percent alcohol by volume). How many beans to use? Plan 5 beans per 8-ounce cup of alcohol. I found Tahitian beans at my local food co-op for just $4.80 each. Look for “Grade B” Madagascar or Tahitian beans - both are excellent for extract. Talk about sticker-shock!įor the best prices, obtain beans in bulk from online sources and local health food stores. I paid $14.00 for just one Morton and Bassett-bottled bean. Vanilla beans from the supermarket are pricey indeed. Pure vanilla extract contains just two ingredients: Vanilla beans and neutral-tasting alcohol. Pure vanilla extract is really easy to make, and it makes a terrific holiday gift! Vanilla Beans - What kind and how many? It’s dang delicious, too, and its flavor continually improves over time. Homemade vanilla extract is less expensive than its commercial counterpart. Wanna make your own vanilla extract? I have good news for you. ![]()
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