Vanilla Beans.....

I love the taste of real vanilla! There is a difference between imitation and real vanilla. Last week, through a friend, I was able to obtain my own jar of REAL vanilla beans, wholesale. Great find! I have decided to find as many ways to use them as I can.

First, You can use the beans for any recipe that calls for vanilla, just scrape out the seeds. (My favorite is in custards and puddings! YUM!!!)

Second, I am undertaking to make my own vanilla extract. It should brew for at least 8 weeks, so I won't really be able to use it till about November.

Thirdly, you can take your leftover pods and put them in a covered container with sugar, and you will soon have a delicious vanilla sugar.

These are only a few things vanilla beans are used for. I can't wait to try my extract!!!!!

Homemade Vanilla Extract -

3 medium vanilla beans, or 1 1/2 fat ones -

1 cup rum or vodka

Have ready a 1-cup glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid; I used an empty (and clean, obviously) jar of jam. Pour boiling water into it, let rest for 10 minutes to sterilize, and pour out the water. Using a sharp knife, slice the beans open lengthwise to expose the seeds. Tuck the beans in the jar and fill with liquor. Close the jar, shake it a few times, and place it in a cool, dark cabinet; you may have to whisper a few words of reassurance if the jar is, understandably, a little frightened.

Let the jar rest in there for 8 weeks, shaking it again once or twice a week, or whenever you remember to. The mixture will get darker and darker over time. You can start using your extract by the end of the eighth week. Use however much you need, and when you notice that you're running a little low -- that you've used, say, 20% of the extract -- top it off with more liquor (preferably of the same type) and shake again.

And every once in a while, when you're using a fresh bean in a recipe, you can add the empty pod (rinsed off and dried if it's been steeped in milk or cream) to the jar**. If you continue to "feed" it this way, the extract will keep forever; just remove some of the older beans if the jar becomes too crowded.

** Remember that those empty pods can also be placed in your sugar jar, olive oil bottle, or tea tin to flavor them, too.