One of my goals for the next couple months is find ways to be a smarter shopper. So last night I gave myself a few hours of Internet time to research a few things I have wanted to look into.
I do a lot of baking and go through a lot vanilla so I knew I could start there. I like to buy the good vanilla not the cheap extract that you can get for 99 cents. When I buy vanilla I pay at least $5 for a good small bottle of real vanilla. I came across a very easy recipe for making vanilla that will last forever and is very inexpensive to make. The first thing I did was buy whole vanilla beans at Mountain Rose Herbs for $9 (for 8 beans) and I had a bottle of vodka in the pantry so I was good to go.
To make your own vanilla all you have to do is take 3 vanilla beans and slice them down the middle not cutting all the way through…just enough to release the small vanilla seeds.
Measure out 1 cup of cheap vodka into a clean jar. Add the 3 vanilla beans the vodka, cover and shake. Mark on the lid 6 weeks from the date you made it. Keep it in a place you will remember to shake it every day…and in 6 weeks you have vanilla.
SMART SHOPPING
Store bought real vanilla $4.99 – 2 oz
Homemade – $3 worth of vanilla beans about $1 each + 1 cup vodka $2 = $5 for 8 oz
Savings $15.00
I’ve been wanting to do this too, as we bake a lot here. Congrats on saving your family so much money!
This is a great recipe. I have been making my own too. The longer you let it set(shaking it up every so often) is better. And use a not so flavored vodka so that it doesnt take away from the taste of vanilla. I used the most inexpensive there was. And it turned out most wonderful tasting vanilla ever.