Every year we like to give gifts to several different friends, coworkers, etc... Last year, I made homemade vanilla extract and it was a success! The extract was wonderful and it could not be any easier. You just have to have time - - eight weeks, to be exact. So if you like to plan ahead for your gifts, this is a great one. You can make them all now, let them sit, and pull them out close to Christmas and have a fabulous gift to give away.
Here's what to do:
-Acquire all the necessary supplies: vanilla beans; rum (or vodka); pretty, sterilized bottles; fun labels
-Sterilize the bottles
-Split three vanilla beans lengthwise and put them in the bottle (I used an 8 oz. bottle with 3 vanilla beans)
-Pour in the alcohol
-Close tightly
-Put in a dark spot to sit for the next 8 weeks, shaking once a week or so
That's it! So easy, so yummy, and useful.
