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Friday, February 3, 2012

Gluten-Free Homemade Vanilla Extract ~ A Gift to Yourself & Others


I used to make vanilla extract with bourbon, not knowing much about liquor.  Did you know bourbon is made with ground corn and rye?  Who'd have thunk that vanilla extract could contain gluten?  So I have switched over to using vodka when making vanilla extract, making it gluten-free and GAPS friendly.

Making your own vanilla extract tastes better, takes minutes to make, and saves money.  The only thing I have to get over?  Buying a bottle of vodka with four kids and all the looks I get.  Especially when I'm eight months pregnant.  I have to resist the urge to tell the cashier and everyone who walks by my cart that I'm making vanilla extract!  Don't judge!  Oh well.  It's worth the superior vanilla extract I'll soon enjoy and have ready to use as gifts, not to mention the money saving bit (see below for ideas).

So here's whatcha need:
  • 1 liter vodka (be sure to check that the vodka was distilled with potatoes and not grains)
  • 12 vanilla beans
And here's whatcha do:
  1. Cut a slit down each vanilla bean, lengthwise.  Then cut them all in half.
  1. Drain about one once vodka from the bottle and stick vanilla beans in the bottle.  Set in a dark place (like a cupboard) for at least 6 weeks before using, giving it a gentle whirl when you think about it.  The longer it sits, the better and darker it gets.
Even more money-saving tips:

Save empty spice jars to have on hand when you want to give some vanilla extract as a gift/to add to a gift basket.

When the extract is all used up, use vanilla beans instead of extract in recipes that require a blender or food processor.  A general rule of thumb:  1 teaspoon vanilla extract equals 1/2 vanilla bean.  You can use vanilla beans in the following recipes:
Okay friends.  It's your turn.  Go buy some vodka.  You can do it.  Just picture an 8-month-pregnant me waddling through this task.  And after you're done laughing, get on wit yo bad self!

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