Make Your Own Vanilla

I'm forever hooked! I can't go back to imitation vanilla flavoring...whatever that actually is. And who knew that making your own vanilla would be so easy? But, before I moved to Italy, my Titus 2 group leader Nancy taught me how to make vanilla. I just recently finish a bottle that I started 4 years ago, and by the time I got to the end of the bottle, it smelled so good, I almost wanted to drink it straight...almost, but not quite.

So here's what you need: 1 or 2 whole vanilla beans and a bottle of vodka. (Fyi, finding vanilla beans is very easy in Italian grocery stores, not so easy in the U.S.) Just open the vodka and drop the whole beans into the bottle. Wait a minimum of 4 weeks or so before you use it. I've heard you can also use brandy, but I haven't tried it. Oh, and one note, either buy vodka with a screw-on cap or plan ahead and have a cork to use to reseal your bottle.

And when you go to make your next bottle, just all the beans from the first bottle along with a fresh bean.