Organic NUTritionist

I'm always in search of good vanilla because I love to bake and I like to use really good strong vanilla.  Sooooo, I did some searching on the internet about a year ago and I have been making my own pure vanilla since--which is perfect.   Here is how I do it:

ABSOLUT VANILLA EXTRACT

1 bottle of Absolut Vodka
1/2 C of dark rum
12 vanilla beans

Cut the vanilla beans the long way with a knife except the last inch.

Take out the little glass ball from the Absolut Vodka tip (you can pop it out with a sharp-tip knife) so that you can put the vanilla beans inside the bottle.  Pour out about 1/2 cup of the vodka and pour in the 1/2 cup of rum. 

Put the cut beans in the vodka and put the cap back on and leave in a dark spot in the cupboard for about 8 weeks.

This recipe can be cut by using 3 vanilla beans and 1 cup of vodka, brandy or rum.  I always put more vanilla than is asked for in a recipe so I like to have a lot of vanilla handy in my kitchen.

I like Absolut vodka but you can use any brand vodka, brandy or rum.  I also use Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans.

(If you look closely in the above picture you can see the vanilla beans inside the bottle :)