On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:49:00 -0500, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Ozark Baby > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:17:00 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >On Sun 21 Sep 2008 03:25:04p, zxcvbob told us...
>> >
>> >> Ozark Baby wrote:
>> >>> On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:06:28 -0500, zxcvbob >
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> zipporah wrote:
>> >>>>> cooksalot wrote:
>> >>>>>> On Sep 20, 6:15 pm, Ozark Baby > wrote:
>> >>>>>>> On Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:26:57 -0500, zxcvbob >
>> >>>>>>> wrote:
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Ozark Baby wrote:
>> >>>>>>>>> We are planning on making our own homemade vanilla extract. What
>> >>>>>>>>> I want to do is to be able to give some as gifts. What size
>> >>>>>>>>> bottle would anyone recommend for gifts? The other question is if
>> >>>>>>>>> I would need to seal, like with canning, such jars of extract
>> >>>>>>>>> once it is made, after 6 months, or what? Would this homemade
>> >>>>>>>>> extract be ok just sitting on shelves or should it be
>> >>>>>>>>> refrigerated or what? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>> >>>>>>>> Are you gonna get 5 ounce glass bottles for it? (I've never seen
>> >>>>>>>> little
>> >>>>>>>> brown bottles for sale, but that would be the way to go if you can
>> >>>>>>>> find them.) I don't know how you intend to make your extract,
>> >>>>>>>> I'll assume by
>> >>>>>>>> steeping chopped vanilla beans in bourbon or rye or vodka, but i
>> >>>>>>>> think you just need to screw the lids down tight.
>> >>>>>>>> Bob
>> >>>>>>> Thank you for your reply. Yes, I was thinking about 5-8 oz sizes,
>> >>>>>>> as these will be presents for Christmas.
>> >>>>>> Well you do realize that once we open those bottles of vanilla they
>> >>>>>> sit in the cupboard sometimes for years and are just fine. My
>> >>>>>> bottle source is Mountain Rose Herbs
>> >>>>>> http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/sup...s_bottles.html
>> >>>>> Specialty Bottle (http://www.specialtybottle.com/) is another fine
>> >>>>> source for containers. I've been very happy with my orders from
>> >>>>> them. I use their tins for dry herbs and spices and have some
>> >>>>> eye-dropper bottles for citrus oils and the like. They have very
>> >>>>> competitive pricing too (always a bonus).
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I think I would use these: (either the 2 oz or 4 oz with plain lids)
>> >>>> http://www.specialtybottle.com/index...on=Custom&ID=2
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Bob
>> >>>
>> >>> I am wondering if plastic can be used? What are your thoughts?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> The extract will last a lot longer in glass (especially brown glass) and
>> >> you don't have to worry about the alcohol slowly leaching chemicals from
>> >> the plastic.
>> >>
>> >> BTW, I read an article in Cooks magazine a few years ago, and their
>> >> homemade vanilla was more expensive than commercial vanilla and not as
>> >> good -- even though they used good beans. Of course yours will be
>> >> different ;-)
>> >>
>> >> What spirits are you planning to use? (I would use bourbon or rye
>> >> whiskey because they have a spicy aroma already.)
>> >>
>> >> Bob
>> >>
>> >
>> >I always use bourbon when I make my own.
>>
>> You think bourbon is better than vodka to use? Does the taste of
>> borbon stay with it ot does the vanilla take over completely? This is
>> not for drinking at all, just for cooking in the end, plus gifts for
>> the same.
>
>AFAIC, all you need is alcohol (or some liquid, booze seems most common)
>as a carrier for the vanilla essence. I don't know many recipes that
>ask for more than about a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract. I don't
>concern myself with any lingering cheap brandy flavor that might remain
>in my dish after I've baked it. And if it's in an icing, a little
>brandy never hurt anything.
>
>You're making this way too complicated. You fishing?

Fishing for what?