"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:11:39 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> > wrote:
>
>>On Jun 25, 6:53 am, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
>>> My sister describes the following procedure for making her own vanilla
>>> extract; I'm curious as to what folks here think and if anyone else has
>>> tried this or similar.
>>>
>>> Ingredients - 750ml bottle of inexpensive brandy, 2 vanilla beans.
>>>
>>> Procedure - split but do not scrape both vanilla beans, place them whole
>>> into the bottle of brandy and just leave them there, waiting at least
>>> one full day before using.
>>>
>>> She says she doesn't remove the vanilla beans until all the liquor is
>>> gone which is usually a matter of at least a few months, and then she
>>> puts them in the freezer for future use. That future includes homemade
>>> ice cream wherein she uses a scissors to cut the vanilla beans into
>>> small pieces, places them in a mini food processor or spice grinder, and
>>> uses that to flavor her ice cream - that's pod, seeds, and all. She
>>> also uses the ground beans in baking.
>>>
>>> She observes that, ounce for ounce, her extract is more vanilla-y than
>>> store bought but that she doesn't change recipes to allow for this since
>>> she and her family like the flavor.
>>>
>>> My own thought is that brandy is too sweet and I'm thinking of trying a
>>> straight bourbon or other whiskey instead of brandy, especially since my
>>> main use will be adding my homemade extract to simple syrup to make
>>> flavored syrups.
>>>
>>> Thanks, folks.
>>>
>>> -S-
>>
>>I use good bourbon. Works for me.
>
>
> I use vodka. Some folks use Everclear.
>
> I have a quart of it in prep right now.

I can't get Everclear here, so vodka it might be How about gin?

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