I
have recently started making my own vanilla extract for a multitiude
of reasons: its easy, its economical and I can control the
ingredients. Check your bottles; there is actually added sugar in
there. Vanilla beans can be expensive so the best option I have found
are these ones from amazon: Premium Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla Beans - 1/2 lb. - Approx. 54 beans.
I have more beans than I know what to do with so I have been trying to
do some research and experimenting with ways to stretch these beauties
to get the most for my money. Out of the same beans/pods I can do the
following four things:
1. Vanilla extract-cut the beans down the middle and soak 3 beans per 8oz. of vodka
for
approx. 2 months. You can always continue to add more vodka every
time you use half the bottle to have a never ending supply.
2. Grind the beans up and add them to a vanilla sugar/salt scrub.
3. Let the beans dry out and add them to your sugar for vanilla scented sugar.
4. Once the beans have lost most of their fragrance you can grind them
up and add them to your coffee grounds when making coffee. The flavor
is subtle and smooth and always yummy.
5. Take that same dried bean pod and grind it up to use in your own
melt and pour soap recipes. It will add a slight vanilla aroma but
also some "grit" for extra scrubbing.
I'm sure there are many other uses for these crazy pods. I would love
to hear yours. I keep thinking there may be a new cleaning product in
my future for these things. Carpet deodorizer with baking soda??? I'm
working on it. Please share your creations. I still have a ton of
these beans!
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thank you so much for sharing this information...at 10 dollars a bean all of this is GREAT to know! thanks tons...sending hugs...
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