Homemade Vanilla Extract
Remember how a few months ago, Liz began working on creating vanilla extract from scratch? Well, a few days ago the batch she made was ready… and she redistributed all the liquid into smaller, wedding-gift sized containers.
Using the vanilla beans that had been soaking, she cut them in half and inserted them into each little container.
Then, with a small siphon, added some of the vanilla back in. Apparently, she also used a small bit of rum (it’s in the other Pyrex glass, on the right) as a way to add a bit of flavor.
I like how it looks like we’ve got a mini Meth lab at the apartment.
All the bottles, all filled up! Interestingly, they are actually quite a bit lighter than the regular bottles of vanilla extract you find in the store.
Should be interesting to see what the neighbors think, when we start carting out all these large, empty bottles of vodka out to the trash.
Are you going to make labels for those, Liz? I love that idea of making vanilla extract! How’s the rock candy going??
Marty J. (June 3, 2009 at 1:20 am)Definitely!!! This was my inspiration.http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/02/20/diy-project-homemade-vanilla-favors/Felix is designing our wedding invitations, so he’ll also be creating a custom label for me for the vanilla bottles. I intend to accompany them with a recipe card (utilizing vanilla extract), and the gents will be getting something different. :) More to come in the next month or two.The rock candy turned out great! Felix is falling down on the job on that one. heh (I’ll get on him tonight to take the follow-up photos.)They only took 2 days to fully crystallize. But what he had up on the site was a test run. I’ll be making about 15-30 of them for the wedding reception.I can’t wait for my shipment to come in from bakeitpretty.com. So stay tuned, more fun ‘experiments’ will be coming soon!Thanks for your comments. I’m always excited to have people talking to me through Felix’s blog. :)
Liz (June 3, 2009 at 9:51 am)You are amazing, Liz. My coworker and I are reviewing all of your wedding experiments – butterflies, fudge cakes, rock candy, and vanilla extract. I’m dying for the rock candy update and can’t wait to hear which of these make the cut.
Layla (June 3, 2009 at 1:52 pm)I love, love, love those labels!! And of course I leave you comments! Felix is awesome, but truth be told, one of the reasons I started reading this blog is because it seems that our interests always seem to be the same when it comes to cooking/baking. I secretly come back for pictures and posts about fondant, homemade vanilla extract, and macarons! Shhh…don’t tell Felix. Also, make sure he posts pics of your invites! Can’t wait to see more wedding details coming along. : O )
Marty J. (June 4, 2009 at 1:21 am)Linked this to the friday dance as well.
Marty J. (June 5, 2009 at 12:32 pm)