I received a fun present from a specialty kitchen store last year called “Perpetual Vanilla.” It is an endless bottle of fantastic vanilla extract. When you use a tablespoon or so in a recipe, simply pour alcohol back into the bottle to refill it and the vanilla beans in the bottle transform it into vanilla extract.
I decided to make a dozen bottles as presents for the coming holidays and wanted to share it with you. It did take me awhile to track down the correct bottles and the vanilla, so I included links below to make it easier for you. All in all, it cost around $60 to make 12 gifts.
Supplies:
1 dozen – 5 oz Bottles with screw lids
1/2 lb – Tahitian Vanilla Beans
1 liter – Vodka or Light Rum (no need to buy the good stuff for this)
Recipe:
In each bottle, place 3 or 4 vanilla beans that have been cut lengthwise to expose the seeds inside. Fill each bottle with vodka or rum. Let the bottles stand for 5 weeks while the flavor from the vanilla beans steeps into the vodka.
Here’s what I think I will put on my gift tags:
I hope you enjoy this homemade vanilla extract. Each time you use some, replenish the bottle with more vodka (or rum) making sure to always keep the beans covered. Enjoy!
Posted by A Days Outing on 2010-10-31 15:21:50
Tagged: , a days outing recipe , endless vanilla recipe , homemade christmas gifts , homemade vanilla recipe
