Me and My Booze

I'm not quite "Little House on the Prairie".  I do like to do my own things.  You know I make my own bread (most of the time).  Do all my own baking (most of the time).  My evening hobby before kids was embroidery and cross stitch.  And someday I would love to get into hand-quilting and sewing a few clothes here and there. 

I have heard of people making their own extracts and flavored oils.  Well, I'm not much into oils - I hardly use any if I can help it.  But the extracts are right up my alley with the baking that I do.  Josh's cousin-in-law Jenny first introduced to me the idea of making my own vanilla extract.  Then, between her and a mutual friend Martha, I became convinced of not only the economical benefits of DIY extract, but the fun it could be.

To get started, we needed 'nilla beans.  Jenny arranged the ordering and doling out of the beans between the ladies and I.  (Thanks again Jenny.)  THEN I needed Vodka....

If you know me...I mean really, REALLY know me... you know that not only do I not drink but I have never tasted a drop of alcohol in my life.  So going down the liquor aisle of the grocery store was something very new to me.  I wasn't embarrassed, wasn't nervous... in fact, I was perfectly at ease.  Except for the deep sense of confusion I felt. 

So I'm standing there, wishing I had the ladies' phone numbers handy so I could call them and ask them what brand of Vodka they used.  Alas, I didn't have my phone with me.  After comparing prices and brand descriptions the best I could for five minutes and explaining to Sarah Rose for a dozen and a half times why we couldn't put the pop called "Bud Light" in the cart, I finally decided on what I hoped was the right one.

So we check out...come home...eat supper...yada yada yada...kids are in bed and Josh is working late in the fields.  Perfect time to break out the booze!




The supplies: glass jars with tight fitting lids, the Vodka, 'nilla beans and a measuring cup.




I ended up with two pretty jars of what will be vanilla extract in about three months!
I'm looking forward to making ice cream this summer with fresh vanilla beans, too!  I've already made vanilla sugar.  Who knew vanilla beans could be so much fun?!?!