Homemade Vanilla Extract

[randycoxclemson]

I use about 10 beans for a mason jar of vodka. Then, after several weeks, I keep the beans and add about six more (cutting the old ones in half to distinguish them). I do this another time so that I end up with 1/4 length, 1/2 length, and full length beans in the mixture. I ended up with a bit over 2 liters from about 40 beans and it tastes great. I keep it in a huge vodka bottle (a handle) plus extra in a big jar. As we need more in the kitchen, I just fill up the 8 ounce amber bottle again. Like soap, it's another commodity we don't buy anymore.

For the record, no sugar, just 100 proof vodka.

Since I make so many tinctures, I just think of this as Tincture of Vanilla.