Homemade Vanilla Extract

Do you see the lovely jars sitting in my cupboard?  Me too!  I love looking at them, admiring them and shaking them.  Yes, shaking.


In 6 months I'm also gonna love opening them up and using what's inside.  Yum!


It's so easy too.


All you need are:

• Vanilla beans (Which I purchased from Ebay.  I was able to get 1lb for $29.99 which is a great price and they sent 1/4 lb free!)
• Cheap vodka
• Jars

1. You will need 3 beans per 1 cup of vodka.
2. Cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise while still leaving it attached at the top.
3. Put them into the jar & add the appropriate amount of vodka.
4. Seal and store in a cool, dry place.
5. Don't forget to shake it once a week.

In 6 months you will have homemade vanilla extract which you can use to your little hearts content.

Just remember your homemade extract will be slightly stronger than what you are used to purchasing at the store so use a little less.

Oh, and if you get this started sooner rather than later you will have a wonderful, homemade Christmas gift to give to the bakers in your life!

Enjoy!

A Day You Will Remember

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles." Proverbs 24:17

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, 

not even an enemy. 
~unknown~


Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: 

only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. 

Martin Luther King Jr.

I listened and watched with mixed emotions as the local news proclaimed Osama Bin Laden was dead.  

I think I mostly sat there feeling slightly shocked.  It's been almost 10 years in the making and

now that it's finally happened it feels unreal.

I can see why people would be celebrating in the streets, but I'll be honest...I felt very mixed emotions.  While I am happy his live influence will never again pollute our life I do know his teachings will live on.

I also felt a sense of sadness.  Sadness over the amount of rejoicing over the death of human beings.  He was an evil human being, but to be joyful over his death?  I can't feel good about that.  

God does not wish that anyone perish, but that all would come to Him.  He gives us each a choice though.  We can choose to follow him (even as we take our last breath) or we can choose to think we have it all figured out and that we'll get to heaven on our own deeds.

The verse, the first quote and the MLK Jr. quote sum up my feelings perfectly.

I just wanted to put that out there.  It's been on my mind all day and I wanted to make sure I would remember what I was thinking this very day.