It's time!!

It's almost June, so you know what that means - time to start your homemade vanilla extract for Christmas baking and gifts!

Stop by the liquor store/state store/party store/WalMart (depending on your area of the country) and pick up a bottle of vodka, then head to eBay for some vanilla beans.

You can use a glass jar or the original vodka bottle. If using the original bottle, remove some...make a White Russian or 3...to make room for the beans. Using a sharp knife, split the beans along the length and toss in the jar or bottle. You'll need 3 beans/cup of vodka. Keep it in a cool dark place - mine's in the bottom of my pantry - and give it a shake every so often.

In December, bottle it up, slap some labels on, and Merry Christmas! Makes a great neighbor gift or pair it with kitchen stuff for something more substantial.