Twelve Days of Cookies: Scotcheroos

IMG_20141206_195412307 - CopyThis recipe I received from an elderly lady at Church when I was in High School. It is the absolute best Scotcheroo Recipe I have found to date. This recipe has a fantastic blend of peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch. These are best within the first week after you make them, although in our house they never last more than a few days!


Scotcheroos1 Cup Corn Syrup1 Cup Sugar1 Cup Peanut Butter6 Cups Rice Krispies6oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips6oz Butterscotch Chips Bring the corn syrup and the sugar to a boil.IMG_20141206_134135892 - CopyWhen the sugar has dissolved mix in the peanut butter until smooth.IMG_20141206_134329579 - CopyPour over the rice krispies in a large bowl. Mix.IMG_20141206_134543639 - CopyPress into a greased 13x9 pan.IMG_20141206_135113741 - CopyIn a double boiler melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Spread over the top of the rice krispies.IMG_20141206_140709308 - CopyChill until firm.

Twelve Days of Cookies: Spicy Pretzels

IMG_20141206_142855225 - CopyThis is one of Hubby’s favorite treats! He loves it so much I had to ask his Mother to give me the recipe. She makes it for special occasions and I figured it would be a unique addition to my Christmas cookie platters. This recipe tends to be on the spicy side so beware! You may need to adjust the seasoning amounts to suit your families' tastes.


Spicy Pretzels½ Pound Pretzels¼ Cup Vegetable Oil1 (1oz) Packet of Ranch Dressing Mix1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper Put the pretzels in a 13x9 pan.Mix together the oil, dressing, garlic salt and pepper.Pour over the pretzels and toss thoroughly.Bake at 200 for 1.5-2 hours stirring every 30 minutes.

Twelve Days of Cookies: Chocolate Fudge

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This fudge recipe was one of the first recipes that I tried adapting. I wasn’t content with the flavor of the fudge recipe I had found so I decided to attempt to make it more what I liked. This recipe always turns out beautifully! It has a delicious complex chocolaty flavor that comes from using both milk and semi-sweet chips.


Chocolate Fudge7oz Milk Chocolate Chips11oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips14oz Can Sweetened Condensed Milk1tsp Vanilla ExtractIMG_20141206_130943827 - CopyLine a pan with foil and butter. I used a silicone baking pan and this made for far easier removal than plain foil.IMG_20141206_132125875 - CopyIn a double boiler heat the milk and chocolate chips.IMG_20141206_131606997 - CopyAs soon as the chocolate is melted remove from the heat and add the vanilla.IMG_20141206_132301492 - Copy IMG_20141206_132332869 - CopyPour into a pan and refrigerate until firm. Cut into bite sized pieces before serving.IMG_20141206_144514546 - Copy IMG_20141206_144544468 - Copy

Twelve Days of Cookies: Brown Butter Madeleines

IMG_20141206_144340985 - CopyChristmas cookie baking is my favorite baking of the year. It is the only time you can bake so many different flavors and types of cookies. I have been collecting my Christmas cookie recipes since 2008. Each year I make notes on what worked and didn’t work for the next year. Because I keep making these year after year I have adapted these recipes to suit our tastes.Every year I try to include one or two new cookie recipes. This year while looking through my December issue of The Food Network Magazine I found this unique recipe. I have at a Madeleine pan for several years but I’ve never found a recipe that I wanted to try. This recipe seemed like just the thing to christen my pan with!


Brown Butter Madeleines1 ½ Sticks Butter (12 Tablespoons)1 Cup Flour2/3 Cup Sugar1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest½ Teaspoon ground NutmegPinch of Salt2 EggsPowdered Sugar for dustingIMG_20141206_140820433 - CopyPreheat the oven to 350 and grease the Madeleine pan.Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Swirl the skillet occasionally until brown flecks appear and the butter takes on a nutty smell. This will take 3-5 minutes. Set aside to cool.IMG_20141206_140146084 - CopyCombine the flour, sugar, lemon zest, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl.IMG_20141206_140241296 - Copy IMG_20141206_140342892 - CopyWhisk in the eggs to moisten. They will not fully blend with the flour.IMG_20141206_142021064 - CopyWhisk in the cooled butter, continue whisking until the batter is smooth and shiny.IMG_20141206_142024785 - CopyPlace 1 Tablespoon of batter into each of the cups of the prepared pan.Bake for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.IMG_20141206_144314122 - CopyImmediately remove the cookies from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool. Wash under cold water to remove the oil and repeat with the rest of the batter.
Source: Food Network Magazine: December 2014

Homemade Taco Seasoning

IMG_20141124_174922164 - CopyI’ve been on a mission to make my own seasonings. First it saves a lot of money. Second you know what goes into each of your seasonings! There are no carcinogens, extraneous preservatives or odd ingredients.We eat Tacos every few weeks at my house, so this seasoning is really useful. I actually ran out of this a couple of months ago and bought a packet of seasoning at the store. Hubby and I both agreed that the flavor wasn’t half as good as the homemade stuff and it made both of our tummies slightly queasy from something they added.This is super easy to make and once you mix it up it should last you several months. We store it in an airtight container in the freezer. This seems to keep everything fresh longer.  I find this to be a very spicy seasoning, you may want to start with slightly less per pound of meat and season it to your families liking.

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Homemade Taco Seasoning1 Part Chili Powder1 Part Ground Cumin1 Part Garlic Powder1 Part Onion Powder½ Part Crushed Red Pepper½ Part White PepperPinch of Celtic Sea SaltMix everything in an airtight container. Store in the freezer. Use approximately 1 Tablespoon per pound of meat or cup of TVP.

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Canned Applesauce

IMG_20141124_170829743 - CopyWhen we received apples from Hubby’s coworker I used some of them to make Apple Pies, but I still had a bunch left over and decided to go ahead and make applesauce. I don’t like to add sugar to my applesauce since I tend to use it for Dog cookies and making granola and I don’t really want added sugar in either of these.  This batch of applesauce turned out beautifully. It was slightly pink since I boiled the apples with their skins on.IMG_20141124_134701554 - CopyApplesauce:12 Pounds Apples (quartered)4 Tablespoons Lemon Juice3 Cups Sugar (optional)4 Tablespoons Cinnamon (optional)Prepare the canner, jars and lids.IMG_20141124_134730580 - Copy IMG_20141124_135157909 - Copy IMG_20141124_135953271_HDR - CopyIn a large saucepan combine  the apples and just enough water to keep it from sticking to the bottom.IMG_20141124_140010813 - CopyCover your saucepan and boil the apple until they are tender. Approximately 15-20 minutes.IMG_20141124_141752260 - CopyRemove from heat and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.IMG_20141124_140445874 - Copy IMG_20141124_142438845 - CopyWorking in batches process through your Victorio Food Strainer.(This is not a necessary part, but I have done this both ways and I strongly recommend investing in the Victorio 250. It will make your life SO much easier when you go to can things. If you don’t use this you should peel and core your apples prior to boiling them.)IMG_20141124_143441809 - CopyReturn the applesauce to the pan. Add the sugar if you are using it, lemon juice and cinnamon.IMG_20141124_143910016 - CopyIMG_20141124_143921488 - CopyLadle the hot sauce into jars leaving a ½ inch headspace.IMG_20141124_170738645 - Copy IMG_20141124_170745087 - CopyProcess the jars for 20 minutes in a water bath canner.IMG_20141124_170902563 - Copy

Canned Tomato Sauce

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Our tomato bushes were producing well into the cold weather this year. Since we moved at the end of May we weren’t able to start our garden until the first full week of June. This meant that when the weather started to turn cold our tomato plants were still full of green tomatoes. I brought all of the green tomatoes inside and ripened them. The process took about a month, but then I was faced with the problem of having a glut of tomatoes all at once!I decided to canning tomato sauce was a good way to use all of the tomatoes in one fell swoop. I was able to can six pints of tomato sauce.Tomato SauceTomatoesCitric Acid, Salt, Italian Seasoning HerbsPrepare the canner, jars and lids.IMG_20141122_144210102 - CopyWash all the tomatoes removing stems and any discolored areas.IMG_20141122_144853027 - Copy IMG_20141122_144859903 - CopyQuarter the tomatoes and put into a stock pot. Boil the tomatoes while mashing with a potato masher.IMG_20141122_150659616 - Copy IMG_20141122_150821190 - CopyWhile you are waiting for the tomatoes to boil set up your Victorio Food Strainer.IMG_20141122_151552626 - Copy(This is not a necessary part, but I have done this both ways and I strongly recommend investing in the Victorio 250. It will make your life SO much easier when you go to can things.)IMG_20141122_151908162 - Copy IMG_20141122_152053258_HDR - CopyProcess all your tomatoes through the Victorio in batches. You may want to process the pulpy remains through a few additional times. I find I typically get additional pulp each time I process it through. Discard all skins and seeds.IMG_20141122_152941040 - CopyReturn the mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil until mixture is reduced by one third for a thin sauce and one half for a thick sauce.IMG_20141122_154700429 - CopyIMG_20141122_163201835 - Copy IMG_20141122_163155466 - CopyBefore you fill each of the jars add salt, citric acid and herbs. ( Per Pint: ¼ Teaspoon Citric Acid, ½ Teaspoon Salt, ½ Teaspoon Herbs)IMG_20141122_163228112 - Copy IMG_20141122_163239624 - CopyFill jars, leaving a ½ Inch headspace. Remove bubbles, wipe rim and add lid.IMG_20141122_164059306 - Copy IMG_20141123_123026668 - CopyPlace the jars in a water bath canner and process for 35 minutes for Pint Jars.IMG_20141123_123206926_HDR - Copy IMG_20141124_171025729 - Copy

How to: Water Bath Canning

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Last year I decided to try canning for the first time. The experience was absolutely exhilarating! There is just something so exciting about taking extra fruit and vegetables fresh from the garden and putting them up for winter.You need to be very careful when you are canning. If you improperly can something the food can develop Botulism which can make your family very sick. The National Center for Food Preservation has some very good tips and recipes for properly canning food.When you are canning food you need to follow the recipe to the letter to avoid spoilage when it sits on the shelf. I have found the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving to be an excellent resource for how to properly can various foods.I have only tried the Water Bath Canning method. But I have found it to preserve food excellently. So far I’ve made: Applesauce, Tomato Sauce, Pickles and low sugar Grape Jelly.  Later this week I am going to post directions for canning no-sugar Applesauce and Tomato Sauce. Here are basic directions for water bath canning.You will need:Water Bath CannerEmpty Canning Jars and bandsFresh LidsCanning ToolsSomething to Can!You are able to reuse the glass jars and bands. But each time you can something you need to use a fresh lid. The assures that the jar properly seals after you process it.IMG_20141122_154139620 - CopyIMG_20141124_134655312 - CopyYou first need to sterilize your jars, lids and bands. Prepare your water bath canner by placing the open jars on the metal removal tray and filling with water. Since there is so much water in the pot you will want to start this when you begin making whatever you are going to can.IMG_20141122_160220500 - CopyYou then want to put all of your lids and bands in another pot with water and boil them.You typically pack each of the jars while the food is hot. So once your food is ready to can and the jars, bands and lids are boiling you can begin.IMG_20141122_163135940 - CopyRemove a jar from the water and place on the counter. I put a hot pad beneath to help with heat dispersal and if I need to touch it.IMG_20141122_163155466 - CopyIMG_20141124_143910016 - CopyFill your jar, I find it is best to use a funnel to fill my jars. It is not necessary but it certainly makes the job easier.IMG_20141122_163239624 - CopyCheck your headspace and make sure it matches what is specified in your recipe. Too little headspace can make the jar overflow when you process it and too little can cause spoilage.IMG_20141122_163058442 - CopyWipe the rim of the jar once you have finished filling it. This assures you get a good seal.IMG_20141122_163107290 - Copy IMG_20141122_163103933 - CopyPut a lid and band onto the jar and tighten until it is fingertip tight.IMG_20141122_164059306 - CopyPut the jar back into the water bath canner. Process the cans for the time specified in your recipe.IMG_20141123_123026668 - CopyWhen the time is up remove the water bath canner from heat and wait for 5 minutes. Remove the jars and set them on a towel.At this point they should begin to seal. You will hear a popping sound as they seal. Leave them overnight on the counter. Test the seal by pushing in the center of the lid. If it does not give the jar has sealed. Any jars that haven’t sealed after 24 hours should be put in the refrigerator and used in the next few weeks.Make sure the bands are tight on the jars and store in a cool dark place.Happy Canning!

German Apple Pie

IMG_20141115_210945053 - CopyEarlier this fall we received a bunch of apples from Hubby’s coworker. They were apples grown at his grandmother’s house, they had too many so Hubby’s coworker offered them to us. He knows I like to bake and thought I might be able to use fresh apples.I decided to make an Apple Pie as a thank you for the copious amount of apples. After searching for the right recipe I found one for a German Apple Pie. This one has been getting rave reviews from everyone who tries it. The pie crust is unique in that it’s made with vanilla extract to give it a little extra flavor.You will want to bake this on top of a cookie sheet. The pie tends to bubble over and if you don’t have a baking sheet underneath you’re going to have to clean your oven!


German Apple PiePie Crust:1 ½ Cup Flour½ Teaspoon Salt½ Cup Shortening1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract2 to 3 Tablespoons Cold WaterFilling:1 Cup Sugar¼ Cup Flour2 Teaspoons Cinnamon6 Cups Sliced Apples1 Cup Heavy Cream or MilkPreheat the oven to 450.In a small bowl mix the flour and salt, cut in the shortening until crumbly. Add vanilla, then gradually add the water until dough forms a ball. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Roll out the pastry to fit a 9-inch pie crust. Trim edges then flute the edges.For the filling: combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Sprinkle approximately 3 Tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Spread half of the apples into the pan, then cover with half the sugar mixture. Spread the rest of the apples on top and cover with the remaining sugar mixture.Pour the heavy cream over the top.Bake at 450 for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 and bake for 55-60 minutes.Store in the refrigerator. It is best served with whipped cream or ice cream.
Source: Adapted from The Taste of Home Cookbook
 

Pumpkin, Bacon, Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

IMG_20141124_104934712 - CopyWhen we first got Pond I decided I wanted to try making homemade doggy treats for her. I had been looking on the back of the treats we were purchasing her and I couldn’t pronounce half the ingredients. I happened on this awesome site with a bunch of great recipes! So far I’ve made two of the recipes, the pumpkin/peanut butter cookies and the carrot/applesauce cookies. Pond enjoyed both kinds but she REALLY loved the pumpkin and peanut butter ones.I decided to play around with the recipe a little bit in order to get something tailored to Pond’s tastes. She adores these cookies! We are planning to take them to the Thanksgiving family gathering to share with her “pack” (there are three dogs in the extended family that “Pond” wants to share these with).Because the ingredients are all natural you don’t have to worry as much that your dog will overeat these treats. They are healthy for the dog. I’ve tried them too. They are pretty plain but have a pretty good flavor if you aren’t expecting a sugary snack.


Pond's Cookies Recipe:1 Cup Pumpkin Puree2 Eggs2 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil3 Tablespoon of All Natural Peanut Butter1 Teaspoon Bacon Grease½ Teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)½ Teaspoon Salt (optional)½  Cup Oats3 Cups Whole Wheat Flour1 Tablespoon Oat BranDIRECTIONS:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Stir first three ingredients together in a bowl.IMG_20141123_151326194 - CopySlowly add the remaining ingredients.IMG_20141123_151809681 - Copy IMG_20141123_152118752 - CopyIMG_20141123_152535745 - CopyI don’t have a cute bone cookie cutter so I simply rolled the dough out on my counter to the approximate size of my  baking sheet. I then transferred the dough to the greased baking sheet and filled in the cracks. I cut the dough into cookie sized chunks before putting in the oven.IMG_20141123_153036517 - Copy IMG_20141123_153246163 - CopyBake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.These cookies will harden as they cool. Make sure that you start breaking them apart before they are completely cool. As they bake they will puff up and fuse to the cookie next to them so you need to make sure to start breaking them apart while they are still warm.IMG_20141124_104923999 - Copy IMG_20141124_104908188 - CopyStore in an airtight container in the fridge. They should last about a week and a half this way. The salt in the recipe will help them last slightly longer than cookies without it.
Source:Adapted from: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/homemade-dog-treats/
Make sure you only use cinnamon for the cookies. Don't use any sort of pumpkin spice blend. Nutmeg is poisonous to dogs. 

Pumpkin Bread

IMG_20141121_190038018 - CopyThis recipe is one that my Mother has been making for a long time. I’m not sure we even know where it came from anymore we’ve been making it for so long. It is one of my absolute favorite recipes to make with fresh pumpkin puree.I’ve altered my Mom’s original recipe slightly to suit my own tastes. I think it has more of a complex flavor with the addition of the vanilla extract. This time around I made a mixture of plain and chocolate chip muffins and small loaves of bread.Pumpkin Bread Recipe:2 1/2 Cups Sugar1 Cup Oil4 Eggs2 Cups Pumpkin Puree or a 15 oz canBeat first 3 ingredients together then add the pumpkin.IMG_20141120_132928618 - Copy3 1/3 Cup Flour1 tsp Baking Powder2 tsp Baking Soda1/2 tsp Ground Cloves, 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1 tsp Nutmegor1 TBS Pumpkin Pie Spice1 tsp Vanilla Extract2/3 Cup Water Optional:Chocolate ChipsChopped NutsAdd dry ingredients and mix well.IMG_20141120_133224613 IMG_20141120_133405304 Add water and mix again thoroughly. DO NOT FORGET THE WATER!!!!IMG_20141120_133542768 - CopyAdd choc chips or berries.IMG_20141120_134104458 - Copy IMG_20141120_134614286 - Copy Then place in greased pans filling the pans 3/4 of the way full.IMG_20141120_133945122 IMG_20141120_134909079 - Copy Bake on 350 for 1 hour for regular sized loaf pans or 20-25 minutes for muffins/mini loaf pans. Use a toothpick to test doneness.IMG_20141120_142234508 - Copy IMG_20141121_190026815 - Copy This will make 2 large loaves or 2.5 dozen regular sized muffins.

How to Puree a Pumpkin

IMG_20141115_194019185_HDR - CopyWith the holidays right around the corner I’m sure you’re starting to plan your holiday baking. I know I am! One thing I’m sure you’re thinking about with Thanksgiving this week is the traditional pumpkin desserts. Now, these are great with the normal canned pumpkin, but have you ever considered taking them to the next level by pureeing your own pumpkin? My Dad has been doing this for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid I remember helping out in the kitchen a few days before Thanksgiving while he prepped everything. It was always so exciting as a kid to have him cook the pumpkin because it meant the holidays and family gatherings were right around the corner!This year I picked up a GIANT pumpkin for $2.99 at Aldi back a few weeks before Halloween. I used it to decorate our porch for several weeks before I brought it inside to cook. So not only are you saving money by making your own pumpkin puree you can also use it as decoration for several weeks. Make sure you cook it before it starts to mold, although you can cut off portions with mold on them as long as it’s not invasive.To get started you want to bring a pot of water to boil on the stove. Do not salt the water, this will give the pumpkin a salty taste that you don’t want.IMG_20141115_194159458 - CopyScrape all the seeds from the inside of the pumpkin. I find it easiest to cut the pumpkin into quarters and scrape from there.IMG_20141115_194347818 - Copy IMG_20141115_194421077 - CopyThen you want to cut your pumpkin into 6in (ish) chunks.IMG_20141115_195902362_HDR - Copy IMG_20141115_195838445 - CopyBoil the chunks in the water until they are soft. This will take approximately 20-25 minutes per batch.IMG_20141115_201150188 - CopyOnce they have been boiled you want to cool them so that you can touch them. I leave them on a baking sheet until they are cool enough to handle.IMG_20141115_202941277_HDR - CopyYou then want to cut the rind off. If you’ve cooked the pumpkin long enough the rind will pretty much come right off. I use a butter knife so there is less of a chance I’ll hurt myself.IMG_20141115_203231636 - CopyOnce the rind is off, put the pumpkin in a food processor using the puree attachment. Puree until there are no chunks left.IMG_20141115_203246307 - Copy IMG_20141115_203305639 - CopyStore the puree in the freezer until ready to use. Because there are no additives the puree will only last a few days in the fridge before it molds. I like to store the puree in 1 Cup baggies so I can easily defrost as much as I need for a recipe.IMG_20141115_203906217 - CopyUse this pumpkin as you would the canned stuff in a recipe. The pumpkin has more water content than the canned stuff so make sure you take this into account when using it. You may have to add additional flour to a recipe to make it the right consistency.

French Silk Pie

I just LOVE French Silk Pie. It is one of my favorite pies, second only to my Dad’s pumpkin pie. I have tried many different recipes over the years but I’ve never quite been happy with how they turned out. They were either not creamy enough or too grainy. However, for my recent birthday my brother in law gave me the new Food Network “Sweets” book.  I have to say this book had some great recipes in it!One of the recipes was a Chocolate Pie/French Silk pie, so I decided to try it out. I adapted it slightly to suit my tastes and I’ve already made it twice since I then. I’ve never been one to enjoy a traditional pie crust so I made these with a graham cracker crust. The pie filling is a wonderfully creamy custard with a perfect balance of flavors. I’ve topped the pie with both marshmallow fluff and whipped cream and both of them have been amazing. You can really put whatever you like on top I’m sure most flavors will compliment it nicely.IMG_20141115_210925495_HDR - Copy

French Silk Pie Recipe:


For the Crust:30 Wafer Cookies3 Tbsp Sugar6 Tbsp Melted ButterYou can also use a premade graham cracker crust. If you choose to go with a traditional pie crust you will need to blind bake it before you add the filling.To make the crust grind the cookies and sugar in a food processor, add the melted butter and pulse until moist. Press into a 9inch pie plate and bake for 18-22 minutes. Cool before filling.
For the Filling:2 Cups Milk or Cream½ Cup Sugar¼ Cup Cornstarch½ tsp Salt4 Egg Yolks2 Tbsp Water¼ tsp Vanilla Extract4oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chopped/Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Heat the milk in a large saucepan until hot but not boiling. Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl then add the egg yolk, water and vanilla. Whisk half of the hot milk into the mixture until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens. This will take approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat once it thickens and stir in the chocolate.{The recipe calls for chopped chocolate. I never seem to have the baker’s bars on hand so I typically just use chocolate chips. I know some bakers’ say not to do this because of the differences in the amount of cocoa butter in the chocolate chips and the baker’s bars. I’ve never had any trouble substituting the chocolate chips though.  If you happen to have a baker’s bar on hand I would suggest you use it. You will have a richer finished product. But don’t worry if you only have chocolate chips on hand, those will work great in this recipe!}Transfer the mixture into another bowl and let it cool, whisking it every so often to prevent a skin from forming.Pour into the pie crust and press plastic wrap onto the top and let it cool in the refrigerator. I found it was best to leave it overnight in the fridge. The original recipe calls for at least 4 hours. When you are ready to serve, top with your favorite topping. Marshmallow fluff or whipped cream both taste great! Another yummy idea would be a caramel sauce layer under whipped cream.Because you put plastic wrap on the top you won’t have a very pretty top. However, the plastic wrap will keep a skin from forming on the pie. You probably want to cover the whole top so you can get a gorgeous dessert in addition to a yummy one.
Source:Adapted from: "Sweet: Our Best Cupcakes, Cookies, Candy, and More - Editors of Food Network Magazine"
 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

IMG_20141111_175155256 - CopyHomemade Vanilla Extract is something I had seen all over the internet several years ago. I started making it myself and have never looked back.  In fact, I love it so much that last year I gave bottles to my entire extended family for Christmas. It is super easy to make and only requires that you have the time to let it sit.All you need are Vanilla Beans and Vodka. Use the least expensive you can find since it doesn’t make a difference tastewise. You can make the extract Gluten Free if you use a GF brand of Vodka. You need to let the extract sit for two months, so take that into consideration if you choose to make it as a gift.I purchase Vanilla Beans in bulk via Amazon. This is less expensive than getting them at the grocery store. They seem to store well in an airtight ziplock. I’ve never had a problem with them going bad and then I have them on hand for any other recipe that calls for them.Be sure to put the date you made the extract on the container somewhere so in case you’re like me and tend to forget you can know when the extract has sat for two months. Once it is ready, use the extract the same as its store bought counterpart.

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 Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe:2-3 Vanilla Beans8oz VodkaCut the Vanilla Beans lengthwise leaving a small portion of the top connected. Stick 2 or 3 of them in a container and add 8oz of Vodka. Let the bottles sit in a cool dark place for about eight weeks. Shake occasionally to mix.