If you love to bake like I do, this is a super-easy little project to make some vanilla extract.  It’s also much less expensive than store-bought!

• 3-4 whole vanilla beans (preferably organic)
• 1 cup vodka, brandy or bourbon

Split the vanilla beans lengthwise with a small  knife, leaving the seeds inside intact. Place them in a jar, cover with alcohol, and cap tightly. Store in a cool, dark place and agitate the mixture by shaking the jar daily for 4-6 weeks. You can infuse the vanilla beans for as long as you would like, and add new beans to make a stronger extract.  Once the flavor of the extract has reached the desired strength, strain the vanilla beans out and bottle the resulting extract. Vanilla extract will last indefinitely, and will become even more aromatic and flavorful as it ages!