Homemade Vanilla Extract

Today I made vanilla extract for the first time.

It is so easy and inexpensive! 

The difficult part will be waiting the 3+ months before it is ready to be used.

I followed this recipe.

I was appalled at the cost of vanilla beans at the grocery store.

They wanted $10 for ONE bean.

So I got online and found the So Vanilla shop Etsy and I got 5 organically

 grown beads for $7.50 (+ free shipping).

 I bought this really pretty bottle at Goodwill last week for $1.
It looks tiny in the picture, but it actually quite large.

I bought a very inexpensive bottle of vodka (only about $7).

I also made sure that I bought vodka in a glass bottle

 so that I could reuse the bottle to hold a homemade liqueur or extract. 

  I followed the recipe, which couldn't have been easier.