Make your own vanilla extract

Don't ever buy artificial vanilla extract.

I know it's much cheaper, tastes close enough to do the trick, and isn't used very often. But let me tell you why you shouldn't.

It is cheap because the flavor comes from chemicals, not vanilla bean. Chemicals that are manufactured in a laboratory in mass quantities. Most of these flavorings are derived from petroleum. You heard me. Petroleum. Oil. Going into your body. Now it isn't hard to imagine what bad consequences that can have on your body, but let me indulge you nevertheless.

Many of these artificial flavorings and colorings are legal to use in the United States, regardless of the safety of them. Unfortunately, it looks like these big businesses are willing to sacrifice our health for their pocketbook.

Some of the health dangers that have been found in animal studies include: cancer, thyroid problems, allergic reactions, tumors of the brain, thyroid, kidney, and adrenal gland.

Diacetyl is an artificial flavor that was recently banned. It is used to give commercial popcorn it's flavor. Apparently it was found that it was harmful to the nose and airways of mice. For humans, it causes a dangerous lung disease called lymphocytic bronchilitis. Whoa.

If you are interested in some more information on common additives/artifical flavors and colors and their effects, check out this website.



So let me fill you in on a little secret. You can make your own vanilla extract. See the above photo? That is my first batch, started this morning. Here's what you will need:
-vanilla beans
-vodka or other alcohol (brandy works good)
-a jar with a lid

Put 3/4 c alcohol in your jar. Slice your vanilla bean open, but don't cut all the way through. Just enough to open them up. Make sure all that good filling stays on it/in it. Chop them in half if you need to to fit in the jar. Put about 2-4 beans in the jar, depending on how strong you would like it. Put the lid on and store for 2 weeks. Shake occassionally (every few days or so) and there you go! Homemade vanilla extract! It will not be as dark as the store bought stuff, but it will taste much better. Vanilla beans should be replaced every 6 months and as you use your vanilla extract, replace the alcohol as you go and you will have a continuous supply.

In case you are wondering where you can get whole vanilla beans, try checking out your local health food store. We don't get to one very often, as the closest one is 2 hours away from us :( so I actually ordered mine on Ebay. Yes, Ebay! I bought 12 organic vanilla beans for $5.00 total. It came from India! And it was the coolest looking package I've ever gotten in the mail! It was in a cloth package and it smelled INCREDIBLE!

There is no denying the incredible taste difference when real vanilla is used instead of artificial. I couldn't go back once I started using the real stuff.

Good luck and enjoy!