70 Centiliter Wonder of Vanilla

You can't buy vanilla extract in Denmark. Well, you can, but it is HILARIOUSLY expensive. Not just expensive, but tummy-turning, pocket-wrenching expensive. Browsing through Santos' archives (I've got some catching up to do, with blogs being off-limit for the most of December and January - exam, remember?) I found this - and thought it would be appropriate to share with all of you sad souls out there, that, like me, can't lay your hands on anything like those gigantic, everlasting bottles, SIGH! - how EASY, BREEZY it is to do your own extract. I got the - well, it's not exactly a recipe, more like a guideline - from the lovely chicks at Nigella's Kitchen.

Take 5-6 vanilla pods and a bottle of good-quality vodka, rum or cognac. Slit the pods open, and place in the bottle of alcohol. Shake. Leave for a couple of weeks, somewhere dark, shaking every time you remember it's there. Then - use at you would your ordinary extract. You can refill the bottle when you think it's running a little low, and add extra pods everytime you have one at hand, like after making ice cream and other vanilla-seed containing delicacies. Is that easy or what?

And knowing you have as much heady-scented vanilla extract around as you could possibly want is just - bliss! Not having to count every drop and wonder when the next time will be you go abroad so yo can stock up is no longer an issue - it's just there, and in copious amounts too. What, you're still there? Go make your vanilla extract! Enjoy!