Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, Bourbon Extract

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients in a jar with tight fitting lid.
2. Cover jar and let stand 4 weeks.
3. Mixture will turn amber colored in a day or two.
4. Shake every couple days and store out of direct light and heat.
5. When bottle is 1/4 full add three to four more beans and more alcohol. Let stand for another week before using. Seeds may float in the syrupy liquid but unless you are giving the finished product as a gift, don't remove them-they only add to the flavor. Use one-forth to one-third the amount called for in most recipes as this has a very strong vanilla flavor. The vanilla beans are good as long as they have a vanilla scent. When they have lost their scent, discard and replace with fresh beans. The beans can be removed from the alcohol and scraped or chopped and use them in recipes in place of the extract if you want a strong vanilla flavor.