On Sat, 17 Mar 2018 09:03:28 -0400, Nancy Young >
wrote:

>On 3/17/2018 8:36 AM, Janet wrote:
>
>> Save a small glass bottle with a clean screwtop, wash thoroughly and
>> dry. Slit some quality vanilla pods lengthways with a knife (leave the
>> seeds in, you're just exposing them to leach out their flavour) and post
>> the pods into the bottle. If they are longer than the bottle, cut them
>> to fit and post the trimmed bits in too. Two pods will be fine for a
>> bottle that holds 6 ot 8 ounces. Now fill the bottle to the top with any
>> left-over spirits you have; I favour brandy or sherry or a mix. Cap
>> bottle, shake it well, store it in a cool dark place and shake it once a
>> week or when you remember. After six months it's ready to use (leave the
>> pods in, no need to take them out as you use up the liquid).
>> I should go and start a new batch.
>
>Great idea, but I thought perhaps vanilla beans would have risen in
>price similarly to the extract? I haven't looked for them lately.
>
>nancy

Vanilla beans have similarly risen in price too.
This looks like a good buy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HJHX9ZO...detail_2?psc=1
I have more pure vanilla extract than I will ever use, I bought a pint
bottle of Tones pure vanilla extract several years ago, don't remember
the price, but I only use it for cold items like whipped cream and ice
cream so most of the pint still remains. Cooking/baking with pure
vanilla extract wastes it as the heat deteriorates the flavor. For
baking I use vanilla flavoring, I find no difference and neither does
anyone else.
A food scientist used to post here, I don't remember his name but I
believe he was Indian from India. He explained all about how modern
chemistry has made vanilla flavoring so that no one can tell it from
real vanilla.
Seems Tones no longer lists the pint size at their web site... just
now was the first time I visited their web site, I'll spend more time
there later: http://www.tones.com/product/premium...anilla-extract
Here's a pic of my Pint/16 oz bottle:
https://postimg.org/image/89n3z1lor/
I had to uncap and take a whiff, now I have vanilla fingers.