Vanilla Extract - from Shayla

[andiesenji]

If anyone is interested, the following is a site with a  pdf  document that explains the  technical aspects of vanilla extraction:
http://www.biocatalysts.com/pdf/technical_bulletins/TB110_Vanilla.pdf

There are also notes about using different types of liquor here: http://www.vanillarocks.com/extract.html


Here is something I found interesting.
The following is from one of my great-grandmother's receipt journals. Some interpretation was required because the handwriting is very small, written with a very fine steel pen and faded in spots.

For "Flavouring of Vanilla recommended by Lady Bateman" grate about 2 dwt (pennyweight) of sugar into a stone mortar and work with a "broken" finger of vanilla until it appears oily.
Pull the cork on a crock of sweet Rhinewine and set into a pan of crack'd ice, well salted, for half an hour then decant the liquid into a jug and add half a gill to the mortar. Muddle the mixture until it is a slurry and pour into a jelly glass and cover with a square of moistened parchment and tie it on well. Set the glass in a warm, dark cupboard until nearly the color of black treacle. Draw off the liquid with a pipe and add more of the icewein (her spelling) to the slurry.

My great-grandmother wrote this in 1877 while she was staying at a hotel in Paris during one of her trips to "the continent."


For my vanilla extract I use Everclear, which is  95% alcohol (190 proof)  and after a couple of weeks add a small amount of distilled water to bring the proof down to about 100. 
The extraction of flavor is more rapid with the high percentage alcohol but there are some components that are helped along, after the initial soaking, by the water. 
After a few months I will add a flavor component liquor, either brandy or bourbon, sometimes rum, in the jars (I use canning jars with glass lids, rubber seals and the wire snap locks) and after a couple of weeks  sample the flavor.

The best way to "test" or sample the extract is by adding 1/4 teaspoon to a teaspoon full of simple syrup and then mixing this into a little milk - perhaps a couple of tablespoons. 
If the flavor is strong, you can begin using it in cooking and baking.  If just so-so, add a couple more vanilla beans and keep it going.

[Nay-nay]

Wow - what an asset! Sounds like there has been a long line of colourful women in your family - thanks for sharing.

[Thermomixer]

Thanks for all the info - it used to be extremely hard to get 95% alcohol here - but I have seen it in Polish Pure Spirit ?  But not cheap and not very readily available.

Think your g-gmother's spelling of icewein is possibly how it was written in Paris.  I have certainly seen that spelling commonly.  Like the old salt on ice to chill the wine and the word gill - which some will remember is a unit of volume ( 4 gills= 1 pint!!!)

Wish my great-grandmother had an interest in food.  That is really interesting - the sort of thing that my great-grandchildren may find on CDs/DVDs and scraps of paper in 120 years.  Although it may all end up in a big skip !!!

[andiesenji]

Thanks for all the info - it used to be extremely hard to get 95% alcohol here - but I have seen it in Polish Pure Spirit ?  But not cheap and not very readily available.

Think your g-gmother's spelling of icewein is possibly how it was written in Paris.  I have certainly seen that spelling commonly.  Like the old salt on ice to chill the wine and the word gill - which some will remember is a unit of volume ( 4 gills= 1 pint!!!)

Wish my great-grandmother had an interest in food.  That is really interesting - the sort of thing that my great-grandchildren may find on CDs/DVDs and scraps of paper in 120 years.  Although it may all end up in a big skip !!!

My cousins have always consider me a bit of a nut - some years after the death of my g-gmama a few pieces of her jewelry were discovered and there was a lot of arguing because some of my cousins felt their wives should get it but most had been earmarked for me because I was the only female great grandchild.  I offered to trade it for her journals but my aunts wouldn't agree to that. 
Eventually I did get some of the journals and gave most of the jewelry to the female children of my cousins. 

[Thermomixer]

I am the eldest grandson and lots were supposed to come to me, doesn't really matter. 

[CreamPuff63]

When it comes to inheritence, I was once told "don't expect anything, and you won't be disappointed".

[Thermomixer]

LOL - I don't have children (but do have stepchildren now).  I should remember that line.  My mother said that my sister and brothers wanted to know what I was going to do with my money when I died    Told then I intend spending it all and hopefully leaving some debt that they can fight over. 

[judydawn]

The name is J-u-d-y if you don't want the step-children and brothers & sisters fighting over it Thermomixer

I'm sure you will give it your best shot to enjoy most of your life's savings and why shouldn't you - if only we knew when we were departing this earth 

[faffa_70]

ROFLMAO @ Judy

[Thermomixer]

LMAO - when I phone my mum I always tell her how to spell my name in case she's making a new will    But she has sensibly spent most of it on herslef already.  She is 83 and only stopped traveling 2 years ago.

Her mother and sisters saved all their money and lived frugally, one hoped to come to Australia when my grandmother passed on, and so needed lots to retire here - but she died of ovarian cancer while gran was still alive.  So we have encouraged mum not to do the same.

She has never had lots of money - but makes sure she has a good time with what she's got.   Good on her.

[faffa_70]

Hear Hear .... Keep telling my parents the same when they don't want to spend money - especially on their health. I tell them I would rather have them around than have their money!!!!

[andiesenji]

I'm with you, Faffa  70. 
My dad is 89 and pretty infirm now, but still lives in his own home with a caregiver (in New Mexico).  However back in the late '70s and early '80s he spent at least half of each year traveling, mostly researching his ancestry in England, Scotland, Wales, etc. 
Some of his ancestors were in America very early - Jamestown Colony - and were fairly easy to trace because there were detailed records.
 
He enjoyed it immensely, met people with whom he still corresponds and I feel it was money very well spent.

He's not a "foodie" but he did collect some recipes for me during his travels.  And periodically I received packages of goodies from various places.  That was when I was introduced to Maldon salt!  It was almost impossible to find here at that time, except at some gourmet shops.
No internet then - one had to spend hours on the phone to find elusive ingredients. 
He sent me a little tin of Grains of Paradise while he was in France and I became hooked on it as a substitute for pepper, especially in fruit/melon salads. 

[cookie1]

I have a friend who states that he wants his last cheque to bounce.

When we travel round we see heaps of people with SKI on their vans. 'Spending the kids inheritance.' Someone we saw somewhere (up north I think) had crossed out the 'spending' and put 'spent'.

[mel81q]

I apologise for the silly question in advance, but do you cut the pod in half and scrape the seeds out and put both in the bottle, or do i just cut the pod in half and chuck it in?

Am going to make this on the weekend, and do two (one for a foodie friend as a gift). Just dont want to do the wrong thing!!

thanks

[judydawn]

I think some people do Mel but I followed Chelsea's method which was to cut the pods in half then slit them lengthways.  Open them up so that the beans are exposed and just pop them into the alcohol.  Chelsea says to shake once a week but others say to shake daily.