Vodka and Vanilla

 Life goes on. All my flower beds are looking empty and brown. I have removed all my ferns and geraniums and such indoors to live through the winter. Only thing thriving is my patch of collard greens and my peas. The peas are still blooming and I have picked a handfull for my eating pleasure. HeWho is not a big fan of peas and I will only eat fresh or frozen peas.

I ordered some Madagascar vanilla beans and am now making my own vanilla extract. It will make about 4 cups and cost about $30. Price the 4 ounce bottles in the store and you will be impressed. I used the bottle from the vodka to make it. I took the 25 beans and chopped them into 2 inch pieces and put them in the bottle, then topped them with 4 cups of 80 proof vodka.

I was feeling thrifty and noble. I could actually bottle this and give some as gifts! I hunted for glass bottles online. Harder to find than you would think. I wanted 10 to 12 ounce bottle with tight lids or corks ..... that don't cost a fortune. Just as well, since I discovered, when I read ALL the instructions that my concoction needs to ferment for THREE months.

Not only that, the bottle should be shaken several times a week. I left it on the kitchen counter, thinking the sight of the bottle would be a good reminder. I should not have worried about the shaking of the bottle since the entire process seems to have caught the attention of HeWho. He shakes that bottle several times a day. Not my project anymore. It really would have made a nice gift, though. I wouldn't mind getting it as a gift.

Leg surgery has been set for November 9. I have zero details so far. Just know that I will be in Atlanta. A hospital recently closed it doors in Atlanta, meaning the remaining ones open will have to take on the patients displaced by this. I figured that could have caused the delay in the surgery date.

We are hoping he will be well into the healing process by Thanksgiving. We can attend dinner with our family. Further hoping the next surgery will be scheduled this same calendar year and we can be done with it while our deductible has been met.

Still sad here, I looked down into the ravine and noticed a yellow bush of some sort next to the stream where the dogs took Martha down. Bright happy yellow, like God sent a memorial down for my Martha. I didn't even cry when I saw it. Baby steps, one foot in front of the other and the thoughtful prayers of friends. Thanks everybody for sharing in my grief.


Comments

  1. Joanne NoragonOctober 31, 2022 at 4:04 PM

    I did vanilla years ago. And vanilla sugar. Kids still talk about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy's KlotheslineNovember 5, 2022 at 3:54 PM

      I did read that I can use the beans, after the extract is done and put them in sugar. No waste!

      Delete
  2. ValOctober 31, 2022 at 6:51 PM

    Good thing you let HeWho discover the bottle on his own. If you had asked him to shake it several times a week, I'm not sure it would get done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy's KlotheslineNovember 5, 2022 at 3:56 PM

      Well, since I posted this, he seems to have lost interest after I told him he was not allowed to open the bottle to sniff the contents. You are, though, he would not have taken a chore I assigned him seriously!

      Delete
  3. RiverOctober 31, 2022 at 10:55 PM

    I'll just keep buying vanilla extract from the store. I can't be bothered with all that shake and wait business.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy's KlotheslineNovember 5, 2022 at 3:59 PM

      I do a lot of baking around the holidays and give baked goods as gifts to family. My niece is a good cook, as well and I know she will appreciate some of my vanilla extract. She used to own a tea shop and cooked all the food she served.

      Delete
  4. ellen abbottNovember 8, 2022 at 6:19 AM

    We tried making some flavored vodka with jalapenos to give it a little kick. Turned out pretty bad. Not the kick but the flavor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy's KlotheslineNovember 8, 2022 at 7:55 AM

      That sounds unappetizing! I am not a fan of very, hot and spicy stuff, bt it doesn't sound like a good marriage of flavors!

      Delete

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