Hi everyone! it has been a week since I started my homemade vanilla extract. Here is a picture of the progress...
TOodles!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Homemade Vanilla Extract
I have been eyeing the homemade vanilla extract recipe in the new cookbook I just bought, "The Homemade Pantry".
I went online and made a bulk purchase of gourmet bourbon vanilla beans (about 52 beans for $15.00). If anyone has ever priced these at retail you know that two vanilla beans cost more than $10 after tax (yes, you read that right...ten dollars for two beans 0_o) I also got some of the best vodka (Skyy brand) I could find/afford/was willing to pay for.
Now for my church folks who read my blog...I am NOT a drunk...;). For those who don't know most extracts are made with some form of alcohol . However, when you cook with it the majority bakes out and for the times when you don't bake it out the alcohol content is very low (you run a higher risk of getting drunk off your morning mouthwash)!
Anyway...back to the matter at hand. I read through the recipe in my cookbook and browsed recipes online to get a general understanding of the process. Here a my steps:
1. I sterilized my jar and lid to be sure they were nice and clean.
2. I took out 10 vanilla beans and split them lengthwise with a sharp knife.
3. I added the split beans to my clean jar.
4. I filled the jar to the top with the vodka, put on the lid and screwed it shut (my family calls me Sheera because I put lids on too tight and usually need help getting them off later).
5. I gave the jar a couple of shakes and put it in a dark corner of one of my cabinets.
I'll have to remember to give it a good shake once a week. Most recipes say that it will be ready in three weeks, but for the best flavor six weeks is the minimum. I am so excited!
I'll be sure to post weekly pics of its progress. If all goes well I plan to start a batch in the fall to give as Christmas gifts for all the bakers in my life!
Thanks for looking and don't forget to check back to see how it's going! Toddles!
I went online and made a bulk purchase of gourmet bourbon vanilla beans (about 52 beans for $15.00). If anyone has ever priced these at retail you know that two vanilla beans cost more than $10 after tax (yes, you read that right...ten dollars for two beans 0_o) I also got some of the best vodka (Skyy brand) I could find/afford/was willing to pay for.
Now for my church folks who read my blog...I am NOT a drunk...;). For those who don't know most extracts are made with some form of alcohol . However, when you cook with it the majority bakes out and for the times when you don't bake it out the alcohol content is very low (you run a higher risk of getting drunk off your morning mouthwash)!
Anyway...back to the matter at hand. I read through the recipe in my cookbook and browsed recipes online to get a general understanding of the process. Here a my steps:
1. I sterilized my jar and lid to be sure they were nice and clean.
2. I took out 10 vanilla beans and split them lengthwise with a sharp knife.
3. I added the split beans to my clean jar.
4. I filled the jar to the top with the vodka, put on the lid and screwed it shut (my family calls me Sheera because I put lids on too tight and usually need help getting them off later).
I'll have to remember to give it a good shake once a week. Most recipes say that it will be ready in three weeks, but for the best flavor six weeks is the minimum. I am so excited!
I'll be sure to post weekly pics of its progress. If all goes well I plan to start a batch in the fall to give as Christmas gifts for all the bakers in my life!
Thanks for looking and don't forget to check back to see how it's going! Toddles!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Raised garden photo dump!!!!
Hi all...just posting updated garden pictures (I need to weed the garden)!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Raised Garden Bed Update
Hi all!
My garden is still going strong! I harvested some Roma tomatoes from my potted plants and had so many extra peppers that I took some to work to share with my co-workers (I hate I didn't take a picture of that harvest). I've included a few updated photos of the garden. Thanks for looking!
My garden is still going strong! I harvested some Roma tomatoes from my potted plants and had so many extra peppers that I took some to work to share with my co-workers (I hate I didn't take a picture of that harvest). I've included a few updated photos of the garden. Thanks for looking!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Items In My Raised Garden
So, I promised I would let you know what I planted in the four raised garden beds that I planted a few weeks ago.
Bed 1 - Big boy tomato, patio tomato, husky cherry red tomato, golden jubilee tomato, Roma tomato, mr. stripey heirloom tomato, parsley, cabbage, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage, basil & oregano.
Bed 2 - Nastriums, redina lettuce, Chinese cabbage, Nevada lettuce, mesclun, Bibb lettuce, radicchio, spinach, Simpson lettuce, chard, yellow squash, eggplant & arugula.
Bed 3 - Jalapeño, big Bertha bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, poblano pepper, muskmelon, sugar baby watermelon, cantaloupe, radish, carnations, shallots, wild flowers, mini carrots, marigolds, sunflowers, chives & onions.
Bed 4 - Cucumber, broccoli raab, lavender, delphiniums, African daisies, dwarf dahlias, cow peas, mixed green beans & corn.
Pots - Bell peppers, banana peppers, Roma tomatoes and strawberries.
I am constantly amazed at the amount of plants I was able to fit into my small garden! The books I found most helpful were " The New and Improved Square Foot Gardening Method" and "Small Space Gardening". These books helped me decide what to plant, which plants are beneficial to each other and which ones should not be planted together (e.g. corn and tomatoes -- because they share the same potential for worm infestation).
I hope this post has been interesting/helpful! See below for a picture of the first harvest from my potted plants!
What have you planted in your garden? What are you most excited about?
Bed 1 - Big boy tomato, patio tomato, husky cherry red tomato, golden jubilee tomato, Roma tomato, mr. stripey heirloom tomato, parsley, cabbage, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage, basil & oregano.
Bed 2 - Nastriums, redina lettuce, Chinese cabbage, Nevada lettuce, mesclun, Bibb lettuce, radicchio, spinach, Simpson lettuce, chard, yellow squash, eggplant & arugula.
Bed 3 - Jalapeño, big Bertha bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, poblano pepper, muskmelon, sugar baby watermelon, cantaloupe, radish, carnations, shallots, wild flowers, mini carrots, marigolds, sunflowers, chives & onions.
Bed 4 - Cucumber, broccoli raab, lavender, delphiniums, African daisies, dwarf dahlias, cow peas, mixed green beans & corn.
Pots - Bell peppers, banana peppers, Roma tomatoes and strawberries.
I am constantly amazed at the amount of plants I was able to fit into my small garden! The books I found most helpful were " The New and Improved Square Foot Gardening Method" and "Small Space Gardening". These books helped me decide what to plant, which plants are beneficial to each other and which ones should not be planted together (e.g. corn and tomatoes -- because they share the same potential for worm infestation).
I hope this post has been interesting/helpful! See below for a picture of the first harvest from my potted plants!
What have you planted in your garden? What are you most excited about?
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Raised garden beds
Both of my grandfathers were farmers and my brother has made his career in agriculture. While I do not aspire to have a working farm I do love fresh vegetables and flowers and feel a great sense of accomplishment when I can pick them from my personal garden...which brings me to this post.
Last month I purchased two raised garden beds from Sams club and bought the dirt, seeds, landscape fabric and other items from Walmart (I work for Walmart) and Lowe's. I decided that since my space was so small that I would use the square foot gardening method. This would allow me to plant more items in a smaller space.
After thirty five bags of dirt and countless plants and seeds I got everything planted and have been bitten by the plant bug! I have been checking on the garden daily to be sure no little critters eat the plants and veggies before we do!
I will share the list of what i planted and more pictures soon, but for now here are some pictures when the garden was first installed:
Do you garden? If so, what do plant? If not and you would like to, what is keeping you from starting?
Talk to you all soon?
Last month I purchased two raised garden beds from Sams club and bought the dirt, seeds, landscape fabric and other items from Walmart (I work for Walmart) and Lowe's. I decided that since my space was so small that I would use the square foot gardening method. This would allow me to plant more items in a smaller space.
After thirty five bags of dirt and countless plants and seeds I got everything planted and have been bitten by the plant bug! I have been checking on the garden daily to be sure no little critters eat the plants and veggies before we do!
I will share the list of what i planted and more pictures soon, but for now here are some pictures when the garden was first installed:
Do you garden? If so, what do plant? If not and you would like to, what is keeping you from starting?
Talk to you all soon?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Flour's Banana Nut Bread
I bought the new Flour Bakery cookbook and decided to try their banana nut bread recipe. Their method of whipping the eggs makes for the lightest and most moist banana bread I have ever made. I haven't made anything else from the cookbook, but i have been hearing nothing but great things about it! What quick bread recipes are your favorite?
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
Oh My Goodness! I made homemade mozzarella cheese this evening and it was so easy! Had I known how easy it would be I would have made it along time ago. There are several websites that give the directions on how to make it, but I used Eat. Drink…Better’s instructions. I did not see the measurement for salt in the recipe so I just eye-balled it…probably less than ½ tsp. There are two items that you probably don’t have in your cabinet…citric acid and rennet, however, I found them easily at Whole Foods Market. If your store doesn’t carry the products both of them can be found via the internet.
Anyway…Here’s a quick rundown of the pictures.
1. Citric acid and the rennet.
2. What the milk looks like when the curds separate from the whey (the whey is the almost clear liquid underneath the white curds).
3. The curds and a small bit of whey after I scooped them out of the pot.
4. Curds after the first kneading.
5. The finished, shaped mozzarella balls.
Making homemade cheese was an awesome experience and has fueled my desire to try more projects that were everyday practices for my ancestors. Cheese made at home…in 2010…who would have thought!?
Toodles!
Anyway…Here’s a quick rundown of the pictures.
1. Citric acid and the rennet.
2. What the milk looks like when the curds separate from the whey (the whey is the almost clear liquid underneath the white curds).
3. The curds and a small bit of whey after I scooped them out of the pot.
4. Curds after the first kneading.
5. The finished, shaped mozzarella balls.
Making homemade cheese was an awesome experience and has fueled my desire to try more projects that were everyday practices for my ancestors. Cheese made at home…in 2010…who would have thought!?
Toodles!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Burda Style Sewing Book - New Read
I just got the new Burda Style sewing book for Kindle and am so excited! It looks like it is packed with ideas for beginners and advanced sewers. It also has great examples of pattern modifications.
Have you bought this book? If so, what do you think?
Angela
Follow me on twitter - @blueturtle97
Check out my blogs
www. seamsfabulous. blogspot. com
www. Habitualcreator. blogspot. com
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