SANDRA'S HOMEMADE LEMON EXTRACT

The hardest part is waiting 8 weeks,
although with minimal effort
you'll reap rewards many
times over, as the flavors of these
three extracts can't be beat...

Yields: 4 oz. (1/2 cup) lemon extract 

Prep: 5 Mins.
Cure: 8 weeks

--1 (4 oz.) Mason jar with plastic lid (or lid and ring)

INGREDIENTS

1 large, fresh lemon, washed and dried, then zest (do not include with bitter pith when zesting) 

1/2 cup quality vodka

METHOD

Place your jar in a small saucepan, and cover with water.  Bring to boil for 10 minutes to sterilize.  Remove jar on a clean kitchen towel to cool and air dry. (If not using plastic lids as I am, be sure to sterilize your rings and lids as well.)

Meanwhile, zest lemon (not white pith as it is bitter) and place into bottom of the 4 oz. Mason jar.  Fill jar with vodka to within 1/4" of top of rim. Place lid on jar and close tightly, shake a few times, label, date and place it in a cool, dark cabinet. 

Let rest for 8 weeks, while occasionally shaking a couple times per week, which will become a darker yellow color over time.

After 8 weeks you can start using your homemade extract in recipes for custards, pies, tarts, breads, desserts, crepes, sauces, breakfast dishes, smoothies, and so on. If you would like some of the zest in your recipe, just shake the jar beforehand. – Enjoy!

-- Click here for: Vanilla Extract recipe

-- Click here for: Vanilla-Bourbon Extract recipe

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Tips:  Use as much as you need, and when you have only 20% of the extract remaining you should replenish with more vodka and/or zest, and shake again. In addition, when you're using a fresh lemon zest in a recipe, add any leftover to the jar of homemade extract. If you continue to feed your extract in this manner, the extract will keep forever; simply remove some of the older zest if the jar becomes too crowded.

SANDRA'S BOURBON-KISSED BANANA BREAD

A super moist and lovely banana flavor in each and every bite

that's sure to become your go-to recipe...

Yields: (1 loaf)

Serves: (10-12)

Prep Time: 10 Mins.

Bake: 60-65 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

4 ripe, medium bananas, smashed

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon double-acting baking powder (or regular)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon fine kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon bourbon-vanilla extract (or vanilla extract)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a loaf pan (I used glass); set aside.

Using a hand mixer, in a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, smashed bananas and bourbon-vanilla extract; combine well.

Place a sieve, elevated, over wet ingredients and sift flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gently mix just until dry ingredients are incorporated, while scraping bowl.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Place on wire baking rack in pan to cool 5 minutes. Carefully remove loaf from pan and let cool completely, covered with a kitchen towel, on baking rack. Using a serrated knife, slice and enjoy!

I made a double batch:
1 for a kind friend that recently helped out my husband; and
1 for us...

SANDRA’S HEAVENLY HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT and VANILLA BOURBON EXTRACT

The hardest part is waiting 8 weeks,
although with minimal effort
you'll reap rewards many
times over, as the flavors of these
two extracts can't be beat...

Yields: 8 oz. vanilla extract 

+ 8 oz. vanilla bourbon extract

Prep: 15 Mins.

--2 (8 oz.) canning jars with lids and rings

INGREDIENTS

***Vanilla Extract

3 medium organic vanilla beans

1 cup quality vodka

***Vanilla Bourbon Extract

3 medium organic vanilla bourbon beans

1 cup quality bourbon

METHOD

Place your jars, lids, and rings in a medium saucepan, and cover with water.  Bring to boil for 10 minutes to sterilize.  Remove jars, rings, and lids with tongs, and place on a clean kitchen towel to cool and air dry.

Meanwhile, cut the beans in half crosswise, and then lengthwise to expose seeds. Tuck the beans inside the respective jars and fill with one with vodka, and the other bourbon. Place lids and rings on jars and close tightly, shake them a few times, label, and place it in a cool, dark cabinet. 

Let them rest for 8 weeks, while occasionally shaking a couple times per week, which will become darker over time.  After 8 weeks you can start using your homemade extracts in recipes for custards, pies, tarts, breads, desserts, crepes, sauces, breakfast dishes, smoothies, and so on. If you would like some of the seeds in your recipe, just shake the jar beforehand. – Enjoy!

-- Click here for: Lemon Extract recipe (shown below)...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tips:  Use as much as you need, and when you have only 20% of the extract remaining you should replenish them respectively with more vodka/bourbon, and shake again. In addition, when you're using a fresh vanilla/bourbon bean in a recipe, add the empty pod to the respective jar of homemade extract. If you continue to feed them in this manner, the extracts will keep forever; simply remove some of the older beans if the jars become too crowded.

Empty vanilla or vanilla bourbon pods can be placed in sugar jars, or tea tins to flavor them as well.