bluegeek: (not be tired)
So I have had quite the busy/crazy early weekend (major preparation for a LARP feast I assist in the throwing of on Saturday, so Thursday through the wee hours of Sunday were rather hectic), and then the crash afterwards which wound up with me relaxing on Sunday, sleeping a full night through sunday night, and then STILL doing far more napping than being awake today. And even in the few awake periods today, I wasn't exactly operating with all cylinders.

I am hoping that this is just my body's way of recovering lost energy and such, rather than the early stages of the death-blargh that everyone and their brother seem to have developed and are readily sharing with everyone they know.

Anyways, I need to do a few days of happiness catch-up, starting off with a few of the recipes that were prepared for the feast the other day.

Oreo truffles )

Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese )

Onion focaccia bread )
bluegeek: (Tea lineup)
I like baking and cooking, and love learning how to make new things myself. A friend of mine showed me her homemade vanilla extract that she uses in her baking and I wanted to give it a try, given that it isn't actually a difficult process. After about a month and a half of not actually getting started with this project despite having bought all 2 of the ingredients, I finally did the deed today. Hopefully in 6-8 weeks I will have a giant bottle of vanilla extract of my very own creation to use :)

Ingredients:
Lots of cheap vodka (I had a 750ml bottle because that's the smallest cheap bottle the package store I went to had)
6 vanilla beans (mine are Mexican vanilla beans that I bought at Penzey's Spices. I am told that there are a variety of different kinds of vanilla beans, and that they can be found more affordably online, though Penzey's was definitely better than Whole Foods, Fresh Market, and my grocery store).

Process:
Pour off a little vodka if the level of the liquid is very near the top of the bottle, otherwise don't worry about it.
Cut the vanilla beans lengthwise.
Stuff the beans into the vodka bottle and recap.
Invert/shake the bottle once a week for at least 6-8 weeks and watch as it gains more and more color.

Enjoy when baking. As you use up or give away the vanilla, buy more vodka and add to the partial bottle, thereby making more vanilla extract.

Pics )

Profile

bluegeek: (Default)
bluegeek

September 2024

S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22 232425262728
2930     

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jun. 10th, 2025 04:47 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios
OSZAR »