Homesteaders

[Raech]

I will answer as a baker, since I'm not a big drinker. I have had this. Never made it, just used some made by others. I don't like it. Every brownie, cake, & muffin tastes very much like alcohol. I know the actual alcohol cooks out, but the strong flavor remains.

See that is what I was really worried about. We don't drink due to family history and hubby "blacks out" and get's very physical, so we have a dry house by choice. I personally don't want my kids to get even the flavor of alcohol, especially in the stuff I make. I can only imagine how bad vodka pancakes would taste in the morning.

 

[trsturself]

See that is what I was really worried about. We don't drink due to family history and hubby "blacks out" and get's very physical, so we have a dry house by choice. I personally don't want my kids to get even the flavor of alcohol, especially in the stuff I make. I can only imagine how bad vodka pancakes would taste in the morning.

My dad makes his own vanilla and is happy with it. Never been able to taste vodka in his cupcakes. Maybe you have to let it age enough? I've never done it though only had his.

 

[sepaditty1]

Not sure about the aging. I have had some from the store, too that was real like that. Same thing.

 

[boskelli1571]

See that is what I was really worried about. We don't drink due to family history and hubby "blacks out" and get's very physical, so we have a dry house by choice. I personally don't want my kids to get even the flavor of alcohol, especially in the stuff I make. I can only imagine how bad vodka pancakes would taste in the morning.

I just checked my store bought vanilla bottle - ingredients are vanilla, water & alcohol. No %s of contents. I would imaging the alcohol is 'cut' to the lowest % that will act as preservative, but I have no clue what that number would be.

 

[MoonShadows]

When you make vanilla flavoring (extract) the traditional way, it is MOSTLY alcohol, because you are basically soaking the vanilla bean(s) in alcohol for it to extract all the vanilla flavor which is basically an oil that is solvent in alcohol. It is not important what type of alcohol you use. What is important is that it is at least 80 proof, or 40 percent alcohol; a higher proof is fine as well. If it is a lower percentage, you won’t yield a good quality extract. Remember: the higher the proof, the stronger your extract.

Here's a recipe I found for alcohol-free vanilla extract. I can't tell you how good/bad it is since I have never tried it, but if you don't want the alcohol, this is an alternative,


Supplies
•a tall glass bottle, at least 17 ounces
•a very sharp paring knife

Ingredients
•16 ounces food-grade vegetable glycerine
•8 Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla Beans Instructions

1.Pour the vegetable glycerine into the glass bottle.
2.Cut the vanilla beans in half lengthwise. Use the sharp edge of your knife to scrape the seeds away from the bean pods.
3.Add the seeds and bean pods to the vegetable glycerine.
4.Cap bottle and put in a dark place to steep for 6 weeks.
5.If desired, add additional vanilla bean pods to the vegetable glycerine as you use them in your kitchen.

 

[onthe9s]

Spent the afternoon building mini greenhouses on my table beds.

Think they turned out pretty well for just wingin it.

 

[MoonShadows]

Nice job!

 

[ChickCrazed]

Spent the afternoon building mini greenhouses on my table beds.



Think they turned out pretty well for just wingin it.

What did you use to make the bendie frame? And where did you get the plastic? I might have to try this on my outside beds to prolong my season! You could almost add netting in place of the plastic instead of fencing the raised bed in, and swap it out for plastic when needed.

 

[trsturself]

Nice job. If you run string back and forth across the top in an X pattern it will allow you to raise and lower the sides making it easy to vent when necessary and get access to your plants without plastic flying all over the place.

 

[onthe9s]

What did you use to make the bendie frame?  And where did you get the plastic?  I might have to try this on my outside beds to prolong my season!  You could almost add netting in place of the plastic instead of fencing the raised bed in, and swap it out for plastic when needed.

The frame is 1/2" PEX tubing I got at Menards. It was I think $5 and change for a 25' roll. The plastic is just a 4 mil 8' x 100' drop cloth cut up to fit. Then I used furring strips I had along the top for a little stability.