Our local supermarket has run out of vanilla extract and this is not a bad thing as it got me thinking and wondering about  how easy it would be to make my own.Ironically we  have a lot of vanilla pods yet to be used. These were a gift from a member of French Boyfriend's family who brought them back from Madagascar. So I had a quick search on the internet and I found this recipe which is simple and easy.The only downside is that you need to make 6-8 weeks before using so I am now off to find some to keep me going until mine is ready to use.
  Home Made Vanilla Extract:
Open the vanilla beans. Very carefully, use a paring knife to make a slit lengthwise down the middle of your vanilla beans, halfway through the bean, so that those magical little seeds are all exposed. (No need to scrape out the seeds ? they will absorb into the extract as they sit.)  Place the opened vanilla beans in your jar/bottle.Add vodka. Then fill the rest of the jar up with the correct amount of vodka. (See ratios below.)  If needed, tuck or fold the vanilla beans in half so that they are completely submerged in the vodka. Seal the jar tightly with a lid and store in a dark, cool place.Wait. Next, you must wait at least 8 weeks before using the vanilla extract. I actually prefer to wait for 3-4 months before I open and use mine, because the vanilla flavor continues to intensify the longer the beans sit. Then once it is ready to go?Use in your ...