How to make homemade vanilla extract

Here are the ingredients...the bottles are 250 mL bottles from The Container Store. For the kids, since you can't buy vodka.... Just steal it from your parents....Shhhhhh!

It's best practice to boil some water and sterilize your bottles, cutting board and knife. Just pour the water into the bottles and let them cool. Dump the water and let them dry.

Cut the ends off the beans...not your finger. If you're really cool you'll use a $4 ikea cutting board like this guy did.

Cut the beans in half. Make sure they are even halves. I know you can do it, and if you can't...Just give up cooking now because you're hopeless. I'd recommend just drinking the vodka and crying a bit

Gently cut them open length wise. Don't cut all the way through, just enough to split the pod open. Use a sharp knife. You could try a butter knife but that will fail and your family will laugh at you

Scrape the beans out of the pod. Do it exactly as I show because there is no other way to do things because I am the best at everything. Ok I'm kidding, find a way that works for you.

Put them in the bottle. It should be empty. If it is not perhaps you had a bit of the vodka and misread this guide.

Put the empty pods in the bottle with the beans. If you want you can save a bean or two, cut it open length wise like the others but don't scrape it. Put the whole thing in there.

Pour the booze in now. You're all in now. If you stole it from your Dad, make sure to fill the bottle back up with water so you don't get caught. You can thank me later.

Shake it like a Polaroid picture. Give the bottle a shake for a few seconds. Make sure the cap is on!

You're done. For now at least. It has to age for at least 6-8 weeks before you can use. Give it a shake a couple times a week. You don't have to but you can filter it before you use.

Give it some time and it will start looking great!!