Skip to main content

must try recipes

Carrot Cupcakes

 Carrot   Cupcakes Everyone seems to love Carrot Cake,  what I also like about them is how wonderfully moist they are and how flavorful they taste. I love this Carrot Cupcake recipe because it's so easy to make. No mixer is required. The time consuming part is the grating of the fresh carrots. I have included applesauce in the cupcake batter which, along with the oil, makes these cupcakes so moist. But, if you like, you could use an equal amount of grated apple or even crushed pineapple. You can also add 1/2 cup (120 ml) of currants or raisins to the batter. Carrot Cakes became popular with the health food craze of the 1970s. There are many theories on the origin of this cake, some say it descended from the English's baked carrot puddings or European steamed carrot puddings. Others say it may have come from German carrot breads. Carrots were used in European sweet cakes since the Middle Ages when other sweeteners were hard to find or just too expensive. In fact, carr...
1 comment

How To Make Vanilla Extract (Homemade Vanilla)

How To Make Vanilla Extract (Homemade Vanilla)
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make vanilla extract? Homemade Vanilla Extract is prized for its rich, complex flavor and incredibly smooth aroma. There simply is no substitute. Enhance your baking to a whole new level with this easy to follow homemade vanilla extract recipe that only needs a few simple ingredients.
Many people are often familiar with clear or imitation vanilla extract. The difference between pure vanilla and imitation vanilla is simple; pure vanilla extract is made from whole vanilla beans extracted using 35%+ alcohol - that's it! Don't be fooled by extracts that claim to be pure. Imitation and clear vanilla utilize artificial flavors and harmful chemicals. Pure vanilla extract should be dark brown; the color of Vanilla Beans used in the extraction process.
You know a good vanilla extract when you unscrew the bottle and inhale.  Imitation and lower quality pure extracts just lack the same depth and combination of fruity and earthy notes in their aroma.  Nothing beats quality vanilla extract.  But top quality vanilla extracts are expensive.  Guess what?  You can make your own homemade vanilla extract that will taste BETTER than the best store-bought extracts and at a FRACTION OF THE COST!
All you have to do is do four steps:
1.Slice.
2.Pour.
3.Shake.
4.Wait.
NOTE: As the days goes color of the vodka will turn dark!!!
I like to make larger quantities to extract to allow them to age for at least a year before using it.
It makes the perfect hostess gift when you’re invited over somewhere, a great gift for your child’s teacher, a get-well-soon gift, or for any occasion you want to send the message “I’m thinking of you.”

What Kind of Alcohol is Best for Making Vanilla Extract?

You can use any alcohol.  The best and most popular choices are vodka, bourbon, brandy, or rum.
Vodka is the most versatile because it has a neutral flavor.  If you’re using vodka don’t worry about splurging for the expensive brands because it really doesn’t make a significant difference.  Go for a cheaper brand – it’s the quality of the vanilla beans that counts.

Which Vanilla Beans are Best for Making Vanilla Extract?

Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans are the most popular and what I use by far the most.  Another option is Tahitian vanilla beans.  A third option is Mexican vanilla beans.  Each have their own subtle nuances.
  • Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla – what most people associate with vanilla flavor.  Full, creamy, sweet and mellow flavor with long-lasting flavor tones.
  • Tahitian Vanilla – floral aroma with cherry-like, licorice and caramel flavor tones.
  • Mexican Vanilla – both sweet and woody flavor tones with spicy hint of cloves and nutmeg.

How Long Does Vanilla Extract Need to Age?

Aside from the quality of the vanilla beans themselves, the most important factor that determines the quality of your finished vanilla extract is how long you allow the vanilla extract to age.
While you can use it in as little as 8 weeks the flavor becomes vastly superior the longer it ages.  Optimally you should wait at least 6 months and for the best results wait 12 months.  12-month aged pure vanilla extract – it’s gold!   I’m currently using 24-month aged vanilla – it’s even better!

Can You Reuse Vanilla Beans?

Yes and no.  You can reuse them to make another batch of extract but keep in mind that they will have lost some of their potency and so the next batch will not be as strong.  What I’ll do if I’m reusing them is combine the “old” ones with “new” ones to make a new batch.
Lets cook with step-by-step pictures.

Now lets see how to cook:

How To Make Vanilla Extract (Homemade Vanilla)




Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Most recipes for homemade vanilla extract call for 2-3 vanilla beans per cup of vodka.  We’re going to use 5 per cup.  This will result in a more potent vanilla extract that will make your baked goods and desserts soar.  That will also enable you to use less extract in a recipe to get just as much vanilla flavor without any alcohol flavor.
Author: Shalini
Recipe type:Baking Recipe
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 2 servings
Ingredients
  • Vanilla pods - 2
  • Vodka -As per required to fill your bottle size.
Instructions
  1. Slice each bean once long-ways and place in bottle. (If it helps to cut them into smaller, tootsie roll-sized pieces so they fit in the bottle more easily, go for it).
  2. Pour one cup of vodka, rum or alcohol of your choice. Make sure vanilla beans are completely submerged.
  3. Shake once or twice per day.
  4. Wait about 8 weeks.
    Store it at room temp and out of direct sunlight, and you can enjoy this puppy till the last drop.
Pictorial:
Take vanilla pods.

Slice long on both the pods.

Cut into half if you need.

Scrap the vanilla if you need.

Add into the bottle.


Pour vodka into it.

Close the lid.

Shake well, you have to keep shaking it everyday so that the vanilla pods get emerged into vodka well.

Cover the bottle and store in dark place away from direct sunlight.



Hope you give a try!!!!!!!!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lactation Brownies

Lactation Brownies   Lactations brownies are a delicious brownies made using ingredients which promotes milk supply. These brownies are made from scratch and include great milk boosting ingredients like ground flax seed, oatmeal, and dark chocolate. The combination of these ingredients in the brownies should help increase your milk supply. These brownies are also great for anyone not nursing as well. No one would be able to tell that these brownies are for breastfeeding mamas. If you are looking for a high boost in your milk supply. Try to include all these foods in your diet on a regular basis. This brownies was done by my daughter when i was pregnant, she always loves to bake any type of cakes, i had craving for brownies so we baked this. FOOD THAT INCREASE BREAST MILK Fenugreek Garlic Oatmeal Leafy green vegetables Tapoica Banana Flower Bottle Gourd Cows Milk Lets cook with step-by-step pictures. Now lets see how to cook: Lactation Brownies Prep time 10min Cook time 35min Total ...
6 comments
Read more

Matta Broken Rice Kanji (Chemba Rice) - RICE PORRIDGE FOR 8-9 months babies (diet food for elders)

Matta Broken Rice Kanji (Chemba Rice) - RICE PORRIDGE FOR 8-9 months babies (diet food for elders)                       Kanji is basically a rice soup. It is so comforting to eat on a rainy or a cold day. My mom used to make it for dinners atleast couple of times a month. Not to forget how comforting it is to have it to have it when you are sick with fever or cold. It is usually made with a type of rice commonly eaten in Kerala called the Chemba Rice (Matta Rice). It has a red hue to it with small red lines. I think Kanji used to be more of a poor man's staple, but these days all Star Hotels serve them as a delicacy. Though Kanji tastes great on its own, there are a lot of typical items that go with it. Green Moong is one of them. Some people cook the moong along with the rice. I like it separate. Other things are coconut, pickle (typically mango or lime) and pappadad are best side dish. We can start giving thi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mappilai Samba Rice Kanji |The Bridegroom’s Samba Rice Kanji

Mappilai Samba Rice Kanji |The Bridegroom’s Samba Rice Kanji Mappillai Samba is a native variety of rice, which is red in colour and is grown predominantly in Tamil Nadu. It’s well suited to organic farming because it requires hardly any fertilisers or pesticides. Unfortunately, along with other native varieties of rice, Mappillai Samba has disappeared from our farms and markets; instead, people are going for highly processed, nutritionally inferior white rice. Very few passionate traditional farmers still grow such rice now. In olden days, it is essential for a man to show his bravery through many traditional sports. These sports are conducted to test their physical as well as their mental strength. One such game was to lift a heavy rock called illavatta kal, in which, the newlywed bridegroom is asked to lift the rock in front of everyone to display his physical power. In order to boost the energy and power of son-in-law to lift the rock successfully, mother in law wanted ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Yes!!! Am now 2nd time c-sec Mom !!!!

 Yes!!! Am now 2nd time c-sec Mom !!!   A caesarean section is a lifelong disability from the birth of a child until the death of a mother. Many people often passes remarks like "oh, caesars pain is nothing but only cuts the stomach"!!. But let me tell you that the baby has to be brought into the world by cutting the 7 curtains of our body. Yes, may be the feeling of cutting the abdomen is not understood because of anesthesia before a caesarean section but within half and hour 3 hours of saline are over. T his spinal injection injected into the spine through a thick syringe causes pain. The next 24 hours brings immense pain, that kind of pain where a feel somebody has chopped one of your body part but had not applied medicine but yes, its endurable after surviving that pain for 48 hours. First 24 hours you cant even turn yourself on bed, forget about walking by yourself for washroom.! Believe me, when the retirement period is over, you have to squirm like a hen with a cut thr...
6 comments
Read more

Carrot Cupcakes

 Carrot   Cupcakes Everyone seems to love Carrot Cake,  what I also like about them is how wonderfully moist they are and how flavorful they taste. I love this Carrot Cupcake recipe because it's so easy to make. No mixer is required. The time consuming part is the grating of the fresh carrots. I have included applesauce in the cupcake batter which, along with the oil, makes these cupcakes so moist. But, if you like, you could use an equal amount of grated apple or even crushed pineapple. You can also add 1/2 cup (120 ml) of currants or raisins to the batter. Carrot Cakes became popular with the health food craze of the 1970s. There are many theories on the origin of this cake, some say it descended from the English's baked carrot puddings or European steamed carrot puddings. Others say it may have come from German carrot breads. Carrots were used in European sweet cakes since the Middle Ages when other sweeteners were hard to find or just too expensive. In fact, carr...
1 comment
Read more