Making my own Vanilla Extract

Homemade Vanilla Extract


I love to bake.  So I also make my own vanilla extract.  It is really easy.  I bought some vanilla beans from ebay and made these.

Ingredients - a few vanilla beans + vodka/rum

a few vanilla beans + vodka/rum, then cut open the vanilla bean.  I have used

1 1/2 beans for each bottle of liquor.  Scrap the vanilla seeds, then immerse the seeds and

cut vanilla beans into the bottle.   

Give the bottles a good shake every once in a while. Store in a dark and cool place for two months or longer.  Top it up too.

On the right, is the vanilla extract that I have made 2 months ago.


Vanilla Sugar

I also make my own vanilla sugar by putting split vanilla beans and sugar into an airtight container. I use the sugar for baking, sprinkle on cereal and for my special vanilla flavoured coffee or tea.

Ingredients - a few vanilla beans + sugar

Split up Vanilla beans and seeds buried in sugar

Enjoy   ; )

Apple Teacake



My Apple TeaCake

I love apples.  This is a really easy and delicious cake.  It is also not too sweet.  This is the cake that  I will always bring to someone house  ; )

You will need :

3 medium Fuji apples

1 tbsp lemon juice

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

150g castor sugar

250g plain flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

150g butter, melted

125ml milk

2 tbsp castor sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon powder (for the topping)

Methods

Grease a springform pan (24cm) and line base with baking paper.

Preheat oven to 180 degree Celcius.

Peel, core and slice apple thinly. Sprinkle with lemon juice

Combine the eggs, vanilla, castor sugar and sifted flour and baking powder in a large bowl.  Beat with an electric beater until smooth at low speed.  Then fold in melted butter and milk.

Spread cake mixture and then arrange the apple slices in a concentric circles.

Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top.

Bake the cake for 55 minutes or until cooked.

Enjoy!