Merry Christmas

Well another Christmas has come and almost gone. It was a really lovely holiday season with our family.

As usual, we had many places to visit. Last night we went to my Aunt's house in Floresville, Tx that is on my Father's side of the family. That is where these beautiful sunset photos of my guys were taken. I love a good Texas sunset. As you can tell it is beautiful and peaceful country. I love being outdoors and away from the from hustle and bustle of the city because I always find that being around nature brings me peace. There is a certain harmony and balance in nature that always reminds me to just be and let it be. 

This is the kind of "White Elephant" that you hope to end up with at the end of the night. Every time I participate in a white elephant, I tend to bring alcohol of some sort. No one ever turns down a gift filled with little bottle of booze, chocolate, a few mints and a delicious all-natural peppermint lip balm. No One!!! I wish I would have just kept this bag for myself. That is the fun of the game!

I made homemade marshmallows for the first time and I must say that it was the messiest and stickiest thing that I have ever made. That means that they were super yummy. I made up a big cup of hot cocoa full of milk chocolate and white chocolate chips in one of my old Starbucks mugs. I plopped in a few extra big and fluffy homemade marshmallows, sprinkled with a little cinnamon and enjoyed one of the best cups of hot chocolate that I have ever had. I mean that thing was good. I used the Alton Brown marshmallow recipe that has been circulating around everywhere. It was a good but super messy first experience. I plan to make these again and fix a few of the mistakes I made in this recipe. All I can say is they make for one good cup of cocoa.

Also, for Christmas I tried my hand at homemade vanilla extract. I never knew how easy it was to make your own extract. I don't think most people know just how easy it is to make either. I really loved these cute little brown glass bottles that I got and I just found some cheap labels and a ribbon assortment at Hobby Lobby and threw these little guys together. Everybody loved them. I got to learn to make something new. I got to save money and I was able to give my friends and family something that I put my heart into and It felt good sharing with them. I will continue to make my own extract from here on out.

We started a tradition of decorating a gingerbread house as a family last year. We did it again this year and It was fun as usual. The icing they include in these little kits is pretty damn good. I have a hard time not eating it. The kit we found this year was way better and came with two gingerbread men as well as a tree and a few other extras that helped make our little house so awesome and yummy. Decorating a gingerbread house as a family is a great way to spend some extra time together and get creative as a family. Everyone will be so proud of the result. Then maybe everyone can eat it.

Now onto New Years Eve. Hopefully a little dancing and celebrating another year of health, happiness and love. Merry Christmas to everyone from my family to yours.

 

Blessings and Love to all

 

Vanilla

 

 

I ordered some Madagascar vanilla beans a few months ago. Every time I go to the store and see those glass jars with the one vanilla bean for $10 I am like,

"I want some vanilla beans". But not for $10 and not just one. So I found this awesome vanilla bean company online and ordered me some beans.

THEY SMELL SO GOOD!!!

As soon as I opened the package, I knew I made the right choice to purchase these bad boys.  

 

Bailey stamp of approval. You know it's good!!!

 

 

I knew I did not want these precious little heavenly beans to go to waste, so I started researching things to make with them. There are a lot of homemade goodies to make with vanilla beans. Homemade vanilla ice cream, where you scrape the seeds of the bean into the ice cream while it is churning and it is oh so yummy. Done that! Vanilla bean sugar scrub. Want to do that! Plan to do that. I have planned to make a special holiday vanilla bean lip balm. I can't wait for that. I already know that is going to be lovely. But Vanilla Extract? Something I use all the time. I can make my own? Vanilla Extract is perfect. Just in time for the holidays.

The recipe is so simple. Who knew that you could make almost anything into an extract. Not anything but a lot of things. All you need is vanilla beans and alcohol. Specifically Vodka or Bourbon.

 

The process takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks or longer. My vanilla has already been brewin' up for 7 weeks now. The longer the vanilla beans soak in that bourbon bath (or vodka) the stronger your vanilla is going to be. The vanilla has to be stored in a dry dark and cool area. Certainly not in the sun like it is in my pictures. I just took my vanilla on a little adventure for picture purposes and approval of course.

 

This is how I made my Vanilla Extract

 

What you will need

Mason Jar with lid (or similar vessel)

Paring Knife

16oz Bourbon or Vodka  (the higher quality alcohol, the higher quality extract)

6 Grade A or B Madagascar Vanilla beans (or Tahitian)

 

First, pour the bourbon into the mason jar. Then, using your paring knife make a slit down your vanilla bean length wise, starting from 3/4 of the way up and working it all the way down to the end. Again, run the tip of your knife down the inside of the pod from top to bottom and scrape out the seeds of the bean. Put the seeds in the bourbon as well as the bean. Do this to all 6 beans.

Screw the lid on tight. Label the top with the date that it was made. It is easy to forget how long the extract has been fermenting, so writing it down helps. The only thing you have to do now is give the jar a little gentle shake and store it away. Again, it is important to not leave the vanilla sitting out in a sunny place or cold or hot or wet. Store it in the pantry or somewhere dark and safe. Let the little angel get it's beauty rest. She's gonna need it.

I just go in every couple of days or so and give the jar a little rocking. You don't have to do it as often. Once a week is fine. I just get excited watching something come to life. Yes, something as little as a delicate jar of sweet vanilla extract.

 

Jaxon approved too!

He wanted to give the vanilla a little shake too after playing in the rainwater barrel. That is the kind of love that went into this batch of vanilla extract

 

Blessings to all