How To Make Vanilla Extract

Ok...it's time to visit the Liqueur store.  We are going to make Homemade Vanilla Extract.

You are probably asking me why make your own....well if you have ever purchased a tiny bottle of the stuff you know you can spend at least ten dollars or more for some good grade vanilla extract.

Well why not make your own....all you need is a handful of things to get you going.

First lets start with the Vanilla Bean.  I wanted to use the darkest full of flavor beans...I found out that Madagascar will you give you the best results for that.  I found the brand I wanted at Whole Foods. 

You have two choices, buy them individually or 2 to a package.  Also to go along with the recipe you will need a good bottle of Vodka or Rum....80 proof.   I used Vodka.

The ratio is 3 vanilla beans to a cup of Vodka.  You can measure out how much you want for yourself.

So lets get started!!!!

I am sure you have a mason jar up in your cupboard. Then collect your vanilla beans, vodka or rum.  

Yes...it is that easy.   

Start with taking your vanilla beans and using a very sharp knife, cut down the center of the beans leaving about 1/2 inch section at the top uncut.   Stick your vanilla beans in the jar and fill with your liqueur. 

 Close the lid, and make sure it is on tight.   Find a dark place in your kitchen and store it up to 2 months.   

Every now and then you will want to shake the bottle up.   I thought I would share day 3 with you...as you can see it already started to turn a light color just after a few days.   Just think what it will look like after your 2 months.

If you find Tahitian Beans..there flavor is like a vanilla-fig or fruity flavor.It's your extract so use what you want;

 Can I say I am very excited about making  my own Vanilla Extract.  I hope this inspires you to try making your own...just think what your friends will think:)  

When I finish the process if you would like a sample I would love to give you a bottle.

If you have been creative in the kitchen or have a tip please share with us.  I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy Susan

                                                                                            

                 

                                                                          

                                                                            

                           

 Summer Fun.....

Get ready for some summer fun

                                                                 doesn't that look good

Oh I want one of these for summer

Yes...this summer I will  be drying my clothes on a line. Since our dryers are the second highest costly appliance...I think its ok to hang our underwear outside.

                                  Flip flop fun!! 

                                                                 Summer Rocks!!!

                                                 

                                                Life is better at the BEACH I think                                                                               

 Good Thursday morning to you....Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I want to apologize for not sharing a recipe with you today. Last night once again...I was rushed off by my husband to the emergency room to pass another kidney stone.  I am  feeling good this morning but thought I would  restructure my day.

I decided t to relax and make it a lazy day.

I found myself this morning wanting some signs of  spring or summer ...wishing the weather guy was going to announce  some Arizona summer temperatures.

I know wishful thinking....so here are some pictures of hope for the summer..

                                                                 So heres to

                            Shorts, Sandles, Sunglasses, Warmth, Tunes on Tuesday,

                Saturday Markets, Picnics, Trips to the Beach, and some fun summer recipes.

                                                                  Cheers Susan






                                               

Recipe...Banana Cookies

Today is a joyous for me...why??  My son has come home for a couple of days to visit.  I am so happy!!! 

I love spending time with him....whether it watching a Basketball game or just talking, we always have fun. 

I woke up this morning and wanted to make something special.

Warm Banana Cookies sounded perfect with a cup of coffee, it like eating Banana Bread...yum

The cookies are a little cakey. There soft and spicy....so delicious.  It really is like eating a slice of Banana Bread.  Makes for a nice breakfast cookie.

Recipe

1/2 C butter  room temperature

3/4 C Sugar

2 eggs

1t vanilla

2 C Wheat Flour

1/2 T pumpkin spice

1 t baking powder

1/4 t baking soda

pinch of salt

3 bananas, mashed

1/2 C chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a med. bowl to combine. Set aside.

Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs in one at a time, scraping down sides.  Add vanilla and mix to combine. Add mashed banana's and mix.

Fold dry ingredients into banana mixture to combine. Fold in nuts.

Scoop 2 T full of cookie batter onto cookie sheet. About 1 inch apart. Bake for 8 minutes. Be careful to not over bake.   Cool completely and drizzle with Buttermilk glaze.

Buttermilk Glaze

1 C powdered sugar

2 t buttermilk

Whisk together in a bowl. 

You don't have to add the glaze to make the cookies taste good. They are good all by themselves!!!!

Enjoy  Susan

                                                                              

                           THANK YOU!


                              THANK YOU!


                                         THANK  YOU!


                                                         THANK YOU!

                                                                                      THANK YOU!

 Good morning Girls

I wanted to say Thank you for being a faithful follower of Cook Happy. I appreciate each and everyone of you. I have had a blast starting this blog. I am learning so much about myself. I am learning it's ok to have dreams and goals and purpose. I see my strengths and weaknesses and how to grow through them. I am so  THANKFUL for all God has given me.I want to continue learning to be open to new possibilities, new adventures, new failures and new successes. If you don't know I need you all in this journey of my life.

One of my favorite books is by John Maxwell.....25 Ways To Win With People. It teaches how to make others feel like a million bucks.  I feel so strong about being an encourager to you....lets speak out more, encourage one another when we start to doubt our dreams. There's no telling what might happen if you were to begin encouraging the dreams of the people around you. I say NEVER give up!!I am hoping to feature more friends and family and some of your recipes.  Please continue to join this 2011 year of great new recipes from me to you.I appreciate you taking the time to visit today. I am extremely blessed  to have a great group of girls.  I would LOVE for you to share your thoughts/comments.    Love Susan

                                                   " My potential is God's gift to me

                                          What I do with my potential is my gift to him"

                                           Continue when discouraged, for where there

                                  is no faith in the future, there is no power in the presence.

                                       When you visions get bigger than you, you really 
                                    only have two choices, give up the vision, or get help
                                   
                                  
                                  

Spring into Organization

                                                                    SalmonEggs Benedict

                                                                    Stuffed French Toast

                                                                    Bacon Potato Frittata

                                                                    Apple Dutch Baby

                                                                    Open Faced Fried Egg

                                                                    Rosemary Fried Potato's 

                                                                    Fresh Blueberry Pancakes

                                                                    Fully-Loaded Cheese Burrito

                                                                    

Sound good??

It all started at the B&B...I was to come up with a new recipes for breakfast for each month.  I had to come up with a wide variety of great BREAKFAST recipes to serve to our guest.

They must ONE taste delicious...TWO look appealing.

I was on a mission to find the best recipes in the world.  Garage Sales came to mind....maybe there I could find some unusual cookbooks with great tasting recipes.

I didn't have to look far..... I found one delicious recipe after another.

Today I decided after finding some really cute folders from Target, I would separate each meal and put them into there individual folders.

I don't know about you but I love being organized...I find life is simple and I literally find joy in having a place for everything in my home...thank you to my mom and dad.

                            My first step to spring cleaning...getting ORGANIZED in the kitchen.

                                                                

IN-N-OUT HAMBURGER

                                                                              


My first visit to In-N-Out was a few years ago when I went to visit some of my family in Gilbert Arizona.

My niece was working there. It was a must eat out restaurant to try while I was there.

I have to say you could eat off the floors, it was so clean.  I bet they get great reviews from the Health Inspectors.

                                                                        
I had heard they had one of the best hamburgers around, so I couldn't wait to try one.  When we arrived you would of thought there wasn't another hamburger joint in town, it was packed with people.

We all looked around for an open table but couldn't fine one.  We finally watched the one person that looked like they were going to leave and went and stood at there table and starred them down....you know what I am talking about.

I think we all ordered the same double decker loaded with everything, and yes the fries too.

It was delicious and that doesn't even begin to tell you how wonderful each bit tasted.

                                                              
I have to say  I always thought my hamburgers where so plain tasting,,,no matter what I put on them they were boring to me, until now.

 

Lets see in this hamburger is...slowly cooked sauteed onions, special sauce (ketchup-mayo-sweet relish), mustard, pickles, fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce, seasoned hamburger on a butter toasted bun.

I don't know but the words....gooey, sweet, salty, savory, crispy, meaty, melty, and just plain messy are pretty good  words describing this hamburger.

                                                                              
To really finish this dish off I added of course some fries.

Dinner came and went in moments as we sat down and ate...I don't remember much conversation:)

I will say in all honesty I couldn't finish mine. I could only eat half of it.  It was just to filling for me.

                                                                        
I am sorry  to show you  my half eaten burger.....but at this point I had to call it good. I wrapped it up and put in the refrigerator for another day.

It was kinda funny to watch the dogs at our feet waiting for a crumb to fall.   They are getting way to comfortable with our food.

If your looking for a new delicious hamburger to serve for your family, then give these a try.   I know I know, these are not great on the waist but that's ok to try something every now and then.

Cheers!   Susan


Recipe     Makes 4

1 1/2 pound of lean chuck beef

salt and pepper

 2 dill pickles

 1 head crisp lettuce

 2 fresh large tomatoes

1 lrg. onion (sauteed and caramelized)

 2 T mustard

8 slices american cheese (2 slices per hamburger)

hamburger buns




Special sauce recipe:
Serves 4 Hamburgers
4 T ketchup
2 T mayo
1 T sweet relish...mix together and set aside.
1/4 t lawrys seasoning

To start off, cut up your onion into strips, and to a heated skillet cook your onions on low. It takes about hour to turn brown.  I added 1/3 cup of water half way to let the onions carmelize them.  Remove from the stove and set aside.

Using a large bowl add your hamburger, and add salt and pepper to taste.  Take some saran wrap and flatten  your patties. I made mine about 5 inches in diameter.

Cut up your washed tomatoes, lettuce and pickles.  Set aside

To start the process butter each side of your buns.  Toast them on your griddle until they are lightly brown.
Set aside on a plate.   Then add each patty to the griddle and cook for 10 minutes. Before you turn them over add 1t of mustard to the top of your hamburger and flip.  Then place a piece of cheese to each patty and let it melt...about another 5 minutes.

While those are cooking, add you special sauce to the top and bottom bun.  Then add the dill pickles( 4slices) to the bottom bun.

Remove with a spatula your hamburgers and place them to the bottom bun. To finish it offt add your toppings, sauteed onions, tomato, and the lettuce, and top it off with your top bun.

There you go...an In-N-Out burger for yourself.

Dave's Beef Stew

On a cold day there isn't anything better then a bowl of hot stew.   I don't know about you but all of us in my  home feel like hibernating  these days. It is so grey and soggy outside.  So lets say GOOD-BYE to February
and hello to sunny days and spring weather in March.

Canning stew is a common accurance for Dave when he heads out for a hunting trip.  When Dave has been out hunting for a day it's nice to come back to camp and open up a jar of his own homemade stew.  

                                                                                                                              Me on the other hand I like being at home. I am just not that adventurous  as he is. I like the comforts of home.

                 We decided to use our super sized crock pot and cook the stew on low.


RECIPE

1 pound of lean stew meat ( cut into bit size pieces)

4 large carrots

3 stalks of celery

1 large onion or one small bag of pearl onion

2 large potatoes

1 bag of peas

3 cloves of garlic

I bay leaf

1/4 c kitchen bouquet  ( you can find in your local grocery store)

3 cup of organic beef stock

Salt and pepper

1T olive oil

2 T flour

2 T cold water

Start by cooking your beef, onions, kitchen bouquet  in a skillet. Adding  2 strips of bacon would add some great flavor, we didn't use any because we were out.  Cook the meat until its brown...about 10 minutes.

Put the beef ,beef stock, garlic, onions, carrots, peas, celery, bay leaf, salt and pepper into your slow cooker.

In the same skillet, add 1T olive oil, cut your potatoes into bit size piece and cook until they are brown on both sides. Then add to your pot of stew.

Cover and cook 7-9 hours.

To finish it off...take 2T of flower and mix with 2T water and add to your stew for thickness..

What is your favorite soup in the winter month???

Enjoy Dave & Susan