Page 19 - North Haven Magazine Issue 36 Holiday 2024

HOME MADE VANILLA EXTRACT
Vanilla extract is a staple in the kitchen. It is used in
many recipes because it enhances flavors so well.
However, it is expensive to purchase, and synthetic
vanilla extract is just not the same. You can make
it with just two ingredients (whole vanilla beans
and vodka) and time (2 months). The time is not
“working time” on your part; it is just allowing time
for the vodka to work on the beans to create the
extract.

HOME MADE SEASONING MIXES
Seasoning mixes are convenient to have available
in the kitchen. When made with fresh herbs, they
add a distinctive touch and special flavor to the
food. Packaged seasoning may contain anti-caking
products, herbs exposed to pesticides and flavors
you may not prefer. Homemade mixes allow you to
control the quality and quantity of the mix. Ideally,
you should use organic herbs to avoid pesticides.
These can be grown in your home garden or pur-
chased at a health food store in bulk. Herbs lose
flavor over time, so it is best to make small batches
that will be used in several months.

A popular blend to experiment with is Italian sea-
soning. Italian seasoning is a mixture of classic Ital-
ian herbs-but it's not just for Italian food! It works
just as well sprinkled into scrambled eggs as it does
over pasta.

2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried thyme (not ground)
1 tablespoon crushed dried sage
1 teaspoon dried rosemary

As the weather has become colder and we think
about preparations for the holidays, it is a wonder-
ful time to explore these homemade kitchen gifts
to see what you might enjoy creating. It can be a
great family activity for the weekend or something
to do as a surprise for others. There are many ideas
and recipes on the Internet to help you get started.

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