DIY vanilla extract!

I've been interested in making vanilla extract for a long time now. Those little bottles are expensive, the contents don't taste that good, and my sister has been making extract for ages. Therefore, I must do it!

The first hold-up was that I didn't have any vanilla beans. Well, I work about a mile from foodie Mecca in the form of the Berkeley Bowl, so I did some poking around. Not only do they have vanilla beans, they have screamingly fresh ones! First I found dried vanilla beans starting at eight bucks. That seemed steep, but I was resigned to it.. until I stumbled on a bag of FOUR beans for four bucks in the bulk section. (As a side note, they smelled a LOT like the super sweet body lotion/candles.. who knew they were so true in their scent?)

So... with four beans in hand, I started reading up on making extract. Wow, do the recipes vary. I wound up going with 1 bean (chopped & scraped) per 4 ounces vodka. I bought a bottle of 8-dollar vodka at Trader Joe's and used 12 ounces and three beans. I'm saving the final bean for.. something.

It's only been a few weeks but it already looks great. I did a taste test between MY extract and some store-bought and I think mine tastes better already. Just wait until it's properly aged! (The ubiquitous They say six months.)

Almost to the month's finish line!

I decided to stop shopping this month, and it's been a very useful exercise! I've got a list of the things I want to purchase, and it's actually quite minimal. If those were the only things I would have bought, I would be in fine shape on a month-to-month basis.

However I've learned all too well that the $28-dollar face lotion turns into $100+ spent at the register whenever I go into Bliss or Sephora, and the $7 hand lotion becomes three-for-$20. Clearly those marketers know their business!

Here's the money I haven't spent - the specific list of things I would have otherwise purchased (so far!):

wants:
Replacement subscription for Entertainment Weekly: $20 for a year (or $35 for two years)
Subscription to Cook's Illustrated: $26.95
Knitting pattern: $5
Yarn for said pattern: I will have a credit for about $25 at the store, so probably "only" $15

CD from the concert I went to this weekend: $14.99

arguably needs:
Empty jars for food storage: $12-24 (because I'd probably crack and buy extras)
Facial moisturizer: $28
Hand lotion: $7, maybe? I don't know what this costs, really - it's been a while!

All that adds up to about $156. However when I run the numbers for the money I've spent this month, I have spent $623 less than I did on average in July-Sept. If I only look at September, I spent $854 less this month! Granted I still have to buy tires, gas, and possibly a grocery item or two, and I am going out for dinner on Thursday, so the savings won't be quite so extreme, but that is VERY interesting.

After I factor in what I intend to spend this month (tires/grocery/dinner out), this indicates that Stopping Shopping has saved me at least $350-550, which would have just been frittered away while picking up items that I specifically want. That's impressive (and horrifying, and embarrassing). Those savings are worth repeating. I think I'm going to purchase the items that I really want from the above list, and do this again in November.

I've felt a little mindful, but not too deprived. I think I spent a bit more than I would ordinarily at the grocery store, but my restaurant spending decreased, so they balance each other fairly well. All in all, this is worth doing again. I think I can, I think I can!

Tomato update

Earlier this summer I posted about trying to germinate tomato seeds for next summer's garden.  I took some more pictures but never added them here! (Or I can't find the post. Practically the same thing.)

As a reminder: here's the tomato whose seeds I harvested:

Then, according to this article, you put 'em in a jar and let them get moldy:

Then you rinse them off, dry them, and voila! Seeds for next summer's planting! I've got a lot... anyone want some?

Accidental genius

This weekend I made Pioneer Woman's cupcakes. For some mad reason, I thought I should double the recipe.
I shouldn't have - I was heading out in an hour and really had to fly around the kitchen to get it done!

But, I triumphed. Even though the recipe made more cake than I needed: I had two dozen cupcakes and a loaf pan of cake to show for my efforts! Yes, I know this isn't the worst thing that can happen, but I live alone and don't need that kind of yumminess calling to me. I foisted about half of the cupcakes off on my pumpkin-carving friends, and brought the loaf cake into work.

Only on the very last slice did I find out that the loaf cake is BRILLIANT: because I was running short of time, and the cake wasn't quite done, I turned off the oven and left it in there. It cracked a bit but was otherwise fine-looking when I got home. Well, when I poured the frosting on, it oozed into the cracks on the cake, much like pudding cake in the old days.

I'm totally doing this on purpose next time.

I too like big bundts

I've been following the Food Librarian for a while now, and this month she's doing such a fun theme: a bundt cake per day until National Bundt Day (November 15th (who knew?)).

The end of October is approaching, and I'm having people over for a pumpkin carving party tomorrow, so it seems very fitting to choose a pumpkin-flavored snack to serve! Ergo, I have selected the pumpkin-apple spiced bundt cake.

Most of the ingredients (missing: two eggs, 10 T butter):

Note the glass jar: I'm making my own vanilla extract! It's probably not quite ready, but I used it anyway, and made sure to get some of the flecks of vanilla goodness.

Mix the dry ingredients. Mix the butter/egg/pumpkin. Dice 2 cups of apples (a bit less than 2 apples). All ready to put together: At this point you combine the wet and dry ingredients, then fold in the apple.

Looks promising!

 Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then turn onto a plate. It smells SO GOOD.

Wow. I may have to sample this before tomorrow! 

so what else am I up to?

Yep, I do things other than cook. I work, which I won't be talking about here (let's leave it in the office!). I also knit!

This spring I got SO lucky to go to see friends get married in a castle in Ireland:

well... guess what I'm working on now?

(I swear they're from the same ball of  yarn... the variegation didn't work in my favor and I do not think I can bring myself to work on a third one of these.)

Harvest stew

It's a rare rainy day here in the Bay Area, and the region was pleasantly gray. Tomorrow's my day for lunch group, so I'm pulling out a seasonal favorite - Locro: harvest stew with sofrito topping

I've made this a few times, and the recipe is pleasingly vague. It's been a little different each time I've made it, but delicious in every instance. And, as ever, it made a metric ton! I'll be sure to bring some to the new small family, but I do solemnly declare I'm going to freeze some for later, instead of eating the same thing for the next week!

Yesterday I threw 1/4 each white beans, barley, and wheat berries in a pot of water, to soak overnight (I understand this step for the beans, but not for the grains, but it certainly doesn't hurt). Today I got a bunch of fresh veggies:

Then, I simmered the beans & grains while I diced the sweet potato, regular potatoes, and then peeled, seeded, and diced the butternut squash. (My leftover Halloween scraper works well for that last job!) Finally, I chopped up the red pepper and tomatoes.

The last touch: cut the corn cob into wheels, and chuck into the stew:

The tomatoes and red pepper have been sauteed until soft with a bunch of paprika, and will make a striking topping later:

Yum! It's been a productive evening!