I think a half pound is a realistic amount for most of us non-commercial bakers 
Once opened, the beans are good for about a year if you keep them as airtight as possible, according to the person I bought them off of.
Even with brewing extract, there's only so many I can use. Although at some of these prices (which are less than what I paid), it may be more economical to use a vanilla bean than some of my Neilsen-Massey when I just want a little vanilla as a supporting flavor.
Ok now, happy REAL birthday Lani!!
I have a stupid question, it's about buying those beans on eBay. I used to get stuff on eBay a looooong time ago, before they had these 'stores', back before the 'buy it now' option. I have only used it a few times since then, and only for one item at a time. This seller that Lani pointed out offers a free item if you spend a certain amount. How do I insure that I get all my items on one order to qualify? If you click 'buy it now' it takes you to the check out... will there be an option to continue shopping or add more items? I hate to sound like a dork, but I just haven't used eBay regularly in years! (In the 90's I recognized that I could easily become an addict, so I kind of stepped back from it.) I seriously am well versed in online shopping, but not eBay. Someone please confirm that I am going to do this correctly! 
Cool, thanks for the info! I'm going to give them a try.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Melvira, she's right, the seller will know that you placed multiple orders and I believe once you buy something, you will have the option to buy more from that seller. Most combine shipping.
I have some CK brand Butter-Vanilla and I actually like it because when you open it, it smells like butter rum. But it gives a nice flavor. It works well for icing because even though it looks thick and opaque, it doesn't give any color, so if someone wants really white icing, you can do it!
About Ebay
I normally leave a message to the seller about all the things I want then they will charge me proper shipping. They make an invoice, but make SURE you use the ebay site for your protection, don't go one on one with the seller. Once I was ordering ski googles from ebay and the seller did not combine my shipping. 
But I was ordering some crazy cheap stuff from china, so I just left negative feedback and decided not to fight it, it was only $4 extra -- but still!
The brew is on!
The only tight-sealing wide mouth glass jar I could find is a 2 liter capacity (short of buying a case of Ball jars), so I'm doing the "large size" vanilla brew It's all good - if it comes out good it'll make unique Christmas gifts.
I split 12 vanilla beans, scraped them, and added everything to the jar and topped them off with 1.75 liter bottle of rotgut vodka. I will need more vanilla beans to flavor that much vodka, but I plan on adding the scraped pods as I use them.
Other than adding more beans and giving the jar a shake every once in a while, all I need to do now is ignore it....I can handle that
Come the end of the summer, I should have homemade extract.
...all I need to do now is ignore it....I can handle that
NOT!!! I couldn't take it! I'd be in there talking to it and making moony eyes at it twelve times a day! 
I can't wait to make mine! I just know it's going to be good!!
This may be a stupid question...but could you use a fifth of Vanilla flavored Vodka and add the vanilla beans to make your own extract?
This may be a stupid question...but could you use a fifth of Vanilla flavored Vodka and add the vanilla beans to make your own extract?
I don't see why not. You'd have a little imitation flavoring in there (whatever the vodka company uses). I think it might be a waste though because the bean pods will give you such a nice real vanilla flavor, that you're probably not going to taste the vanilla of the vodka anyway.
No stupid questions around here... though I don't guarantee all of the answers! heheheh!
Edited to add: And I believe the good vanilla vodka costs a bit more than the 'rotgut' we've had referred to here, so that's a waste too! (I love that term... rotgut... does anyone else feel like a cowboy? Hehehehe!)
First of all, Melvira? That's your baby hormones talking, regarding wanting to pamper the vodka and vanilla bottle.
You could, if were the sort of person who didn't have anything better to spend her money on, use a vanilla vodka to get this brew rolling. Of course, then we'd be debating what kind of vanilla they used to flavor said vodka with...
Me? I'm cheap. Since I only expect to use the resulting vanilla extract in "normal" quantities (a teaspoon here, a tablespoon there), the quality of vodka doesn't need to be high. It's not like I'm going to make a martini out of it
Let me give you an example. A fifth of Smirnoff (the cheapest brand likely to make a vanilla vodka) will cost you about $15-$18, depending on the market you live in. Ye Olde Rotgut brand of vodka, for the same fifth, would be about $6.
So rotgut it is!
Wow, Mel, I haven't been on this post for awhile, but I guess since I've been gone you've been hitting the Vodka again, huh?
Well, the last time I was on here I said I was getting vanilla from a friend who just got back from Mexico. I was soooo excited.
Well, the last bottle I had must have been HOMEMADE, and probably dangerous, but soooo delicious. The one she brought me this time, was a manufactured bottle (like real label) and just okay. I'm disappointed. 
Thanks for the suggestion to use vanilla powder in SMBC. I tried it yesterday and it was yummy and the color was not dark. Really appreciate it!
Now, I am thinking about trying to make my own vanilla. Sounds yummy and cost effective too.
Some of you should have a comedy tour, you're hilarious! 
I'm so excited, I got my beans yesterday! My only previous experience with a vanilla bean was the dry, brittle thing I got at the grocery store, so going off that, these are just beautiful. Pilable, plump, and they smell so good! I bought 2 bottles of the cheapest hooch(rotgut) vodka I could find (liquor store guy must've thought me a cheap drunk ) and plunked some beans in. I'm looking forward to using the extracts in my holiday baking, though it sucks to have to wait that long.
Vanilla bean question: To use in baking, do I just toss in the scraped insides of one bean in place of 1 tsp of extract?
It's like night and day on the difference, isn't it? Pay less - get better beans - who'd have thought.
It depends on the "pungency" and size of the bean...I would say 1 scraped bean is closer to 2-3 teaspoons of extract. I find a small paring knife does the job really well.
And dump those scraped pods into the rotgut!
Mine has been brewing for over a week now - already has a lot of color
But you are so right. It is weird! I paid $11 for the bad grocery store bean. 
I checked mine a couple days ago when I added another half-bean (made creme anglaise where 1/2 a bean was more than enough - added the leftover half to the brew).
It smells INCREDIBLY clean vanilla-y with no trace of rotgut-vodka aroma. I tasted a little bit, and I think has some more time to go to get strong enough to use, including adding some more beans (I'm adding scraped pods and such as I use them for other recipes). I think it will be right on target with being able to use in the fall/bottle for Christmas presents.
Regarding removing the beans after they've soaked for a while - I read somewhere on the internet that someone was pulling them "occasionally" when they looked too limp. Mine still look pretty good, but I may tie the ones already in there with a bit of kitchen string when I get around to it, and leave the new ones "loose", so I can fish out old ones easier at some point.
When you "decant" some of the extract to use, leave the beans in and top off the brew with more rotgut to keep it going. I'm just not sure how I'll actually ever use quite that much vanilla LOL - I am brewing in a 2 quart glass jar that's nearly full.
Next thing I need to do is search out some 4 oz/8 oz containers to "gift out" some of the vanilla when it's ready to go. I also want to buy some more beans online so that when I package them, I will stuff 1 bean into the gift bottle with the brew.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%