2 cups vodka
5 vanilla beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

Combine vodka and vanilla beans in a jar with a tight fitting lid. The vodka mixture will turn amber color after a day or two. Let stand 6 to 8 weeks. Yield: 2 cups.

After half the extract is used, add more vodka to cover the beans. The flavor of the beans is gone when the vodka no longer turns to a dark color. (This extract has been used with the same beans for a period of three years, or longer.)