Vanilla Extract:
1. Scrape and chop 6 vanilla beans. The husk in about 1 inch segments.
2. Put in an alchol base, 35-40% alc. 1 cup per 6 beans. This can be vodka, me I hate Vodka so cheap silver rum works for me. I like rum. Some people put it in burbon, vodka, or what not but it doesn't improve or hurt the chances if it is a higher alcholol content.
3. Shake container 1 a day for 2 weeks.
4. Store in a cool dark place until it is at least 2 months since you started it.
5. Strain the dregs out with a coffee filter or something else.
6. Reportedly you can use the same dregs again with one more batch of vodka.
Since vanilla extract keeps for decades and even gets a bit better as it ages you can make up big batches and give out as holiday gifts.