For most bakers, it's second-nature to measure out the prescribed dose of vanilla for a cookie dough or cake batter using a measuring spoon, but it turns out that the iconic McCormick bottle can actually save you a dish. The red cap on the 4-ounce bottle of McCormick vanilla holds 3/4 of a teaspoon of liquid - perfect for recipes that call for a multiple of 3/4 (the caps on the 2-ounce bottles hold about 1/2 teaspoon).
Vanilla extract adds a little luxury, perfuming the jar as the alcohol carries the aromatic compounds into the liquid, and the fragrance softens the slight bitterness of chia seeds. Because we are well-trained to taste vanilla as "dessert," even a tiny splash, like a quarter teaspoon or less per serving, makes the pudding taste fuller without extra sugar;
Reading the ingredients, you can determine that the seemingly fruity component of the mix is actually made from a weird amalgamation of sugars, starches, dyes, and artificial flavors. But does this mean that all imitation products are made with such artificial ingredients? Not necessarily. In the U.S., the FDA requires products to be labeled as "imitation" if they resemble another food and are deemed to be nutritionally inferior by comparison.
Pure vanilla extract is the oft-celebrated, hard-working hero of many recipes. It adds both sweetness and complexity and balances key flavors in other ingredients. While most have a bottle of vanilla extract in their cupboard, you may not know that vanilla extract will decline in both flavor and quality over time, especially without proper storage. How long your vanilla extract lasts depends on the type of vanilla and how it's stored.
You can use these two pantry staples - vanilla extract and baking soda - either alone or together for an even bigger burst of freshness at a fraction of the cost, without even leaving the house to purchase a new bottle. The vanilla extract and baking soda make a simple DIY air freshener that will have you saying goodbye to the spray cans and hello to a sweet new way of sprucing things up.
