Vanilla extract is one of those ingredients most baking recipes call for and yet, I never really stopped to think how it was made or even what was in it besides vanilla. Then about a year ago, friends and other bloggers started talking about homemade vanilla extract and I thought it would be nice to have around the house. Not only did I like the idea of knowing the exact ingredients I’d be baking with, but vanilla extract at the grocery store can be expensive for a very small amount–usually 1.5-2 oz. can cost anywhere from 5-8 dollars. So, I finally decided to go ahead and order the vanilla beans…