1. Make your own vanilla extract Place vanilla beans into vodka (add a splash of rum if desired) and leave for about 2 months. I rotated so that one bottle is being used while the other is in a dark space extracting. Bonus: no crazy additives, you can reuse your containers over and over, and it tastes absolutely real and delicious. 2. Use block parmesan instead of the grated kind in a plastic tub. Look in the deli section of your grocery store and buy a block of parmesan (or romano or asiago) cheese. Use a small grater or zester…