Vanilla bean use question...

[bercilakslady]

I just purchased a pound of vanilla beans for $20 plus shipping, and I'm planning to use it for making vanilla extract and sugar for gifts, as well as for my own cooking. My question comes from the prevalence of vanilla paste as a stronger flavored substitute for extract. Is it possible to make vanilla paste that will keep well? How would you do that? I expect that the keeping qualities of vanilla extract are due to the alcohol, so I'm not sure what the keeping qualities of vanilla beans ground to a paste with nothing added would be, or if that is a reasonable way to make vanilla paste.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience?