Engagement Party Time!

It is time to celebrate two of my favorite people, Greg and Danny, who recently got engaged.  We are going to my mother-in-law's for their engagement party this weekend, so my job today is to make a gift basket for the boys getting hitched.

I bought a cute basket to hold all my homemade goodies. I also used a mason jar stamp to make labels for everything. That way, Greg and Danny know what they are getting, and also know when to use it by.

Cute right?

Cucumber Infused Gin
Thinly slice the cucumber and place in a jar.  Fill with gin (I used Bombay, because it is Greg's favorite). Let the gin sit for 2 to 3 days.  Great for gin and tonics or cucumber gimlets.

Fennel Infused Vodka
Combine 1 small fennel bulb, fronds and vodka. This infusion can sit for much longer and will be good for up to a month (remove the fennel if it starts to break down).  

Tito's is my favorite vodka and is very affordable.

Fire Roasted Peppers

peppers (any variety)
1 cup of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic

Not having a grill makes this a rather hilarious process.  Soak skewers (or wooden chopsticks will do) in water for about ten minutes.  While they soak, rinse peppers, and cut off the tops. 

Place your gas stove on medium heat.  Skewer the peppers and place right on the stove top.  Turn as needed.  You want a charred skin on all sides.  

This just looks ridiculous.

Once the pepper is done, place in a sealed ziploc bag to steam (this will help to remove the skin later).  Repeat this process with all the peppers.  

Once all of the peppers are done, take them out the bag and use your hands to remove as much skin as possible (some char left over is fine). Then slice the peppers open and remove the seeds and any white membrane.

Heat about a cup of olive oil in a pan on medium low heat.  While it warms, slice two cloves of garlic and put them in a jar. Then place the peppers in the jar.  Pour the olive oil over the peppers.  Let cool before placing the lid on.

These peppers will keep in the fridge for up to three months.  

Lemon Sugar Scrub
2 cups of white sugar
1/4 cup of coconut oil
lemon essential oil

Place the sugar in a bowl.  Slowly add the oil while stirring until you have a soft consistency that is not too oily.  Add lemon essential oil and stir.  Put into a jar and seal.

Some for the boys and a little leftover for me.

I also included my Lavender Bath Salts, Baba Ganoush and Fruit Leather.  You can find the recipes here. 
http://farmtoharlem.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-gift-of-relaxation.html 
http://farmtoharlem.blogspot.com/2015/08/fruit-leather.html
http://farmtoharlem.blogspot.com/2015/08/baby-ganoush-baba-ganoush-made-with.html

Whipped Coconut Oil Body Cream

After days and days in the sun, my skin has been incredibly dry. Most lotion is packed with all sorts of chemicals and harmful ingredients.  But I have never been able to just use straight up oil, so here is my compromise.  Whipping solid coconut oil completely changes the texture. It is delightful!  I am using it for myself, but it makes a great gift as well.  You can mix it up with any essential oils to add fragrance if you like.  Today, I used grapefruit essential oil, but you could use lavender, peppermint, lemon or anything else. 

Whipped Body Cream

1 cup SOLID coconut oil

15 drops Grapefruit essential oil

1 tablespoon of almond oil (you can skip this, or use olive oil instead)

Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl.  Using a hand mixer, whip the ingredients for at least 5 minutes, or until you get a texture that you like.  You can adjust the amount of essential oil you use if you want more or less fragrance.  Place the fluffy delightfulness in a jar, and store at room temperature.

The Gift of Relaxation

Is it weird that mason jars make me so happy?

Homemade bath salts are one of my favorite go-to gifts.  They are easy to make, inexpensive, but still have a homemade touch.  We always have the ingredients in the house, and enough mason jars to give away, so they are a great last minute gift idea.  I've given them as stocking-stuffers, to new moms, to brides-to-be or to friends who just deserve a little something.

Here's what you need to know.  You could do this with just epsom salts and your favorite essential oil.  I like to add some variety by also using baking soda and Himalayan Pink Salt.  Check out the recipes below...

Tell me that is not the biggest thing of baking soda you have ever seen.

Grapefruit and Himalayan Pink Salt

1 and 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt

1/2 a cup of Himalayan Pink Salt

6 drops of grapefruit essential oil

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until combined. 

Lavender Detox
1 and 3/4 cups of Epsom salts
3 Tablespoons of baking soda
6 drops of lavender essential oil

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until combined.