We snagged these organic popcorn kernels from a local farm in early fall at the farmers' market. I made popcorn once in our heavy cast iron dutch oven with the "no-stir" method. It burned on the bottom. Ah well. For Christmas, Alan's parents gifted us a Whirly-Pop, so popcorn making has once again commenced, with no burnage! Being all snug inside on cold winter days really makes me want to make popcorn (and hot chocolate), and we've been having plenty of cold around here.

I always pop in coconut oil as it is very heat stable, and even though I wouldn't mind if it did (since I happen to love coconut oil), it really doesn't flavor the popcorn.  I pop 1/2 cup in about 2 tablespoons of oil, then toss with 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 tablespoon of sugar of choice, about 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a heavy shake of ground cinnamon. This is so addictive, I always eat way too much and make myself sick. Don't do this. Just eat the right amount and feel awesome. :)

Our first year of marriage I made all of Alan's Christmas gifts. We spent the majority of our time together then, as we do now, but I would tell him I was working on a secret project and sequester myself in a different room while visiting my parents, or make him hang out in our bedroom while I worked (which at the time was literally a closet, because we were living in a studio apartment! Good sport!) Nowadays having the wee ones complicates things a little bit, mostly because there's less time to work on projects in general, and also because if I disappear and shut the door, Alan will both have full responsibility of the kids and little fingers will be poking under the door. Plus, now I like secret projects to really be secret, if possible. So it's been a couple years since there was a handmade gift for him under the tree on Christmas, until this year, when I was sneaky and took advantage of a couple of hours he spent at a monthly meeting while Indy was also napping.

We're still working on getting our wood-burning stove installed in our living room, and this present was in anticipation of that. I used organic beeswax and lavender stalks (which can usually be procured fairly cheaply, since they're sort of a leftover from harvesting the lavender - I purchased both things from Esty). These fire starters are a good way to start indoor or outdoor fires, and I fully expect them to smell wonderful! 

I used scissors to cut the stalks (I suggest doing it with your hands down in a big paper grocery bag to avoid flinging stalk everywhere), and then piled them into an egg carton.

Use a double boiler to safely melt your beeswax (I used a mason jar set in a pot of water).

Wear the fussy baby, and be sure to pile your hair way up high on your head or he will mercilessly pull it all out.

Pour the beeswax over the stalks and top with saved sprigs of lavender, allow to cool.

Then they can be cut and put in a jar for gifting or storing. I can't wait to actually be able to use these!