Waxing BEE-autifully

Have you noticed the price of 100%, organic beeswax candles, lately?  I bought several tapers at Whole Foods recently having paid far too much for them.  Seriously!  I was ruined years ago when gifted with a couple Jo Malone candles.  Admittedly the scent of Jo Mallone's noir just puts me in a trance!  The $435.00 price tag puts me in a trance of another sort.  Their eensy 60g. travel size candle is $35.00.

That got me to thinking which lead to some research.  What I discovered is that 100% beeswax is ideal to burn in your home.  Something about releasing ions which attract other charged particles of the nasty nature.  Think about your pollen, pet dander and all-around air pollutants!  That's all it took...pricing....charged ions...oooo let me have beeswax, please.

I bought 2 pounds of the best organic beeswax I could find.  It came to the house all official looking and smelling a little bit like honey (of course) with a tad sweeter aroma and the smoother, softer texture of a babies buttery behind.

With my youngest in tow we visited the local craft shop and picked out 100% cotton wicks then shuffled over to Whole Foods for our trial run of 100% lavender essential oil.  I usually get my essential oils at Eden Botanicals but wasn't sure I had enough lavender to scent two pounds of wax.  Then we high-tailed it home and came up with our first homemade candles.

I'm only speculating but I think we'll be waxing poetic about even more beeee-eautiful candles in our future.

Kahlua-aaaahhh

If I made vanilla extract, it's only natural I'd progress to homemade Kahlua. You'd think so.  However it took the prompting of my dear friend Peggy. One day she telephoned saying her vanilla extract came out well and since she was on her way to becoming the Michigan Martha Stewart tried her hand at homemade Kahlua.  Great.  Why hadn't I thought of it?  <palm slap to forehead>

Peggy passed on her recipe and I went right to work.  The first batch...well..let's just say it didn't taste the way I liked it to taste.  And listen folks, I'm a Kahlua fiend.  After switching coffee brands and Vodka brands we scored!  Such a good score that upon gifting it to another friend, well known for his keen palate, he exclaimed:  "It's delicious!"

12 cups very strong brewed coffee (I use Starbucks espresso)
2 lbs. dark brown sugar 

8 tablespoons vanilla extract

4 vanilla beans
1 bottle 190 proof very good quality Vodka.  Do not skimp here.  A good Vodka yields great Kahlua.

In a large, heavy saucepan bring to simmer 12 cups brewed coffee.  Add brown sugar and return to boil stirring continuously. Let cool until room temperature.

When completely cool, add the vanilla extract, vanilla beans, and Vodka.

At this point your Kahlua is ready to serve.  I like to transfer the Kahlua to flip top specialty bottles, along with the whole vanilla bean, and age for at least four months.  Kahlua in tightly closed bottles will store indefinitely.

I'm only speculating but I think there's a White Russian in my future. Ahhhhh.