DIY Lavender Bath Salts

The holidays are now upon us and the next thing I know, I'll be watching the ball drop at midnight. Each year I have fabulous intentions of creating homemade gifts from my kitchen for friends and family, but somehow the time slips by and my good intentions rarely make it to reality.

This year is different. This year I am committed.  And this year I am starting early. As in, now!

If you've been wanting to get into the spirit of homemade gifts, I have just the thing: DIY lavender bath salts. These bath salts were inspired by my trip to the Sequim Lavender Festival this past summer.  I'm still working through my incredible stash of dried lavender and essential oil and needed to come up with a creative way to use up the rest of it. Bath salts to the rescue!

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DIY Beachy Hair Spray

Summer is not the time to fuss.  Summer is the time for daytrips, beaches, being out in the sun and, if you are anything like me, eating as much perfectly-ripe fresh produce as you possibly can.  Summer is not the time for spending hours in the kitchen, or hours on your hair for that matter.  We have bigger things to do than worry about our hair.  Am I right? 

Enter DIY beachy hair spray.  This is a simple mix of sea salt and water that gives hair a fabulous texture and is perfect for the loose, beachy waves that every gal wants in summer.  For a nice finish that adds a bit of shine and helps to tame flyaways, I simply used a little coconut oil.  Not only did it give my hair a nice bit of texture, but I loved the smell of coconut.  If your hair is in need of a little pick-me-up, it's time for you to get your beachy hair on too.

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Chocolate-Covered Banana Bites with Coconut and Sea Salt

Have you ever found yourself standing in your kitchen thinking to yourself "I am culinary genius"?  I had that experience this week.  Okay, to be fair, I am definitely not a culinary genius as I am not the inventor of chocolate covered frozen bananas. But! I think I should get genius credit just for making them.... and then sprinkling them with dried coconut and sea salt.  Don't you agree?

I also had the startling revelation that the three best flavors in the world might just be chocolate, coconut, and sea salt.  Bringing them together is just too good.  And genius.

This recipe will forever go down in my mind as the recipe that finally made me buy parchment paper.  I don't know why I chose to be difficult about parchment paper, but I have never bothered to buy it because it seems silly when I have somehow managed to get around in life without it so far.  Yet here I was today, dreaming up my chocolate-covered frozen bananas and finally convinced into buying parchment paper.  Three hours later I can tell you that it was $5 well spent.

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Citrus Sea Salt (and Holiday Gift Ideas)

You know what I love most about this time of year?  Clementines.  I could do without the freezing cold mornings, the crazy holiday shopping, and the same Christmas music on every radio station... but please, don't take away my clementines.  

This year, even more so than in previous years, I vowed to give people gifts that they would not only use and enjoy, but that promoted my values of health, delicious food, and compassion towards others.  I especially love giving homemade gifts from my kitchen that don't involve the typical holiday baked goods. Here are some of my favorite gift ideas this year:

1. Citrus sea salt (recipe below)

2. Caramel corn with sea salt

3. Olive oil granola

4. DIY body scrub

These are all pretty inexpensive gifts and rather simple to make.  When dressed up in a cute jar with a ribbon, who wouldn't love to be the lucky recipient of one of these?

If you're not into the homemade gifts then you could always give a box of local produce, pay for part of a CSA share, or donate to a local nonprofit in someone's honor.  

If you are on board with the clementines, I highly recommend making this citrus sea salt - whether or not you actually give it as a gift.  The clementine zest adds a nice natural sweetness and flavor to the salt that is perfect for roasted vegetables, stir fries, baked tofu, or in salad dressings.  Happy holidays!

Citrus Sea Salt

Adapted from Whole Foods Market

Makes 1 cup

1 cup sea salt

zest from 3 clementines (about 1 Tablespoon)

zest from 2 lemons (about 1 Tablespoon)

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F.  Mix salt with zest and spread evenly on baking sheet.  Place in oven and bake, for 2 hours until dry, turning once if possible.  Use spatula to break up clumps and store in air-tight jars.