2) Next, CAREFULLY peel the skin off of the top of the tangerine first keeping the skin totally intact so that you get a half sphere of skin. The top is the half with the stem.
Pay extra attention when you get to peeling the part below the stem where skin connects to the fruit. There is a piece of white "stuff" extending from the skin into the center of the fruit. You want to preserve most of this piece. It will be used as the wick for the candle. If you peel it, and don't get a good wick, you'll need to start with a new clementine.
Now peel the bottom half of the tangerine the same way. The bottom half is the one without the stem.
3) Now, cut a hole (be creative in your pattern!) in the non-stem half of the tangerine. This will serve as the "top" of the candle and the hole will allow the heat and the flame to escape.
4) Now your ready to add the fuel (the olive oil).
Pour a small amount of the olive oil in the half of the tangerine with the wick. You only need to fill the bottom with 1/8" - 1/4" (about 5mm) olive oil.
If your wick is short, you'll only want to fill the oil up to about 1/8" - 1/4" (about 5mm) below the wick.
If your wick is too long (like mine) you'll want to cut the wick so it is about 1/8" - 1/4" (about 5mm) above the oil.
5) Lastly, light your candle! Take the matches (or a lighter) and hold it to the wick. Because the wick is still slightly damp, you'll need to hold the flame on it for a few seconds to dry it out and let it soak up the oil.
Once the wick stays lit by itself, place the other half on top and enjoy.
The bottom half of the candle should last a long time because the oil soaks into the skin and preserves it.
Important note: Like any object that has a flame, be careful not to leave your candle unattended!
Enjoy!!
contributed by KF, San Jose, CA
No comments:
Post a Comment