Farmers Market Inspired Products - Mangoes

I love to check out all the local and traveled artists that share their wonderful creations. At some of our local markets we may run into an artists that have created beautiful pieces of jewelry, paintings or my personal favorite is pottery. I love to see what kind of pieces they make and I enjoy supporting their hard work and always have to pick up a new piece or two.

Today I am going to make a lip balm that is inspired from the mangoes that I got in my last produce co-op.

Collect needed items:

First I take off the lid to the Mango Butter Lip Solutions and place into microwave for 20-30 second intervals until the Lip Solutions has melted. This jar of Lip Solutions will fill approximately 55 lip tubes. I will generally melt a jar of Lip Solutions, add flavor and then fill the number of tubes that I need for today. I then store the flavored jar for another day.

When adding the flavor oil you will use 2 to 4% flavor to each jar of lip solution. For a batch of lip balm that makes 50 tubes (.15 ounces each) or 25 jars (.25 ounces each) use from 6 to 11 grams. This converts to approximately 6 to 11 milliliters if you would rather use a pipette. In this recipe I’m liking the Mango Mango combination and will use 11 grams flavor oil.

Once the Lip Solutions is melted then I add in the flavor oil and mix thoroughly. Then I will set out my Lip Balm Tubes that I want to fill and add the Lip Solutions until it reaches the top of the screw inside the tube, when the solution has cooled a tiny bit I then add more Lip Solution to the tube making a nice dome shape on top. I do this in two parts to help prevent the small indention that can happen as it cools. Cap when lip balm has completely cooled. If you have any over-the-side spillage then wipe with a paper towel before capping and labeling.

Let me know what items from the Farmers Market will inspire you in the kitchen. Send in a photo of your market so I can do a drawing at the end of the week!