Fire in Ice

Raid your recycling bag for a two-liter juice or milk carton and cut it in half, retaining the bottom portion. Take a small empty soup can and fill it with gravel for weight. Set it inside the bottom portion of the carton, as close to the centre as possible. Pour enough water in around the can to bring the level in the carton to within a half inch of the top of the can.

Place the carton in the freezer compartment of your fridge, making sure it’s level. If the temperature is below freezing outside, you can place it outdoors.

Once the water in the container has frozen, carefully pour boiling water into the gravel-filled can. This heats the sides of the can so it can be wiggled out of the carton leaving an empty cylinder in the centre. You may have to drain the water out of the can and replace it with more boiling water as it will cool quite quickly before the sides have thawed enough to loosen.

After you’ve got the can out, pour about an inch of water into the hole it’s left in the carton and put it back in the freezer to finish the “bottom” of the ice lantern.

Once this has frozen, you can either cut away the carton or run hot water over its sides to loosen the ice in order to slide it out. Set a tea light candle in the center and light to enjoy.

I’m making lanterns five at a time for a total of maybe 10 or 20 to light up the holiday season. Their easy portability means I can move this bright focal point from walkway to steps easily.

In order to prolong the life of these unique lanterns in this roller coaster climate of ours, pay special attention to the temperature or you’ll end up with puddles of water. I’d suggest storing them in the freezer once completed, only bringing them out for special evenings when you have company coming or on very still, very cold nights.

I’ve yet to experiment with how long these lanterns will last once lit, but am looking forward to the spectacle of fire inside ice.