This time of year is all about indulging the senses. The twinkling lights that adorn the trees on the street. The taste of sweet and savory treats at holiday gatherings. The satisfying sound of crunching snow underfoot. The beautiful silence of a cold, winter night. The cozy warmth of a blanket in front of a blazing fire. And the spicy, sweet, herbal scents of the season.
Today, I am going to show you an easy, inexpensive holiday gift that will dazzle the senses of your neighbors, friends and coworkers.
I am always looking for fun new ways to appreciate my coworkers and neighbors during the holiday season. Last year, with healthy gift for food lovers in mind, I gave away pesto from basil that I grew in the garden that year.
This year, I was inspired by another coworker who does something similar for her neighbors. Today, we are going to talk about how you can make happy holiday potpourri. Warning: this does take a full afternoon to make. But, it uses inexpensive ingredients and it makes your house smell incredible in the process. And, you may even get to use your garden (I used sprigs of rosemary from my front yard).
I hope you try this recipe – it’s a fun, creative way to tell people you are thinking of them during the holiday season.
Materials:
– 4 pounds of navel oranges (that big bag sold in the grocery)
– 3 pounds of red delicious apples (that big bag sold in the grocery)
– 20 cinnamon sticks
– 20 sprigs of fresh rosemary
– Jar of whole cloves
– Jar of ground allspice
– Jar of ground cinnamon
– Small cellophane bags
– Ribbon
– Parchment paper
Directions:
– Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
– Slice the oranges thinly and place on parchment-lined baking sheets
– Sprinkle one side of your oranges with ground allspice
– Slice the apples thinly and place on parchment-lined baking sheets
– Sprinkle one side of your apples with ground cinnamon
– Bake in the oven for 2-3 hours, or until the orange and apple slices are hard and dry (your house will smell AMAZING while this is happening! Enjoy it)
– Take out of the oven and allow to cool
– Assemble your potpourri. Add to your cellophane bag:
o 3 orange slices
o 3 apple slices
o 1 sprig of rosemary
o 1 cinnamon stick
o 1 teaspoon of whole cloves
– Tie your potpourri in a bow
– Attach a tag with these instructions:
What do you enjoy giving to friends, neighbors, and coworkers? Let me know in the comments below!
© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
Manners matter here! Not sure whether your comment is irrelevant, impolite, or disrespectful? Read my commenting rules Commenting Rules
The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!