Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Simple Christmas . . .





Do you ever wish to return to a simpler, less harried Christmas time? I'm not sure if it is even possible but we keep trying ! After a busy, busy sewing season it's difficult to have enough energy to decorate and bake, so we have simplified our routine a bit over the last few years. Yes, I still decorate, but it's mostly simple greens and candles. Yes, I still bake . . . I love it, but I don't worry about having 10 kinds of cookies . . . 3 or 4 favorites will do!

So . . in this spirit I would like to share one of my favorite decorations of many years!

I dry orange slices to adorn our tree . . I set aside a day to slice and to dry them in the oven. The smell throughout the house is wonderful! Once dried, strung and on the tree s they catch the light and reflect a warm candle glow color! Here's how!

Set oven at 200 degrees.
Line cookie trays with foil.
Slice navel oranges into about 1/8" or so slices. (eat the scraps to get your vitamin C for winter!)
Lie them on cookie sheets and put into oven . . after about an hour turn them over.
Then maybe after 30 minutes, check and turn again if need be.
They should take about 2 hours, but everyones oven heats a little differently.
After about 1.5 hours check often as they can brown quickly.
Now and then one will stick to the foil, gently peel off and turn over.
Make plenty unless you lose a few.
I also add them to wooden bowls filled with homemade popourri, or hang on garlands.
String with a needle and strong thread.

Have fun, sing carols and enjoy a simple Christmas!

Peace,
Lori Ann

4 comments:

Heidi Steiner said...

Simply lovely Lori Ann. I'll bet the birdies and squirrels will love the orange slices after Christmas.
Holiday Hugs-
Heidi

tj said...

...Oh thank goodness! I thought I was the only one NOT going all out this season. I've come to learn that it isn't how big the tree is or how decked out your halls are or how many presents are under the tree - it's the Christmas spirit that you carry in your heart...and that you carry it all the year thru... :o)

...Your tree is beautiful and I think simple is better...

...Merry Christmas and blessings too... :o)

Morna Crites-Moore said...

Beautiful! Thanks so much for the "recipe" - I'll try it! Would it help to elevate them onto a rack on top of the cookie sheet - so the air can flow around them? Or would they end up suffering from rack burn? Just wondering. Merry Christmas to you. :)

Unknown said...

Love the simplicity and thank you so much for the orange recipe. Your tree looks super! Deb