Home Made Christmas Decorations

SCOTTISH COUNTRY HOUSE RECIPES:

Not so much a recipe but a fun piece of decoration that's best to start around November...I love this month because it is my birthday AND two of my children's birthday, so you can guess that there will be a lot of celebrating going on for me...

This month I am going to show you how to make a decoration in time for Christmas....yes I know that you think it may be a bit too soon , but read on and you will understand why.

This decoration once it is ready looks very pretty and smells divine in your home. It is so simple with a little forward planning...

You will need some medium sized oranges and you can make as many as you like, if you have the storage to dry them out...I am sure your country home will have a boiler room so it will be ideal. If you are seating about sixty people you will probably need 30 .

Ok here we go...

Orange and Clove Christmas Decoration...

You will need...

oranges  

a bulk quantity of cloves

red coloured ribbon

small dress making pins

small split rings

You can use any colour of ribbon that you like, or wrapping tape or fabric....just use your imagination...its FUN... 

This is what I do...

Carve out a strip as wide as the ribbon you are using, starting from the top and working all the way around the orange,

then again going in the other direction...you can do this with a zester leaving only the pith in this section...

next fill in all of the uncarved sections of the orange with cloves, making sure that you cover every bit of it...

When that is done place the oranges in a shallow box or onto trays and put them in a warm place to dry out...like an airing cupboard or boiler room...

This will take  a few weeks and when ready should be completely dry and much lighter in weight than when you started...

when it's ready gather up some dress making pins and pretty tape or ribbon wrap the tape or ribbon around the oranges where you carved out a groove,use the pins to hold things in place, and don't forget to make a loop at the top to hang up your decoration...

Thats all there is to it, a very simple traditional decoration that will not only smell divine for Christmas and beyond...but also is a wonderful reminder of times past.

I hope you enjoy making your decorative oranges...I think they are well worth the effort...wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and...Happy Hogmanay !

     Janet