1 c Applesauce
4 oz Ground cinnamon
1 oz Ground cloves
1 oz Ground nutmeg
1 oz Ground ginger
Combine everything and blend with your hands until
dough is smooth. Add more applesauce if necessary.
Divide dough into quarters. Sprinkle counter with
cinnamon and roll out portion of dough to 1/4" thick.
Cut with cookie cutters and transfer to cookie sheet.
Pierce with skewer to form hole for hanging. Turn
ornaments every 12 hours and examine until they are
dry. This takes 3 to 5 days.
When the ornaments lose their scent, dab on oil of cinnamon.
Note: Roll out dough on aluminum foil and move the
foil onto the cookie sheet. It will help the
ornaments keep their shape.
Note: You can alter the amounts as long as you use
about 7 oz ground spices to 1 c applesauce.
CHRISTMAS PAINTED BALL ORNAMENT
Materials
Clear glass ball ornament
Acrylic Paint (in desired colors)
Ribbon for hanger
Trim (bows, flowers, pearls)
Remove the hanger top of the glass ornament.
With about 3 different colors of paint, start by
pouring in one color, to the inside of the ball, then
the next color and so on around the ball.
Now using an empty egg carton, lay the ball on it
side, then turn it after a short time to the other
side and finally turn it upside down on the egg
carton, so the excess paint will run out into the egg
carton. Leave over night, now turn the ball right side
up and let dry for a few hours. Replace the top and
add the ribbon to hang the ball and decorate with any trim you desire.
option: you can also use some gold foiling on the
outside of the ball, or paint on some paint snow in
the form of stars or a name. The effect you get with
each ball will be different each time, each is an original.
CHRISTMAS SPICE POTPOURRI
4 Oranges
4 Lemons
1/2 cup Whole cloves
1/2 cup Whole allspice
10 Cinnamon Sticks...broken
10 Bay leaves...crumbled
8 ounces Decorated jelly jars withbands & lids
Optional: lace doilys and satin ribbon to tie on top
Using a vegetable peeler, peel fruit carefully,
removing only the peel, not any of the white pith.
cut or tear into one inch pieces.
Spread peel on paper towel lined pan. place in
preheated oven to 175, or set oven to WARM. dry in
oven for 1 1/2 hours, tossing occasionally. Peels should
be leathery and/or slightly crunchy. spread peels on
dry paper towels and let air dry for 24 hours.
Combine with remaining ingredients. fill jars with
mixture, place lids on and screw bands on tightly.
yield: 3 or 4 half pint jars.
To use: remove lid and leave band on for decoration to fragrance a room.
Or put one Tbsp into a jar and fill jar with boiling water to release fragrance.
TURNIP CANDLE HOLDER
In Ireland, it is a Christmas tradition to place
lighted candles in the front windows of the house.
In the past, many families did not own enough
candleholders, so they improvised. Turnips were
plentiful and both large and heavy enough to hold a
candle. What the Irish refer to as a turnip is a
rutabaga in America.
Assemble:
rutabaga
paring knife
candle (preferably a drip candle)
small plate or plastic lid
holly and greens
Cut off the top of the turnip (rutabaga) with the
paring knife. The bottom should be trimmed flat.
Core a hole in the turnip big enough to hold the
candle. Using the paring knife, cut notches around
the core hole to create a star pattern
Place the candle in the turnip. A red or green
candle that will drip wax down over the surface of
the turnip will produce the most pleasing effect.
If the core hole is slightly larger than the candle,
pour a little hot wax into the hole; while the wax
is still soft, insert the candle into the hole,
making sure that it is standing straight up. Place
the turnip candleholder on a small plate or plastic
lid that is larger than the base of the turnip.
Decorate around the bottom of the turnip with holly and greens.
CHRISTMAS DOUGH ORNAMENTS
Ingredients:
3 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 C Corn starch
1/2 C salt
1 1/2 C very hot water
1 tbsp. vaseline
Directions:
Mix flour and corn starch...and set to the side.
Combine water, salt and vaseline until salt is well
dissolved. Add to flours mixture.
Mix everything until it clumps, form into a ball
and knead 5-10 minutes until smooth.
Shape or roll and cut out ornaments
With a toothpick...poke a hole near the top.
Insert hanging hook or ribbon while
dough is soft; let dry 2 to 3 hours before painting.
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