Monday, December 18, 2017

Homemade Ornaments- Simple Dried Oranges...


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!!!  How 'bout at your house????

We've got the decorations up, the tree was finally purchased (from Home Depot- nope, not a fancy tree farm), cookies are baking, sweet treats are being consumed, lots and lots of trips to stores are happening, and YES lots of orders from Amazon!!  I LOVE ordering from Amazon!!!  

Last year, the we strung garlands of popcorn and cranberries for the first time. I LOVE the way that looked- old fashioned and warm and friendly.  This year,  we decided to try our hand at making dried oranges.  Y'all, it was SO easy!!!  Here's what you'll need to do...


Simple Dried Oranges

- oranges (I used 4 and did not use the ends that were just rinds)
- baking sheets
- parchment paper or baking mat 
- twine or some kind of string.

Simply start by slicing the oranges about 1/4 of an inch thick.  Then lay them flat on a baking sheet that has been lined with either parchment paper or a baking mat.  The oranges will release some of their juice as they bake and the parchment paper or baking mat makes clean up easier and keeps the orange slices from sticking to the baking sheet.  

Place in a 200 degree oven and bake for 4 hours.  Yes it takes a while, BUT if you try to bake them at a higher temperature, you will burn them.  Remember, you are just drying them out so it's a slow process.  Turn each orange slice over every hour to make sure they dry out evenly.  

After the four hours, let them cool completely on the baking sheet 4 hours or overnight. This dries them out even more.  

Then, using the point of scissors, make a small slit in the dried orange and string with twine. Tie together and hang on your Christmas tree.  This would be super cute tied on top of a present along with fresh rosemary, too!!!


So that's it. Simple. Inexpensive.  Homey.  I'm all about making our house a home even at Christmas and this is just one way that you can do that, too.  

Merry Christmas!!



11 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi, These are great a traditional homemade decoration which jsut adds that little extra to a Christmas tree #MMBC

Daniela said...

Dear Mrs.U,
thanks most sincerely for the lovely comment you left on ~ My little old world ~, I sincerely appreciate it !
You also have such a beautiful blog and I'd love to follow you but I cannot find the Google+ gadget, so I'm doing copy and paste of the URL of your web page to receive your updates !

Sending blessings on your Christmas Holidays,
with utmost gratitude

XOXO Daniela

Naomi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Naomi said...


What a lovely idea, so simple and easy yet effective! Have a wonderful Christmas! #TwinklyTuesday

handmade by amalia said...

This orange garland is so pretty, I hope it smells nice as well. Happy Holidays.
Amalia
xo

Lynda Hardy said...

I love homey ornaments like this! Thanks so much for sharing with Party in Your PJs!

The Cape Coop said...

I absolutely love dried orange ornaments! Thanks for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop!

Debbie said...

Hi Christian, I can't believe the holidays are nearly over. We'll take the tree down at the weekend and the house will look big and bare (not a bad thing as our house is small). Theses simple dried orange decorations could be used to make a pretty potpourri too, it would seem a waste to just use them at Christmas.

Thank you for linking up with the #MMBC.

xx

Mrs. U said...

Hi Debbie Roberts!
GREAT idea to use them in potpourri!!!!! Thank you!!

His
Mrs. U

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

So very pretty! And, I bet the smell is divine! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the fan favorites at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week's Showcase. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/sunday-showcase-make-pretty-monday-8-30/ Have a Happy week ahead! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

AngieOuellette-Tower said...

This wonderful post is a GARDEN feature on the January You're the STAR blog hop: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2018/01/youre-star-week1-garden-january-2018.html
Thanks
Angie

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