Herbs for the Holidays

Home-crafted herbal gifts demonstrate your personal interest and help make the holidays special. And herbal dishes are bound to make every meal special. Here are some ideas for that everyone can use.

Rosemary Napkin Rings

Shape a long flexible branch of rosemary into a ring, tying with ribbon. Use any color to match your décor, but this is especially attractive with red ribbon.

Bay Trees

Use hot glue or straight pins to attach whole dried or fresh bay leaves to Styrofoam tree forms, beginning at the bottom, then offsetting and overlapping each row by about half. For something a little extra, use gold or silver spray or acrylic paint to add extra sparkle once the tree is finished. These trees may also be made into topiaries by inserting a short, painted dowel rod into the base, and into oasis form in a plant pot or other decorative container. Use a little Spanish moss (attached with hot glue or strong white glue) to cover the oasis. Tie a ribbon bow around the dowel if space allows.

Pomanders

Requires:

• whole cloves
• citrus fruits or apples.

Ensure that the fruit skin is clean and clear of blemishes. Stud each fruit with whole cloves, shaping patterns by hand, following pencil lines, or using peel-off tape. For thick-skinned fruit, try using a large embroidery needle to begin the hole for the clove.

Christmas Tree Decorations

Herb bunches: For many years, decorative herb bunches were used to provide color to Christmas trees. Take 4-5 stems of your favorite dried herbs and everlasting flowers, binding together with string, raffia, or ribbon. Place around tree by inserting stem-end first into the branches, allowing the pretty flowers and foliage to show against the evergreen branches.

Potpourri-filled clear glass balls: For a wonderful scent around your tree, stuff clear glass Christmas balls with potpourri and replace the hanger.

Mini Grapevine Wreaths: Using your own or purchased mini (2-3") grapevine wreaths, glue on dried flowers, herbs, and greenery. Add a pretty ribbon or raffia ribbon and hanger.

Citrus Ornaments: Dry slices of orange in the oven. Decorate one side with herbs, cinnamon sticks, and a raffia bow. Add a hanger on the back. (Note: dry oranges slices on a rack in a warm oven (250°F) with the door slightly ajar for 3-4 hours, turning occasionally to ensure uniform drying.)

Recipes

• Rosemary Walnuts
• Winter Fruit Compote
• Grandma's Spicy Rosemary Thumbprint Cookies