CHRISTMAS HERBAL HOME

Christmas is a great time to use herbs throughout the house!  This book, An Herbal Christmas, and an earlier post on an Herbal Christmas will give you lots of ideas. 

Here are a few more ideas with instructions scattered through a narrative of a special Christmas herbal home that can be used as a great way to exchange gifts during the holiday – simply pass wrapped gifts to the right or left as the terms are used to determine who gets your gift!!

            Anticipation is high as we approach this special home during the holidays.  Right when we enter, we are met with the unmistakable fragrance of simmering spices in a TWELVE HERB YULE BLEND. 

TWELVE-HERB YULE BLEND
1c rose hips
1/2c cinnamon chips
1/2c allspice berries
1/2c ginger root
1/2c caraway seeds
1/4c rosemary leaves
1/4c lemon peel (one lemon)
1/4c orange peel (one orange)
2Tbs whole cloves
4 broken star anise pods
1 handful of bay leaves

           Combine all the ingredients and place in a jar or sachet for gift giving during the holidays.  May also be used as a simmering potpourri in muslin bags that are added to a pan of boiling water on the stove.

Then as we turn left and enter the heart of the home the real explosion of the senses begins.  In the fireplace is a YULE LOG and to the left of the fireplace is a basket full of bunches of herbs waiting to be placed on the dying embers. Across the mantelpiece is a BAY & FRUIT SWAG and garlands of suspended bunches of herbs are at the windows to the left and right of the fireplace.

BAY & FRUIT SWAG
1 lb Bay Leaves
4 Dried Apple Slices
6 Dried Orange Slices
5 - 3” Cinnamon Sticks
36” Wire
Red & Green Raffia
               Bend 1” loop at one end of 36” of wire.  Add 6” of bay leaves then two dried oranges, 6” of bay leaves then two dried apples, 6” of bay leaves then two dried oranges, 6” of bay leaves then two dried apples, 6” of bay leaves then two dried oranges and 6” of bay leaves.  Bend 1” loop at the end.  Go back and separate the fruit slices and tie a cinnamon stick onto the wire between them using red with the oranges and green with the apples, but both red & green in a bow between the center orange slices.  Tie a red and green raffia bow at each end.  Swag over a door or window especially in the kitchen or just lay across a mantle or shelf.  Merry Christmas!!!
Dried Apples & Oranges: Slice apples ¼ inch thick, leaving the core.  Soak the apple slices for 20 minutes covered in a mixture of 2c lemon juice and 3Tbs salt, then remove and pat dry with paper towels.  Cut each orange crosswise into 1/4 inch slices and discard ends.  Place both soaked apple slices and orange slices on wire racks on cookie sheets in a 150 degree oven for 6hrs until yet pliable.  If they start to curl, turn them over.

Across the room, right in front of the bay window is a large tree decorated with SPICE ORNAMENTS including cinnamon stars, plus decorated pinecones and herbal tussie mussies.  To the right, as we enter the kitchen there is a BAY LEAF KISSING BALL!  The adventure continues as we notice a culinary herb wreath representing the bounty of what’s left of this year’s harvest surrounding the punch bowl. 

BAY LEAF KISSING BALL: Form loop at one end of 2- 12” wires.  Add bay leaves to one wire until completely filled.  Bend into wreath shape and attach wire end to loop.  Add bay leaves to second wire until completely filled.  Bend into wreath shape around the first wreath and attach wire end to loop.  Add rosemary symbolizing rememberance, lavender symbolizing devotion and thyme symbolizing courage with pepperberries to the top of the ball with wire and add mistletoe symbolizing good fortune to the bottom with red ribbons or raffia.   

Finally we enter our destination - the dining room – with a huge table set for our holiday feast.  An HERBAL ADVENT WREATH is the centerpiece on the table and is surrounded by CLOVE POMANDERS to the left and right. 

CLOVE POMANDERS
Oranges, lemons, limes
Whole Cloves
Mixture of ground spices: cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice & nutmeg
               Place cloves into orange, lemon or lime in desired pattern remembering to keep them as close together as possible.  Roll in spice mixture.  Allow to completely dry out in a warm, dry area to prevent mold.  When dry they may be wrapped with ribbon.

Our individual places are marked with name cards decorated with herbs and berries plus a MANGER HERB SACHET favor right above our plate.  At each place setting there is also a napkin to the left of the fork tied with ribbon holding a sprig of fresh rosemary. 

MANGER HERB SACHET
Pennyroyal for virtue
Thyme for bravery
Lavender for devotion
Gold (tansy or yarrow) for kings
Frankincense for God
Myrrh for Man
Chamomile for energy in adversity
Rosemary for remembrance
               Combine all herbs and spices and place in sachets.  Can be used to scent the nativity or some herbs can be removed and sprinkled in the manger.

Right then, as I think nothing can be more perfect, out comes the turkey on special see-through platters revealing a design of herbs and flowers pressed right between the two dishes.  A great way to impress your guests. right????

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6