Even though we live in a world where you can find almost any gift you would want to give via the internet, I still find the most value in giving personalized holiday presents gifts. One of my favorites to give is Christmas Potpourri, because it is so easy to make, and you can customize the scent for each of your friends and family members.
The instructions below are for making a beautiful citrus blend, perfect for the holidays, and the salt you add to the mixture helps the scent last for weeks. The scent comes out best when the potpourri is kept in a warn dry location.
What you will need:
1 Quart of fir needles
1 Cup dried citrus peels (grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, etc)
1 Cup whole rosemary
½ Cup dried whole basil
2 to 4 Whole bay leaves (coarsely crumbled)
2 Cups coarse (not iodized) salt
Feel free to add any other fun holiday decorations to the mix, like pinecones, ribbons, glitter, etc.
What to do:
First, prepare the citrus peels by removing the membrane. Then, cut them into strips, and leave to dry in a warm place till very crisp and brittle. Once dry, break the peels into small pieces and store in plastic bags tightly sealed. Super easy!
Another variation is to slice the citrus into thin circles, and then let them dry. This adds a new tropical look to the mix.
For a fun spin, mix all ingredients together and use to stuff fabric tree ornaments, or place the mix in beautiful decorated lace bags, and give to your friends and family.
