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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tuesday Tip

Make pomanders for a last minute holiday centerpiece. Pomanders comes from the French pomme d'ambre meaning ball of perfumes and used since medieval times.
I used to live in Williamsburg, Virginia and never do I miss it more, than in December. Strolling through the cobblestone streets of Colonial Williamsburg when the city is dressed in all it's holiday finery was always a highlight of the season. From the simple swags of pine garland draped across painted fences and windows glowing with candles to old doors adorned with wreaths made with fruits. So utterly simple and breathtakingly beautiful. The aroma of pine, citrus and clove can transport me in an instant!


This past weekend, I enticed my son into helping me make a few pomanders since I needed something to dress up the kitchen table. All it took was the lure of holiday cookies baking in the oven. He's in college, and declares that all the cookies are bad, so he was an easy target a willing helper!


You need only 3 items: a bag of oranges (I used firm tangerines since I already had them), a jar of whole cloves and several toothpicks.


Use a toothpick to puncture the skin of the fruit in the pattern you want, then insert the clove spikes. We did 3 patterns. If you've never made pomanders before, trust me when I say, it's requires no talent whatsoever! Let your kids help, because once they are placed in a bowl no one will notice a pattern gone awry. They are festive on their own in a decorative bowl or tureen, or add pinecones, fresh greens and a candle and you have a very easy and inexpensive centerpiece to enjoy!

15 comments:

  1. You are right they are so easy to make. They are also a good way to use up a bottle of cloves.

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  2. I forgot about those and living here in Florida, they make the perfect decoration and the aroma is heavenly

    Rebecca - wishing you a very Happy Christmas

    Helenxx

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  3. I learned to make these from my mom. She always makes these around the holidays. They smell so good.

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  4. Man Rebecca you're going all out and these are wonderful, I haven't made them in years. Now that we have a wood stove we toss cloves into the fire and it sends the scent out but yours are way more decorative. Way to hooded wink the kid....;)

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  5. I can smell the goodness from your centerpiece here in NY! XOXO.

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  6. What a wonderful reminder and the scent of the cloves is heavenly. Thanks for visiting our sugarplum dessert buffet at Hampton Hostess!!

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  7. My mother used to make this - the aroma is indeed enticing!! And they're so pretty!!

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  8. So pretty and I bet the smell is heavenly...always reminds me of the holidays and my grandmother!

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  9. These are great! And I'd forgotten about them. We have a friend who'd make them and cover them completely with cloves and then let them dry.

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  10. Think I will make some too. Happy Holidays!

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  11. There is just something about them that is SO festive! I love them, and your son did a great job in helping!

    merry xmas!
    joan

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  12. Rebecca I did this last year with my Grandkids. I bought each a special bowl that would go with the decor of their home, one crystal and one silver and then we cloved limes added silver balls to the silver bowl and red for the crystal, put a ribbon around it and gave it to their Moms as a little handmade gift from the children. It was a fun time for the kids and a great gift for the Moms. I love Williamsburg, what a wonderful place to have lived. I can only imagine it at Christmas time. xo Kathysue, still baking and wrapping!! Falala

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  13. Oooooooo!! What a sweet and scrumptious post. The lovely scent is wafting out to the Left Coast.

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  14. I love this idea, Rebecca! Have to try it. I love the color orange with all the greenery.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family,
    Mary Ann

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  15. Very nice! I like it!

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