"Gratitude is the Open Door to Abundance" |
| There's something almost enchanting about trees groaning with fruit. |
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| ...it's the simple goodness of whole foods as well as the untapped potential that becomes the preserved bounty. |
Spent a week or so down at my Dad's house...visiting with family from out of state. While down there I raided his lemon and orange trees! Quandry...what to do with all this abundance! After sharing with family and friends, I went right to work slicing and dehydrating slices for use in cooking, craft and beauty projects all the while brainstorming other ways to make good use of this abundance.
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| Simple hand slicing is quick and easy. |
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| I placed them in single layers and let them dry for several hours. |
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| Dried citrus slices often keep well for a year or more if they are packaged carefully. |
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| In the past I've used them to make these edible wreaths. |
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| And as natural adornments for the holidays. |
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| This is an orange~y delight! |
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| Fresh and/or dehydrated orange and lemon slices add a wondrous tang to home brewed teas in summer...do the same to warm cider or tea when autumn arrives. |
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| And let's not forget the classic use of lemon and orange zest to flavor recipes! |
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| This image of blood oranges is lovely...my Dad has a blood orange tree but it doesn't bear fruit until winter. :) |
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| Candied orange peels dipped in chocolate are a delicious treat! |
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| Lemon curd as well! |
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| Classic lemonade...lemon sweetener and water...I love this easy squeezing technique! |
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| An even simpler frugal luxury...chilled water with lemon rounds! |
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| And when we're all done...let's enjoy a soothing foot bath embellished with fresh lemon slices and petals from the garden! |
Images: Here and Here.
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16 comments:
What great, resourceful ideas!
How I ENVY the opportunity to get fresh picked citrus. About the only thing that grows in that kind of abundance here is corn. :)
Dried oranges always make me think of Christmas. I love to dry orange slices (I just put them in my own on the lowest possible temp until dry) and then use them in decorations.
I have an evergreen centerpiece (not real, of course) that I've used now for years. It often gets slices of oranges tucked in it with the fresh added to fake (albeit nice fake).
I love the jar with dehydrated lemons. I might do that when they are in season. Save a few dollars off season. I like to dehydrate in the oven with a light bulb.
Thanks Alana! Oh, I wanted to say that I truly enjoyed your post about the "storms of life"...I think many of us can relate!
Love,
Tracey
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Me too Brenda! Dried orange slices hanging on evergreen bows just seem to go together! I am loving your idea on mixing the real and the "faux" ;) !!! Such a clever idea...also...thanks so much for the reminder that you don't need a dehydrator to dry citrus slices!
Love,
Tracey
x0x
P.S. I am enjoying reading about the creation of your new sanctuary/craft/reading room...looking forward to more!
Hi Forest~Dweller...I love the fact that these can do double duty as a decoration and then you can eat them!!! They are very tasty too (although a bit chewy if they're eaten dry ;)!
Love,
Tracey
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Thanks so much for your comments on my blog. They were a great encouragement to me. ~Alana~
Thanks for stopping by! It was nice to hear from you. :) Our trees are laden with plums ready right now. The apples and pears are on their way! In fact, I've brained myself on the pears on the way to the mailbox. The weight of the fruit has bowed the branches quite a bit!
Wow...sounds idyllic Kimberly!!! I really enjoy browsing around your blog. All your activity inspired me!
Love,
Tracey
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love these ideas for the lemons! Make and Take Gals will definitely try this one. Thanks for your continued creativity and inspiration.
Jean
Makeandtakegals.com
Right back at you Jean. :) Can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Love,
Tracey
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Mmm, I can almost smell this post!
Hahahah...yes...the citrus is intoxicating!!!
Love,
Tracey
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Yes...but we don't have the apples you have Clarice!
:)
Love,
Tracey
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I do miss citrus fruit in the summer. Dried oranges on a wreath or centerpiece would be so lovely! What a wonderful idea - and so so fragrant. :) diane
You are right Diane, such a refreshing idea for the off season, and also incredibly easy and frugal (even if you buy a large bag of oranges, lemons, limes in season)! Of course, we're a bit blessed in the citrus department out here in so Cal. That being said, we all have our blessings to be appreciated. The trick is to remember to count and make use the blessings available...something I know I need to be reminded of from time to time. :)
Love,
Tracey
x0x
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