Dried Orange Christmas Decorations

Even after they have been dried thoroughly, oranges retain enough of an aroma to fill a room for many days with their citrus scent. To dehydrate oranges, arrange the slices and whole fruits in a single layer on a piece of cheesecloth on a wire rack. Leave to dry in a very low oven or a warm cabinet, which can take 48 hours or longer.

Materials Needed:

• eco-friendly adhesive glue
• 1 star anise
• 1 dried orange slice
• 1 flat, dried bay leaf
• several lengths of thin wire

• a handful of cloves
• 1 dried, whole clementine
• skewer or knitting needle
• 1 cinnamon stick

Step 1

Glue the star anise onto the front of the orange slice, and the bay leaf onto the back. Secure a length of wire in a loop at the top of the orange.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Step 2

Stick cloves into the clementine in a pattern. Push a skewer through the fruit, thread wire through the hole and secure one end in a loop.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Step 3

Thread wire lengthwise through the cinnamon stick. Bend one end over, thread the other end through the clementine loop and secure.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited