My grandmother used to clove apples and oranges, mostly apples because they had a fruit farm and it was THE depression and oranges were scarse and expensive.
Cloving goes back to pre Victorian times.
Garden Photos - Part 47
We always stick cloves into oranges and then simmer the cloved orange in apple cider with a couple cinnamon sticks.
This is called Wassail by some. One of my favorite traditions.
Mmm! Willie that sounds yummy, and I'll bet it smells wonderful.
Shelly, that picture of the Hellebore buds is neat. Reminds me of the carnivorous plant from Little Shop of Horrors.
Actually, apples will last a long time dried anyhow. Remember the apple head dolls? I've actually made one or two before, a long time ago.
Karen
It does smell wonderful .... and .... back when folk went "caroling" it was a big hit to sip on in the cold, rather than hot chocolate.
MMMM---cloves & apples & oranges---make a nice cookie---think up a recipe, Willie, or all of you bakers out there. My amaryllis opened on the 24th, just in time.
Very pretty! I have a few with buds at the moment, wish they'd hurry up and pop!
Here's a nice oatmeal cookie recipe that uses all the spices but orange, which I bet you can successfully add a 1/4 teaspoon of orange extract to the wet ingredients if not added to the mulled cider part.
http://oatmealcookie.typepad.com/the_oatmeal_cookie_blog/2008/10/mulled-apple-cider-cookies.html
I think oatmeal cookies are my fav. Well, next to the lemon yogurt twists .... and the Russian tea cakes, the gingerbread cookies, and the ......
Pecan Sandies, dutch pepper cookies,Soft Moalsses, Peanut Butter Oatmeal,Brazilnut Cookies --------- - - - - - -
Oh, gorgeous amaryllis, Robin!
Mmmmmm! and speaking of deserts, my sister from Alaska, who is visiting this Christmas, made two very yummy pecan pies and a peach cobbler. She has been baking, baking, baking. It's been great! She's getting us all fat!
Karen
You're all making me think that I need to get into the cookie jar and then make some cider! sounds fantastic.
Willy, the wassail sounds great. I've never had it, but I've heard others say that it was well worth the time and effort to make! So, why must you stick the cloves into the oranges first if you are going to simmer the whole thing? Why not just throw the cloves into the pot to simmer with the oranges and then strain the brew? That would be easier on my fingers. I'm consideraing making some cider next weekend, that's why I ask.
Karen, I do see the rememblence to the Little Shop of Horrors. :-p Believe it or not, I've never heard of Apple head dolls! Is this a big thing that I missed out on?
JoAnn, My grandmother would've have agreed with yours on making the apples insted of the oranges, if she could've. It's likely that they made them with apples the majority of the time. I'm not sure what sort of a deal they came across to get the oranges, but I remember that she said that it was a really special occasion when they could get ahold of the oranges back then. They usually had to do some bartering for them.
Robin, great picture! It's refreshing to have some color.
Grandparents had dairy and fruit farms then.
We used what we had. She showed me how to make "apple dolls" heads.
The apple was pealed and carved a certain way and allowed to dry. The result was a little shrivvled face. We made clothes and a body for them.
Sorry this looks hyjacked. I'll send a pic dmail.When its light enough to take one.
we used to do those too... but I had a kit.. shrunkin heads!
http://laura.moncur.org/archives/2006/10/23/create-your-own-shrunken-head-from-an-apple/
Thanks onewish I'll make them for the GK'sto hang in their college rooms.
that stuff fascinated me as a kid... that kit had beads for eyes and hair... soooo cool
I have seen them as small sculptures.
The one I have is dressed like an mature woman of the 40's with purse and had and two piece suit.
It hangs on my bedroom wall to remind me to NEVER go out looking like that.lol
Robin your amaryllis is very pretty. Sadly mine got forgotten outside and froze. :(
That info on the apple head and shrunken heads is very interesting. Good stuff and you could make cookies with the left over apples too.
Here is my apple doll bought in 1976 and still going strong.
wow... that's really neat
Doesnt it remind you of an old Aunt?
Love the apple dolls! And Willie--thanks for the recipe---oatmeal cookies it is! I think I'll just add the spices & a little cider---sounds tedious to make a reduction---like I have that much to do! Ngam--I planted 2 amaryllis in my garden & left them---I think they actually rotted from all the rain we had this summer---so glad we in CT broke the record for rainfall this year---we are over 67", & more rain to come!
Shelly, I'm surprised you never heard of apple head dolls. They were quite popular back in the 70's.
JoAnn, your doll is cute.
Karen
Well today there was DANCING in my garden to celebrate the first day of spring. Opening ceremonies with the symbolic dahlia stake
River/Reservoir/Pond Dance which is a NE classic
A hatching dance which is popular with the P&L folks
My interpretive dance "Emergence of the Bulbous Things" which is Victor's fav.
Look my sleeping bulbous things sent me a sign that they liked it!
Big Finish!
Bravo!!! Glad to see that not all the nuts are buried.^_^ If spring starts with Solstice, is your entire calendar shifted??
That's prime!
Yupper. Now the perennial seeding will start and before we know it the 'Wakening of the Dahlias' Festival. I'm so excited I can't stand it.
LOL Absolutely wonderful. Just what is needed on a rainy grey day. Days are lengthening and spring is on the way. Can't hardly wait for he next festival pics. :)
stir crazy are we d-nut - very nice!!
Bravo! Bravo! Do I hear an Encore??
Sure pixie ^_^
I am thrilled with the dancing. It never got so choreographed down here. I will need to sign up for lessons. I am smiling from ear to ear.
edited to add: I love red and purple together. It's the perfect color combination for solstice dancing.
This message was edited Dec 27, 2008 8:20 PM
Fantastic dancing, Dahlianut! Woohoo! I'm impressed. I didn't get quite that creative, and didn't have someone to take pictures of me. You are to be commended.
Karen
::::clap clap clap:::: I give you a 10!
Wow Ge and Onewish, it sounds as though I really missed out with those dolls. They are really interesting looking. And I have definitely never seen them before. Thanks for the link. What an interesting pastime.
Jan, I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I don't really remember what was popular in the 70's :-p
Dahlia, I agree with everyone! clap, clap, applause, applause, bravo! And a great big cheesy grin from ear to ear! Most graceful, especially in the snow!
This message was edited Dec 28, 2008 10:04 AM
Great show Dahlia! By the way, I like your greenhouse. How do you like it? Do you use it year round?
The heck with Dancing With The Stars...dancing with the sun is a much better show! ROTFLMAO! Can't imagine your New Year's celebration...