Pretty Pomanders
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In the Middle Ages, a time not known for good hygiene, people wore pomanders to mask bad odors. Nowadays folks hang pomanders wherever they'd like a spicy scent. Our recipe uses a lemon for a compact, ornament-size result.
What you'll need
- Wide rubber bands
- Lemon
- Wooden skewer
- Whole cloves
- Cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger
- Paper bag
- Fancy ribbon
How to make it
Put two wide rubber bands around a lemon; the bands will leave spaces for ribbon later. Use a wooden skewer to pierce the exposed skin of the lemon with holes about 1/4-inch apart, then insert whole cloves into the holes.
On a plate, mix together 3 tablespoons each of cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Roll the lemon in the mixture to coat it.
Keep the lemon and plate inside a paper bag in a dry spot in the house. Roll the pomander in the spices once a day until the lemon is hard and dry; this can take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on your climate.
Once the pomander is dry, remove the rubber bands and tie fancy ribbon around it. Hang your pomander in a closet, from your tree, or from your mantel.
