814-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Novambar 25,1995
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Master gardeners. Hartman and Barbara Binner show how holiday decora
> tlons can be made from food and garden hems.
Home And Homemade
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
LEBANON (Lebanon Co.)
"Home... and homemade... for
the Holidays was the theme at the
Lebanon County Extension Holi
day Program recently. More than
1,100 people attended the pro
gram, which was repeated in four
sessions.
The annual program has earned
the reputation of a great place to
learn the latest in holiday foods,
decorating, and gift making. This
year was no exception. Here is a
sampling of the event
Debbie Hartman and Barbara
Binner, Lebanon County master
gardeners, demonstrated numer
ous ways to use edibles for holiday
decorating.
DRYING FRUITS
Drying fruits in the oven con-
iltz shares the secret recipe for these “apples in
hiding,” which sell "for $14.95 a pair from an upscale
catalogue.
For The Holidays
dimes to be a popular holiday
decoration. After the fruits are
dried, they may be used as orna
ments, fastened to wreaths,
arranged in floral centerpieces or
used as potpourri.
Here are the directions:
• Slice apples approximately
'A -inch thick. They can be sliced
vertically, which will give you the
apple’s Shape or they can be sliced
horizontally, which will give you a
star pattern.
• Dip the apples in a solution of 1
quart water, 1 tablespoon lemon
juice, and 1 tablespoon Fruit Fresh.
■ Cut a piece of brown paper
from a grocery bag to fit a cookie
sheet, and arrange the apples in a
single layer on the paper. The
brown paper prevents direct con
tact with hot metal, which can
sometimes turn your apples
brown).
• Set your oven at the lowest set
ting. Place the apples on the cookie
sheet into the oven. Turn on the
oven exhaust to remove the mois
ture or prop oven door open with
the handle of a wooden spoon for
the first few hours.
• Turn the apples once during
the drying period to allow both
sides to dry.
• Remove the apples when they
become leathery, not brown. Place
themon a rack in a warm, dry place
to finish the drying process. The
area above the refrigerator or in
your furnace room often has a
warm dry environment The pro
cess will take about 4 to 6 hours.
Temperature, humidity, and water
content of the fruit help make this
less than an exact science.
To dry citrus- fruit:
• Slice orange, pink grapefruit,
lemons, limes about'/«-inch thick.
* Cut brown paper bag to fit a
cookie shteL
• Place the cut slices on .the
sheet
• Turn the oven to its lowest set
ting, propping the door ajar with a
handle of a wooden spoon.
• Turn the citrus a few times dur
ing the drying process. Watch
carefully to avoid citrus turning
brown.
(Turn to Pago BIS)
V '*'•=• >
Elton Spsctor Plait shows how to w
Button up with these holiday crafts.
A plain sweatshirt Is quickly transformed with a snow
man cut out from scraps of fabric. Tie a fabric scarf and the
rib part of a child’s sock for the hat. Stitch on buttons for
facial features. Snow flakes are made with additional white
buttons surrounded with slashes of embroidery thread.
and c nterpieces.