Apple Harvest Potpourri

Apple Harvest Potpourri

Delightful Fall Fragrance

Ingredients:

1 cup calamus root chunks

4 cups dried apple slices  (see drying instructions below)

1 cup whole cloves, bruised

1 cup 3-inch cinnamon sticks

1/2 cup tonka bean pieces

1/2 cup sandalwood and/or sassafras root bark

Sandalwood

Sassafras Root Bark

3 Tablespoons apple essential oil

1 Tablespoon cinnamon essential oil

3 cups dried chamomile flowers

3 cups dried apple mint or spearmint

Dried Spearmint Leaves

3 cups dried red and/or yellow flowers

2 cups dried lemon balm

Harvest decorations, such as nuts, acorns, or small buckeyes

Mixed Nuts

Acorns

Buckeyes

Pine Cones (Miniature)

Apple Drying Instructions:

1.  Mix together 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt.

2.  Leaving the core in place, slice apples to 1/8" to 3/8" thick.

3.  Dip each slice into the lemon juice mixture.

4.  Drain the slices in a colander, saving the juice for more dipping.

5.  Heat oven to 200 degrees.

6.  Place dipped apple slices on a drying rack on a cookie sheet.

7.  Dry slices in oven.  This will take up to 6 hours, depending on your oven.  Leave a small opening in the oven during the first 2 to 3 hours to let the moisture escape.

  

8.  When the apples feel leathery, they are dry enough.  Any softness in the apple is a sign that further drying is necessary.  If the apples get crisp, they can still be used.

Potpourri Instructions:

1.  Mix together the calamus root, apple slices, cloves, cinnamon, tonka beans and sandalwood.

2.  Add the oils.

3.  When the oils are absorbed, add the mix to crisp-dry flowers and herbs, and the harvest decorations.

4.  Store in an airtight container for about four weeks.

5.  Shake occasionally to further blend aromas.

Apple Harvest Potpourri

Sources:

Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1986. Print.

or

Shaudys, Phyllis V. Herbal Treasures. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1990. Print.

Photo Credits:  

Calamus Root:  Photo Credit:  http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/category/calamus-root/

Dried Apple Slices:  Photo Credit:  by adam88xx

Cloves:  Photo Credit:  http://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-cloves-cultivation-and-growing-cloves/

Cinnamon Sticks:  Photo credit: nathanmac87 via VisualHunt / CC BY

Tonka Beans:  Photo Credit:  http://www.herbco.com/p-620-tonka-bean-whole.aspx

Sandalwood:  Photo Credit:  https://hermitageoils.com/product-category/essential-oils/sandalwood-collection/

Sassafras Root Bark:  Photo Credit:  http://www.herbco.com/p-838-sassafras-root-bark-cs.aspx

Dried Chamomile Flowers:  Photo Credit:  http://www.save-on-crafts.com/chamomile1.html

Dried Spearmint Leaves:  Photo Credit:  http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/spearmint-leaves

Dried Red Flowers:  Photo Credit:  https://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/TH/dried-flower.html

Dried Yellow Flowers:  Photo Credit:  http://mayang.com/textures/Plants/html/Flowers/index.html

Dried Lemon Balm:  Photo Credit:  http://www.dfiles.me/dried-lemon-balm.html

Mixed Nuts:  Photo Credit:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/20/foods-that-help-you-live-longer_n_4612048.html

Acorns:  Photo Credit:  http://lemerg.com/944717.html

Buckeyes:  Photo Credit:  https://www.britannica.com/plant/buckeye

Pinecones (Miniature):  Photo Credit:  http://www.save-on-crafts.com/pinecones1.html

Apple Harvest Potpourri:  Photo Credit:  https://www.pinterest.com/aromafun1/simmering-potpourri/