Christmas is one of those holidays that is defined as much by its smells as by its sights. For many of us, I imagine those smells include things like fresh-baked cookies and pies, homemade fudge and hot chocolate. In moderation of course, all of those things can be wonderful parts of our Christmas memories. But for me the trip from “wonderful” to “ohmigosh why did I eat all that?” can be pretty short. So I started thinking about what other smells could embed themselves in my children’s memories as being part of Christmas without also ending up around their middles.
My first thought was fresh pine, of course. However, my middle child is allergic to nearly every tree on earth, so it’s an imposter tree for us. Then my mind wandered to citrus scents, cinnamon and peppermint. I began to think about how I could bring those scents into my house in a calorie-free way. Candles are an easy answer, but I was looking for something that also might help build a memory or two. Here’s what I came up with:
Clove-studded oranges
Photo credit: The Recipe Club blog
This simple project looks pretty and has a spicy sweet smell.
What you’ll need –
- Small oranges
- Whole cloves (available at most grocery stores)
- Washable pen
- Small nail or metal skewer
Draw a design on the outside of the orange. Cloves can be placed randomly as well. Poke small holes along the design, then fill each hole with one whole clove. Continue until the design is covered. You may also choose to randomly place the cloves around the orange. Display your studded oranges in a glass bowl so family and visitors can enjoy both the smell and the pretty designs. For more detailed instructions, click here.
Cinnamon applesauce ornaments
Photo credit: McCormick.com
These ornaments smell great, are easier to make than cut-out cookies, and look great hanging from the tree or tied to packages.
What you’ll need –
- 3/4 c. applesauce
- 1 4oz. bottle of cinnamon
- Cookie cutters (2-3 inches)
- Drinking straw
- Ribbon
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Mix the applesauce and cinnamon together until a small ball of dough is formed. Roll the dough out to 1/4-1/3 inch thick. Cut out shapes with the cookie cutters. Use the straw to make a hole in the top of the ornament. Bake for 2-1/2 hours then move to a wire rack to finish drying for 1-2 days. Once dry, tie each ornament with a ribbon and hang on your tree. Makes about a dozen ornaments. (Recipe and photo from McCormick.com)
A kid-friendly, non-edible craft to bring peppermint into the house was a little harder to find. That is until I happened upon Nana Moon Shop and her playfully scented recipe for an old standy.
Peppermint-scented playdough
- 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 10 drops peppermint extract
- red food coloring
Mix dry ingredients {only 2 1/2 cup flour, reserve 1 1/2 for kneading dough}. Add water and oil. Stir and let it cool, uncovered. Mix or knead with hands. Knead in remaining flour as needed to make dough desired consistency and less sticky. Store in plastic bag or container with lid. Lasts for several months.
These recipes should fill the house with wonderful holiday scents, allow for lots of together-time in the kitchen and create happy memories. Zero calories added.
Tags: Christmas, family activities, healthy holidays, Healthy Recipes
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