Make it Monday - Rustic Simmer Pot Gifts

 

I enjoy making stuff like this.  I wanted to make these for our Christmas Event on December 5.  There is very little, if any profit in them, but it makes me happy to make them.  I do use mostly (75%) organic, whole ingredients.  

I started with slicing and dehydrating a bag of oranges.

I did this over the weekend.  To me, nothing says "ber" weather, like the smell of something in the dehydrator.  Al made jerky when I was done with the oranges.

Then today, I gathered all the spices I bought last week from Golden Harvest bulk store in Merrill.  I used some spices I had here too.  I had the table full of things, to do like an assembly line to fill each bag.  

Next, I mixed up the dry ingredients.  You can't mess this up.  I just put in 2 T of each and like 1/2 C of cinnamon.  I looked for the "warm" spices and those that smell like Christmas. 

Mix together and put 1/2 T in your bag first.  

My husband cut the whole nutmeg for me.  I used whole allspice, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, cloves, orange slices and cedar sprigs off my tree.  Just a little bit of each, pinch or two, you can't mess it up.  

I used "treat bags" $1 for 20 with twist ties.  Added jute and a tartan ribbon.  I made over 30 of them.  The last time I made these for sale was maybe 4 years ago for a sale we did.  At the time I charged $2 a bag.  After adding all the costs, I will have to charge $4 a bag.  Not sure if that is too steep, but everything to make these (and so much more) have gone up.  If I don't sell any, I'll give them away for gifts.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.