Holiday Recipes with Garden Ingredients:

Cloves, oranges, cinnamon, baked cookies, pine, wood-burning fireplace…these are some of the smells that remind me of Christmas. It is amazing how smells can transport us to a different time…a different place. When I smell a wood-burning fireplace, I can almost feel the warmth enveloping me as I snuggle on my grandparents’ green, plaid couch eating a bowl of Breyer’s Chocolate ice cream or a pinwheel cookie. I instantly feel at ease when that smell hits my nose. Are there any scents that do this for you?

I thought this week, I’d share some recipes that utilize garden herbs to create memorable aromas in our homes for this very special, holiday season. First, a stovetop potpourri using simple ingredients from the grocery store. Then we will create a beautiful Christmas cocktail using some of the same ingredients, and then a yummy savory cookie to go along with it.

Stove-top Potpourri

Avoid buying potpourri that you find in craft and grocery stores and make your own quite quickly and easily with a few simple ingredients. I needed to restock my spice drawer and I found all of these spices in the Hispanic section for a lot less than on the baking aisle. You can really throw any combination of spices together.

I chose the following:

• leftover juniper from my Christmas flower arrangements

• Craisens (the store was out of fresh cranberries

• sliced orange

• cinnamon sticks

• whole cloves

• star of anise (they’re licorice scented, but i just think they look pretty)

• water

Simmer on the stove to make your house smell like you’re walking in a winter wonderland.

Ornamentini Christmas Cocktail

I made these last year and they were such a hit that I made them twice! For a group of girlfriends, I gave them some little ingredients to fill their ornament with when they got home to remember the night by. Recipe will make multiple drinks.

• 1 cup of Tito’s vodka

• 3/4 cup of cranberry juice

• sugar

• cranberries

• 1 cup of water

• Sprigs of fresh rosemary

• Ice (I made fun shapes using a Dollar Tree Silicone mold)

• Glasses from Walmart

• Glass Ornaments (I rinsed with soapy water)

To sugar the cranberries, make a simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water on the stove. Toss the cranberries in the simple syrup. Put sugar on a plate and roll the cranberries in the sugar. They become sparkly and magical. I put mine in the freezer to set for a few minutes. I was able to make these ahead of time and they held well in a container or zip-lock bag.

Place ice in the glass and stick the rosemary in between some of the pieces so it looks like a Christmas tree in your glass. 🎄

Mix the cranberry juice and vodka then fill the ornaments using a funnel or squeeze bottle.

Place the ornaments on top of the glass and serve. Guaranteed to wow your guests! The drink gets better as it rests and the rosemary infused with the cranberry. Yum Yum. 😋

Rosemary-Infused Shortbread Cookies

Sooooo confession…I asked ChatGPT for a recipe…let’s see how this goes! It sounds like a fairly savory cookie which I think is welcome during the holiday season when everything is sugar overload. These rosemary-infused shortbread cookies might be a delightful addition to your holiday spread, bringing a unique herbal flavor to the table.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the vanilla extract, chopped rosemary, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.

4. Gradually add the flour to the mixture, mixing until the dough comes together.

5. Shape the dough into a log or disk and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

6. Once chilled, slice the dough into 1/4-inch thick rounds and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Let me know if you make these and how AI did at generating the recipe. I’m going to make it soon for sure and will update the picture and give my opinion too.

Until next time, Flower Friends! May the holidays fill you with peace, joy, all the smells, memories, and magical moments for your family! Merry Christmas!

Keep Blooming,

Nicole Dillon, Breemar Flower Farm