Pine-Cone Kindlers Ingredients and Materials: Water
Double boiler
Colored paraffin wax chips
Prewaxed wicks
Muffin tins
Vegetable oil
Kitchen tweezers
Pine cones
Ladle
Decorated basket
Matchsticks Preparation: Pour about 1" of water in the bottom of a double boiler. In the top container melt colored paraffin wax chips, one color at a time. Place prewaxed wicks in the bottom of muffin tins that have been sprayed with vegetable oil. This will enable you to lift the waxed pine cones out of the hot tin. Use kitchen tweezers to dip pine cones into the melted colored wax, dipping a few times so the wax will build up. Place the waxed cone into the muffin tin (figure A). Once all the cones have been placed, dip a ladle into the wax and pour a little over each cone and into the bottom of each tin. Let them cool until solid. Decorate a basket and place the pine-cone kindlers inside along with some matches. Now you have a different kind of gift for your hostess.
Napkin Gifts This idea is simple. Fan out several colorful napkins, pick them up at the center and place in an attractive pitcher. Or roll a few napkins on the diagonal from corner to corner, fold each, and then fold back the top only; place in a pitcher. The last napkin gift idea (figure B) is the easiest: simply roll up several napkins and tie off with ribbon.
Decorative Votive Candles Try these three ideas for decorating votive candles. - Mesh Ribbon: Hot-glue mesh ribbon to a votive cup. Then cut some miniature pine cones in half and glue to the side of the cup. You can also use buttons, beads or whatever you desire.
- Rope: Hot-glue one end of a small rope and stick to the bottom edge of a votive cup. Wrap up and around the cup, applying more glue along the way and at the top to keep the rope in place. Cut the rope at an angle at the top.
- Ribbon: Simply wrap wire-edged ribbon around the base of a votive cup.
Flavored Oils If your host is a wizard in the kitchen, this idea would work perfectly. Flavored oils packaged in attractive jars or bottles make great Thanksgiving gifts. Here's how: - Place fresh herbs inside the jar or bottle and use a funnel to add the oil of your choice. Cork the container and place in the refrigerator for a few weeks to let the flavors mature. If the herbs don't look fresh when the container is removed from the refrigerator, replace them with a fresh supply. Decorate the container with ribbon, rope or materials of your choice.
- If you give vinegar instead of oil, be sure to heat the vinegar to approximately 140 degrees, bottle and place on a sunny windowsill. Remember: vinegar should be kept warm, and oil should be refrigerated.
GUESTS :
Michael Basler
Creative Publishing International
Email: mbasler@creativepub.com
Website: www.creativepub.com
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