Citrus Slices

 Happy Monday Lovelies

Albert Noakes helps his family put up the Christmas paper bunting

at their house on Christmas Street, south-east London, 

while his wife Mary continues with the ironing December 1946. 

And here it is.. the first of December. Where did November go? So now all thoughts are turned towards Christmas...my absolute favorite time of the year

With Thanksgiving being later and helping MrD in the garden over the weekend.. I’m a little bit behind in starting my decorating. I know many will think that it’s still very early.. but I like to be done by December 3rd. It’s the anniversary of my dear mother's passing. She loved Christmas so much and made it so special for all of us.. that I decorate in memory of her.

Dudley decorates the tree
The Bishops Wife 1947

So.. my house looks like an explosion in Santas workshop... and I had to get todays housework done too. But by the this evening.. it was all starting to take shape. And I'm loving every busy.. chaotic moment of it. If only I could decorate as easily as Dudley

So today I did a very easy craft ready for Christmas... with the added bonus of having a sweet smelling kitchen. I dehydrated citrus fruits (Grapefruit, Oranges, Lemons and Limes) to use in Christmas decor come December. So simple to do.

• Preheat oven to a low temperature 170°F 
• Wash the citrus and slice it into ¼ inch thick rounds.
• Pat the slices dry on both sides, removing excess moisture.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper 
• Arrange the slices in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. 
• For better air circulation, you can also use wire racks placed over the baking sheets.
• Bake for 3-5 hours or until crisp and brittle and not at all sticky
• Flip the slices every 30 minutes to ensure even drying
• Remove them when they are dry, translucent, and slightly darkened, but not browned.
• Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until ready for Christmas decorating