The Liebers: Scents of Autumn

I check the weather in the morning and see it's going to be another 70 degree day. I plan my outfit, get dressed and head out of the house, only to be hit by a blast of chilly air. Sure, it's going to be a nice 70 degrees...LATER! In the mornings it's only 60ish. Autumn is on its way.

One argument I like to start in autumn is about pumpkin spice versus apple spice. Obviously all of you pumpkin spice people are very vocal, but you are also wrong. I hate to be the one to tell you. Apples are the true scent of the season. Just to prove it, I made some potpourri! You can too if you've chosen to see the error of your pumpkin spice ways.

You need:

apples
oranges
cinnamon sticks
whole cloves
permission to use the mandolin cutter (There have been some "incidences" okay??)

Set your mandolin on the smallest setting. Starting at the bottom of you apple, slice it up! Go straight through at least the middle where the seeds are. Those are the prettiest slices. I used a green apple and a red apple for color variety. You'll want to make wider slices on the oranges, since those are more juicy.

Lay out your fruit slices on a baking sheet and put them in a 200 degree oven for about an hour. Check on things, flip the fruit over, and let it go for another hour. You want to dry them out slowly without browning or cooking them. I got mine to just about where I wanted and then turned the oven off and left them over night.

After they are all dried out collect them carefully. You can arrange your fruit slices in a bowl with some cinnamon sticks and cloves. You can also put some in a small pot of water or a potpourri simmerer. I places the extra in a bag in the freezer, so I can get some more out later.

My house smells pretty and it looks nice too. Not a pumpkin to be found!!

Want some more apple ideas to help convince yourself and ease your withdrawal from your unholy addiction?? Check these out!