Last Updated October 15th, 2018 at 02:19 pm by Lisa
DIY Autumn, Thanksgiving, and Fall Decor Ideas for serving Coffee, Tea, and Hot Cocoa plus a Dried Orange Slice Recipe with 12 creative home uses.
Who wouldn’t want to wake up or come home to this on a cool Fall day…
12 Ways To Make and Use Dried Orange Slices:
- Garnish a roast (see my Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin recipe)
- Float in fall drinks and cocktails like Mulled Wine
- Serve in iced tea or Hibiscus Tea Cocktails
- Decorate Christmas tree garlands
- Add as a natural wreath accent
- Pop into hot apple cider
- Chop and add to marinades for beef or chicken
- Add to a cup of hot tea
- Mix into mulling spices
- Infuse olive oil as a gift
- Make orange flavored salt. Simply grind dried oranges fine, add to sea salt to season meat dishes.
- Use as a bath soak; a small cotton muslin bag, and fill it with dry cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and Epsom salts.
More cozy ideas for Fall Home Decor and Recipes:
Fall Succulent Topped Pumpkins
- nice big tray - rattan, copper, or wood
- assorted teas sachets, flavored coffee, or Keurig cups
- fall holiday sprinkles, coffee creamer, and whip cream
- hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows
- small fall or holiday cookies like gingerbread shortbread
- a french press for coffee
- small copper spoons and or colorful straws
- a small pair of tongs for treats
- small little copper bowls or a footed bowl
- small plates and napkins
- cute colorful assorted coffee and tea cups
- local honey, sugar cubes, or cinnamon sticks
- small decorative pumpkins
- small oranges or tangerines
- dried orange slices
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Wash/dry oranges (lemons, limes, blood oranges, or tangerines). Slice very thin 1/8 inch and lay flat on parchment paper or a Silpat mat.
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Bake 200 degrees, 2 1/2 - 3 hours (or dehydrator 12 hours 135 degrees).
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Look for the orange to turn clear and peel to dry. Store in a cool dry place, not the fridge. Zip locks are perfect!
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Assemble a tray with tea sachets, flavored coffee (or Keurig cups), and or hot cocoa. I found cocoa and mini marshmallows in glass bear jars, so cute!
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Keep creamer, whip cream cold, and have fall sprinkles for coffee topping. Cinnamon sticks and dried orange slices for tea would be so festive.
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Use bowls to display cookies and sweet treats. You want high and low bowls to make it interesting.
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Set out cups, plates, tongs, and add an inexpensive French press for a single cup of coffee.
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Use things you have, and repurpose anything fall colored (think copper, brown, orange, rust, or white) on your tray. Set near your coffee maker and use it everyday! After Thanksgiving, we loved it so much we set up one for Christmas.... Christmas Coffee, Tea, and Hot Cocoa Bar
Many of the things on my Fall Decor tray are from HomeGoods. Try to use things you already have on hand. Pull small fall colored bowls and a tray, and use natural items like cinnamon sticks, leaves or flowers. Natural oranges and pumpkins are beautiful, you can add anything that says Fall to you!
12 Ways To Make and Use Dried Orange Slices:
- Garnish a roast (see my Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin recipe)
- Float in fall drinks and cocktails like Mulled Wine
- Serve in iced tea or Hibiscus Tea Cocktails
- Decorate Christmas tree garlands
- Add as a natural wreath accent
- Pop into hot apple cider
- Chop and add to marinades for beef or chicken
- Add to a cup of hot tea
- Mix into mulling spices
- Infuse olive oil as a gift
- Make orange flavored salt. Simply grind dried oranges fine, add to sea salt to season meat dishes.
- Use as a bath soak; a small cotton muslin bag, and fill it with dry cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and Epsom salts.
Take time for yourself, and slow down this Fall. Create a haven in your home, curl up with a cup of tea or coffee and a good book. Enjoy each and every sip.
PS: If you fall in love with this, set one up a Christmas Coffee, Tea, and Hot Cocoa Bar!
All The Best Dishes,
Lisa
XO
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