Traditions that Matter. AKA "Becoming My Mom"

There are certain holiday traditions that I have never really thought much about until this year.  I'm a new wife, have a whole house to decorate and no other women to contend with, decor-wise, and for the first time in my life, I won't be in my parents' home on Christmas.

One thing I didn't expect to adopt from my mom's Christmas traditions is making orange balls.  My mom has kept a bowl of them in the kitchen every Christmas I can remember.  She makes one or two new ones each year and saves the ones that keep their cloves.  Some of the oranges she has are 20 years old!  They've gotten all shrunken, but they still smell amazing.  It's a unique scent that I totally associate both with my mother and Christmas. 

So this year I decided to make my own!  I had the day off work, there's 3 inches of snow on the ground, so I spent some time today in front of the fire, sticking whole cloves in oranges with my dog and cat salivating at my feet. 

I think I'll keep them on the stovetop so they get even more fragrant with the warmth! 

Happy Thanksgiving!