How to Make a Florida Cracker Christmas Tree

The first Florida Cracker's probably didn't have access to the traditional pine Christmas tree that the world has come to know and love. But if they did, they probably would have decorated it with some Spanish moss for tinsel, and dried citrus slices as ornaments.

My mom helped me make the perfect Florida Cracker Christmas tree...

Ingredients:

1 Grapefruit

1 Orange

2 Lemons

2 Key limes

1 bushel of Spanish moss

Method:

Step 1: Use a serrated knife and slice fruit 1/4"

Step 2: Take the seeds out

Step 3: Set oven to 170-180 degrees

Step 4: Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment and place slices on the sheets.

Step 5: Place fruit in oven for 4-5 hours. Flip fruit every hour.

Alternatively, you can lay the fruit out to dry on newspaper or paper towels for 4-5 days.

Step 6: Collect Spanish moss from a nearby tree and place it in a bag.

Step 7: Place Spanish moss in a large pot and fill it with water, covering the moss.

Step 8: Place on stove and allow to boil for 2-5 minutes in order to sanitize and kill any red bugs that might be living in the moss.

Step 9: Place moss in a strainer, and then layout on a newspaper to dry overnight.

Step 10: Decorate your tree!