Spice or Herbal Hot Pads

4 cinnamon sticks
2 tablespoons cloves
1 cup raw rice

Crush the cinnamon sticks and cloves. Mix with the uncooked rice. Place in a 7-inch square cloth bag. Sew up the open end. Use as a hot pad, the scent will come out when a hot dish is placed on the mat.

Herbs may be substituted for the cinnamon sticks and cloves (herbal tea works well).

To make the pad less floppy and easier to use, carefully sew seams across the pad, so you end up with a criss-cross or chessboard pattern.

NOTES: You can also use feed corn or lentils instead of rice, for an even more frugal gift. Cut back on the spices, and these make excellent heating pads. You can heat them up in the microwave and put them in your bed in the winter.