A little box for good luck in the new year

By Betsy DiJulio

January is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. So I considered and dismissed a number of "get organized" options for this month's project.

But, still feeling caught up in the spirit of holiday giving, an idea from Saveur magazine's "The Saveur 100" won out.

No. 10 on the list is an osechi-ryori. Simply put, this Japanese tradition, which dates from 794 to 1185, consists of a box of New Year's treats that are typically stocked by Japanese grocery stores beginning around the end of December. Think bento box with a shelf life.

Inside each beautifully composed box is a variety of indulgences, each chosen for its symbolism in terms of health, wealth, happiness, fertility, wisdom, a good harvest and more.

An authentic osechi-ryori is filled with dried, roasted and seasoned sardines; salted herring roe; pink and white fish cakes; and all manner of morsels that I do not eat, prepare or serve. So I decided to substitute my own diminutive delicacies; I encourage you to do the same.

Start with what you enjoy making and can prepare fairly easily and inexpensively. Then, fill in with what you can purchase. Next, match up each item with what it logically symbolizes. Or, do an online search for symbolic New Year's foods of a given culture, then shop and prepare accordingly.

My box included the following:

- Chocolate bark (happiness)

- Roasted paprika pumpkin seeds (fertility - of the mind!)

- Herbal tea (peace)

- Sweet and spicy rosemary cashews (health)

- Shortbread cookies studded with gold dragées (wealth)

- Tangerine (good luck)

Package it all in a beautiful, sturdy box (I used a cigar box) lined with tissue paper or colorful cellophane. You can also create compartments with hand-cut pieces of cardboard.

Attach a card or a key on the interior or exterior like those one finds in fancy candy and cookie boxes so that your lucky recipient will know with what he has been gifted, as well as the meaning of each.

To decorate the box, I simply attached peel-and-stick numbers over a patterned part of the box lid. (Note: Stick the numbers on your clothing first to remove some of the adhesive before adhering them to the lid to avoid damaging the surface underneath when you peel them up.)

Then I masked the decorative edges of the box and painted the lid with a cranberry colored acrylic paint, applying several coats for good coverage. (Follow the same adhesive removal tip with the masking tape.)

After the paint was completely dry, I removed the tape and the numbers revealing a sophisticatedly patterned "2012."

If you prefer a more elaborate box, you can paint, stencil and decoupage to your heart's content. For inspiration, just search online under "painted cigar boxes" or "painted boxes" for a host of striking samples and great ideas, including the attachment of knobs for feet.

As my finishing touch, I attached two layers of ribbon and my card with two gold brads to complement the box's color scheme.

Think both inside and outside the box as we start 2012. Cheers!

Art teacher, blogger and freelance writer Betsy DiJulio is the author of "The Blooming Platter" (Vegan Heritage Press, 2011). Reach her at jdijulio@cox.net.