Gift some holiday simmering stovetop scent this season, or keep it for yourself!
Last winter, my neighbor came to my house with a little package in a dish. She explained you put the contents on the stove with water, and it will fill your house with the most wonderful smell. She was exactly right. Our house was quickly filled with the aroma of the holidays. It was that warm and cozy scent that will make you smile and not want to leave your home.
I find myself making this recipe over and over and over again during the holidays. Is it the feeling I get inside when I smell the cinnamon in the air? Is it the bitter cold outside and the warm fire inside that makes me long to stay inside and slow down? Is it the fact that someone I care about first made this for me, and so I think of them each time I make it? Whatever the reason, this simmering scent is sure to be a favorite in both your own home and in the homes of those you gift it to.
I often find myself short on time to make homemade gifts, especially these days with young children. But for this, I make an exception. It’s easy, and you can make enough to have leftovers to enjoy for your own home.
Holiday Simmering Stovetop Scent
Recipe originally from Katie Jones.
- Cranberries, fresh
- Dehydrated Oranges (slice oranges and bake in oven at 200 degrees for about 3-4 hours)
- All Spice, whole
- Cloves, whole (you can also use whole star anise)
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Fresh Rosemary and/or Bay Leaves
Directions:
- For gifting, place the following in individual bags: 1-2 cups of cranberries, 2-3 slices of dried oranges, a pinch of allspice and cloves, 2-3 cinnamon sticks, and a sprig of fresh rosemary and/or 2 bay leaves.
- To simmer: place contents of bag in a pot of water on the stove and let simmer. You can add more water as needed.
- You can reuse the simmer the next day. Pour the contents in a jar or bowl and keep in the refrigerator. Return it to a pot the next day and add water, as needed.
