There’s nothing better than a house that hums with the spicy smell of the holidays. Around this time of year, evergreen candles are always burning in our home, but nothing quite compares with the spicy, sweet smell of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and citrus. There’s just something about these smells that instantly transports me to my North Carolina house growing up, and the big pot of hot Russian Tea that my Momma would always have on the stove top.
Beware! While this recipe isn’t necessarily for drinking, you certainly may find yourself tempted. In addition to conjuring up memories of childhood, these smells pack some serious health benefits. From helping to improve one’s mood (
citrus), to stimulating one’s appetite and increasing joy while removing nervous tension (
cinnamon), to acting as an aphrodisiac and fighting the holiday depression (
clove), this potpourri is definitely multi-purpose. Prep this potpourri for your next holiday gathering or leave it on a low simmer for yourself.
Simmering Holiday POTPourri Directions:
2 oranges
2 lemons
6 bay leaves
7 sticks of cinnamon
5 pieces of Star Anise
2 inch of fresh ginger, sliced
1 tbsp of cloves
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/2 tsp of vanilla (or 1 whole vanilla bean)
Water
Slice one of the oranges into rings. Cut the other orange in half and stick several cloves into the skin. Slice one lemon into rings and zest the skin off the other lemon and empty into a large pot for simmering. Add all ingredients (including the remainder of the cloves) into the same large pot for simmering. Pour enough water into pot to submerge all ingredients. Turn pot on the lowest setting and wait for the holiday smells to seep out into your home. Cover when you’re not heating and replenish water when you’re ready to reheat. I use the same pot of ingredients for up to four days.
