Wintry Stove-top Potpourri

I grew up in the south, so very cold weather just isn’t something I’m used to. When I first moved to Washington, I didn’t have a coat heavier than a pea coat! That changed quickly – and I still have that Vineyard Vines down jacket Mom sent me years ago.

I’ve since grown to love cold weather. OK, like it. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. One of my favorite parts about it though is cozying up and entertaining at home. To me, potpourri simmering on the stove-top is as cozy as a fireplace. There’s something about the sweet smell of cinnamon mixing with orange peels and nutmeg that puts me in the most relaxed mood.

A simmering potpourri is also a perfect way to use up leftover pomanders (typically an orange studded with cloves) and oranges that are too soft to eat. Slice a few up and put them in a small saucepan of simmering water and you have the beginning of something good.

Here’s what I add to my stove-top potpourri:

Oranges studded with a few whole cloves (I usually cut a few peels from the orange, then cut the rest of the orange into quarters or smaller pieces)
2-3 cinnamon sticks
Leftover mulling spices
A shake or two of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, and coriander
A few whole cloves
Fresh whole cranberries

Fill the saucepan with water, set it to low, and your home will soon be filled with the wintry scent. Check on it every so often to make sure there is plenty of water in it so you don’t burn the bottom of the pan.

Enjoy!