Simmer Pots (Stove Top Potpurri)
A wonderful gift for the holidays, or simply something to use at home. Simmer fresh ingredients on your stove top for a natural air freshener. (Not for consumption, for scent purposes only!)
Servings Simmer Bag
Ingredients
- 1 whole orange
- ¼ cup fresh cranberries
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- 1-2 tablespoons whole cloves
- a few allspice berries
- 2-3 star anise
- 1 spring evergreen or rosemary
Packaging Materials
- 1 cellophane bag 4x9 or 5x12 size range
- twine or ribbon
- gift tags
Instructions
- Place whole orange in the cellophane bag. Add cranberries.
- Sprinkle in cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and anise. Tuck in the evergreen sprigs.
- Tie bag closed with ribbon or twine and attach tag.
- To use: Slice orange into several slices and add to a small pot on the stove top. Add remaining contents of bag. Cover with water by 1-2 inches and bring to a low simmer. As water evaporates, add more. You can turn it on an off over the coarse of a few days and discard when scent is gone or it starts looking yucky!
Notes
Cellophane Bags: Find cellophane bags at craft stores or on Amazon. I like something in the 4x9 or 5x12 size range.
Purchasing whole spices: When buying whole spices, at the very least use cinnamon sticks and cloves. They are both easy to source in bulk and provide the most important scents. If it fits your budget and you can find them, my favorite special touch is star anise, it’s both fragrant and beautiful! Whole allspice berries are also festive, but don't add a ton of scent. I do love how they look though so I add a few in. If you want to skip one, I'd skip the allspice.
Evergreens: I like to snip a few evergreen sprigs from my yard, another lovely and fragrant option is fresh rosemary,
Tips for Buying Spices
- Check your local grocer with bulk bins. Bulk spices are purchased by the pound and are a fraction of the cost of a standard bottle. You can buy a large bag of things like cloves and cinnamon sticks for just a few dollars.
- Try an international market, or the international aisle of your grocery store. At my grocery store a small bottle of star anise cost close to $10, but just a couple aisles over, with the latin foods like dried chili peppers, I was able to purchase the bag above for about $1.50. Many international markets carry very affordable spice options.
- Costco often sells large containers of cinnamon sticks for a great price during the holiday seasons.
- Restaurant Supply Stores are also a great option for bulk spices and great prices.
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