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Easy and inexpensive recipes to make your own fresh scented simmering potpourri
Do you love the smells of fresh simmering potpourri when you enter a home? How about the smell of fresh fruit and spices permeating the air? Well, here is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to make your own fresh scented simmering potpourri. The fragrance will fill your house with intoxicating and invigorating smells. And it's good for you too! The gentle steam is healing for nasal passages dried out by home heating and cold dry air. All you do is throw a few ingredients in a pan on the stove, set it on simmer, and replenish the liquid as needed. We always get compliments on how wonderful our homes smell and how tasty the wassail is. Here's the secret: To simmer potpourri, steam as desired using the popular simmer pots which use candle heat or electric steamers that resemble little crock-pots. You can also place your simmering potpourri in a pot and heat on a stove, hot plate, hot water register, or possibly a kerosene heater. Place two tablespoons of potpourri in two or more cups of water, allow to simmer or steep slowly and enjoy the vapors that waft aromatic scents throughout the air. Be sure the water doesn't evaporate while heating. Edible Simmering Potpourri Apple cider to fill a large soup pot One apple, cut horizontally to make circular round slices 1/2-inch thick One orange, cut into round slices 1/2-inch thick 3 whole cinnamon sticks 6 whole cloves 6 whole allspice berries One 2-inch piece of fresh gingerroot, cut into small rounds Place all ingredients in a large soup pot and bring to a simmer, then reduce and allow to simmer uncovered, adding cider as liquid evaporates. When guests arrive, ladle out a mug full of the hot cider for each person, adding a splash of bourbon or brandy, if you like, and serve with an additional cinnamon stick in each mug. Christmas Simmering potpourri Simple and great smelling. I like to mix the dry ingredients up in little Ziploc's to have them ready to add to water during the holiday season. 3 cinnamon sticks 3 bay leaves 1/4 cup whole cloves 1 teaspoon ground cloves 2 lemon slices, fresh or 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel 2 tablespoons orange peel or dried orange peel 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 quart water Mix all ingredients in medium saucepan. Simmer on low heat. Add more water as needed. Spicy Simmering potpourri * 3 1/2 cups anise star, whole * 1 3/4 cups allspice, whole * 1 3/4 cups orange peel * 1 3/4 cups juniper berries * 1 3/4 cups nutmeg, whole * 1 3/4 cups cloves, whole * 3 1/2 cups cinnamon chips * 1 3/4 cups lemon peel * 3 1/2 cups rosehips * 3 handfuls bay leaves, whole Use oil fragrances such as French vanilla, old world spice, and vanilla fragrance. This recipe makes 24 cups. Citrus Simmering potpourri * 1 cup cinnamon sticks, whole, 1" * 1 cup orange petals, whole * 1/4 cup lemon or grapefruit peel * 1/8 cup allspice, whole * 3 cups lemon verbena leaves, whole * 1 cup chrysanthemum flowers, whole * 1 3/4 cups orange peel, cut and sifted, 1/2" - 3/4" * 1/8 cup cloves, whole * 2 cups lemongrass 1/2" cut For oil use 1/8 ounce lemon essential oil, 1/2 ounce sweet orange essential oil, 1/8 ounce tangerine essential oil, and 1/8 ounce cinnamon bark essential oil. This recipe makes 12 1/2 cups. Floral Simmering potpourri * 1 cup rosebuds and petals, pink * 1 cup rosebuds and petals, red * 1 cup Balm of Gilead buds, whole * 1 1/2 cups orange peel, cut and sifter, 1/2" - 3/4" * 16 nutmegs, whole, cracked with a hammer * 1 cup oak moss * 1/4 cup allspice, whole * 2 cups cinnamon chips * 1 vanilla bean, cut into small pieces * 1/4 cup fenugreek seeds, whole * 1/4 cup cloves, whole Use 3/4 ounce of your favorite floral fragrance oil. This recipe makes 8 1/2 cups. Fruity Simmering potpourri * 1 1/2 cups orange peels, cut and sifted, 1/2" - 3/4" * 1 cup anise star, whole * 1/4 cup cardamom pods * 2 cups cinnamon chips * 1 cup apple pieces * 1/2 cup mace, whole * 1/4 cup allspice, whole * 1/4 cup cloves, whole For oil, use 1/2 ounce apple fragrance, 1/8 ounce cinnamon bark essential oil OR use 3/4 ounce spicy apple fragrance. This recipe makes 6 3/4 cups. Potpourri Gift Basket Idea country kitchen potpourri, cottage rose potpourri, orange spice potpourri, simmering potpourri If you like my free recipes and would like to contribute, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too. |