{DIY: Holiday Spice Simmering Stovetop Potpourri}

One of my favorite things about the holiday season are the wonderfully festive scents that accompany it.  Wood burning in the fireplace, a steaming pot of hot chocolate, fresh needles of Frasier fur Christmas trees, and this…Holiday Spice Simmering Stovetop Potpourri.
My mom always had this on the stove at our house around the holidays, and the smell of it takes me right back to my magical childhood. 

{Picky Palate}

Ingredients

         2 cinnamon sticks or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

         1 tablespoon whole cloves or 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

         1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

         1 orange peel, quartered (fresh cranberries are also great to add as well)

         1 whole nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

         2 cups water

Directions

1. Place water into a small saucepan.
2. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla bean, nutmeg and orange peels.
3. Turn heat to medium until water starts to boil.
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer as long as desired. Check water level every 1/2 hour that you have simmering. Water needs to be added as needed. Do not let water evaporate.
5. Use potpourri for 2 days (adding additional water as necessary) then discard and make a new batch.

Makes 2 cups potpourri

xoxo,

Katherine