This is one of my favorite holiday traditions for real. There’s nothing more inviting than the smell of winter spices filling a home. Somehow it just makes me feel warmer, happier, and calmer all at once. The holiday season can be extremely stressful and good old-fashioned aromatherapy really does bring a sense of peace and calm to all that holiday mayhem. This is a recipe I use pretty often and it couldn’t be easier. I just set these ingredients in a slow cooker or directly on the stove top and let it work its magic.
This is a total sidebar: I have to admit this to you guys. The smell of this potpourri is so divine that I’ve even tried drinking a cup or two of this stuff as tea because #FearIsTheMindKiller. I don’t out and out recommend that you try that because I’ve heard that pine can be a bit toxic to consume, but then again I’ve also heard that Pine Needle Tea has some crazy awesome health benefits. Anyway, I’m still standing and it wasn’t half bad with a bit of honey, so the choice is totally yours. To be on the safe side, if you plan on drinking this mixture (that’s how great it smells) and you don’t trust evergreens (I can dig it) just don’t put the pine needles in it. Drinking potpourri…seriously what’s wrong with me? Whatevs…
Just prepare yourself for the truly intoxicating aroma of citrus and winter spices to fill your home!
Homemade Winter Potpourri (Stove Top or Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 1 blood orange
- 1 navel orange
- 3-5 cinnamon sticks
- 1-2 vanilla bean pods
- 1 small clipping of a fresh pine branch (about 3-4 inches)
- 4-5 cups of apple cider
Directions
- Pour apple cider into pot with a few sprigs of pine and the cinnamon sticks.
- Cut open the vanilla bean pod (or pods), lengthwise. Add to pot.
- Slice up the oranges into ¼ to ½ inch thick slices. Then, place them into the pot.
- Place the pot on medium high heat, until it reaches a gentle boil. Then simmer on low (up to several hours). Add water or more apple cider when the liquid in the pot begins to get low.
- If you’re using a slow cooker, just add all the ingredients and cook on high for the first 1-2 hours, then reduce the setting to low just as you would on the stove top.
Enjoy!!!
Source: Make Your own Winter Stove Top Potpourri – Momtastic.com