I wish I had discovered something like this years ago. I could have bought a small yacht with the money I have spent on overpriced candles. Well, probably not a yacht. Maybe just used rowboat. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a drawer full of candles that get burned faster than kindling. However, I’m glad to give my candle budget a break and make this tantalizing* holiday potpourri. This potpourri fulfills my annual dream of “I-just-can’t-wait-to-make-the-house-smell-like-a-Christmas-explosion”. Plus, it’s chemical free – none of those synthetic fragrances. I guarantee you’ll have people asking you what smells so good as soon as they walk into your home!
HOLIDAY POTPOURRI
inspired by Half Baked Harvest
makes one pot of potpourri
1 cup fresh cranberries
1-2 tablespoons vanilla, or 1 vanilla bean split open lengthwise
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 small orange, halved
4 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or ground nutmeg)
1 inch coarsely chopped ginger (you can leave the skin on)
small branch of Pine, Fir, or steal one from the back of your Christmas tree!
2 cups apple cider or cranberry juice
1 cup water
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients and heat on low. This can be used for several days, just make sure to turn the stove off at night! Check on the pot occasionally; you may need to add more juice as the potpourri evaporates.
*Sadly, this is not meant for eating, though all the ingredients are technically edible
