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It’s finally the time I wait for all year long.
Thanksgiving week is here and that means the holiday craze is beginning! Yes!
Watch the How-To Here:
Christmas Potpourri from Half Baked Harvest on Vimeo.
Here’s the thing, every year I always make these grand plans in my head to do all my favorite holiday things. Like all of them. Cut down the family tree, decorate the tree, make sugar cookies, decorate the house, make gingerbread houses from scratch, send out christmas cookies to everyone, find the best gifts, watch ALL the Christmas movies, go for a snowy sleigh ride, make hot cocoa with giant marshmallows and loads of whipped cream, go ice skating, make the most grand Christmas dinner – with the table set all cute and festive. The idea is pretty much just to have the perfect Christmas season, which for me started with our big snowfall last week.
Here ‘s the reality though, I maybe do one or two of those things and then Christmas comes and goes and I am wicked sad it’s over because I didn’t even get to cross off half the things on my list. It honestly happens ever year.
So this year, I am just accepting the fact that I will never get all those things done. Especially with how busy I am right now, it’s just not possible. Instead, I am bringing the Christmas fun to the blog and making my work not work like at all. Gotta love that. I have decided that there are just way too many things I want to tell you guys all about this December, so now the weekends will be filled with Christmas cheer.
So exciting right!?!? Ok well exciting for me any way.
Today I am kicking things off with some crazy easy, holiday potpourri that simmers on the stove all day long. Don’t think I am all old and lame trying to tell you guys to make some homemade potpourri, I promise you will love this. Just trying to make the house smell like Christmas – like home. If you’re a candle person, you’ll love this potpourri.
The best part is, you can really use whatever you have on hand. The must-haves in my opinion are cinnamon, citrus, ginger and vanilla. Nothing makes it feel more like the holidays than those smells. So good.
I have seen the idea of potpourri that simmers on the stove all over the place lately and I am so glad I finally tried it, and especially that I tried it on a cold, snowy weekend. I just let this simmer all day long, adding more water as needed, and every person that walked through the house said “wow, it smells so good in here, like Christmas.”. Trust me, if you are having guests over this is the perfect thing to have simmering away on the stove. So try it at Thanksgiving. It’s a great easy fix that makes people feel warm, cozy and welcomed!
Jeez, I am so cheesy. It’s the holidays, they do that too me.
Homemade Holidays: Let’s Make the House Smell Like Christmas.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
- 3 tangerines, halved
- 3 whole cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise gives a strong black licorice smell., optional
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean + 1 vanilla extract
- 1 small branch fresh pine
- 1 cup apple cider, pomegranate or cranberry juice
- water
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium size sauce pot. Fill the pot with water until it reaches 3/4 the way full. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, adding more water as needed. I let mine simmer for close to 4 hours and then let it cool over night and simmer again the next day. Just be sure to keep adding more water.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Simmering.
Pinterest just reposted this Nancy. I saw it on my phone, so I came to the computer, searched and found so I can save and try it. Thank you! I’m glad it’s still online after 3 years. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and have a blessed, healthy and prosperous New Year!
John, Philadelphia suburb
I hope you love this! Thank you John!
Recipe
so creatif , i like to read all the conten of your blog, waiting for next article
Great! Thanks!
Do you get the pine from your backyard
I did! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
How long will this last before it is no longer good?
I use it for up to 4 days and just keep adding water to it. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
that is balsam fir pictured – not pine at all 🙂 sorry to nitpick!
Where did you get these gorgeous pans!?
And I am definitely going to be trying this out while decorating the tree after thanksgiving.
xo, Rachel Nicole
https://rachelnicolexo.com/
They cam from France. I found them on Etsy. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Oh MY…..! This is truly delightful! Makes the house smell of that warm, “comfort” aroma. I used apples in lieu of apple juice since I had none and I also used Rosemary in place of the pine. Not sure why since we’re surrounded by it here in the Seattle area. Thank you for sharing. We are enjoying the fruits of the holiday now!
That sounds so amazing! Thank you Kelly! Happy Holidays!
I use the same only substitute the juice for water and use a big candle jar and large candle warmer. I put a lot of orange peal in and grated fresh ginger also. I put it all in the jar and then in the warmer. I can add more water the next day – I always check it daily. At times I will refresh the cinnamon sticks an orange peel , Even have added a touch of lemon peel at times.
Sounds amazing! Thanks Mary Ann!
This can also be done in a crockpot. I have made similar potpourri but did it in a crockpot from this recipe see what other things I can use. Thanks for sharing.
Great idea! Thank you Nancy!
I have used Cinnamon, oranges and cloves, even apples so good
Thank you Donna!
This recipe is great. I do have one word of advice. I purchased at a craft fair a lady that had made this and had put in several pieces of pine. Looked beautiful. Smelled awesome!! SKIP THE PINE. The pine after two heatings apparently dried…I pulled it off the heat and 1 hour after our smoke alarms went off. The pine resin had ignited and had smoldered setting the smoke alarms off. I grabbed the pot and ran it outside where it ignited due to plenty of air! This could have ended horribly if it was near something flamable. Please post!!!!
So sorry you had trouble with the pine. I have never experienced that. Hope it all ended ok!
I started this years ago, just not as elaborate as you, for the same reasons. As I got older and older I cooked less and less and had spices in the cabinet that were OLD so it became my thing to put the oldies to good use. When I replaced them after the holidays it didn’t feel like I had been horribly wasteful. The additions you’ve come up with are lovely and have started turning the cranks in my head.
Ah how funny!
So happy you like them and its getting the ideas flowing! Thanks Mary Ann.
I definitely must try this for our woodstove. We have a little kettle on it now, but for Christmas, I would love the scent in the house.
Thanks for this great tutorial, Tieghan!
Yes!! That would be perfect!! Your welcome!
How long will this last until you have to get all new ingredients?
about 3-4 days. Happy Holidays! ?