Stove Top Potpourri

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And my house smells like Christmas! Mmm...you know that smell, the one where you are 6 years old again, sitting in your Christmas jammies, listing to your daddy reading you a Christmas story in front of a fire. Milk and cookies are sitting out, the Christmas tree is bright and beautiful. The scent of cranberries, orange and cinnamon hangs in the air. That's exactly what my house has been smelling like the last couple days, and I love it! And the best part there is no candles and flames!

It's really easy to make your own stove top potpourri and here's how I do it.

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups Water
• 1 Orange, cut into slices
• 1 cup Cranberries, fresh whole berries
• 4 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1 tbsp Whole Cloves
• 1/2 tsp All Spice
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• 1 pear ( not pictured but I did add it to the mix )

*Optional: Fresh Rosemary, Vanilla, Lemon, Pinecones, Bay Leaves, Apples, Pears

Directions:

1. Add oranges, berries, water and spices into a medium to large pot.
2. Put the pot on the stovetop and turn the heat to low 
3. Let it simmer away. It's that easy. 
4. Make sure and add water to it every couple hours. 

Mine lasts anywhere from 2-4 days depending on how much it's on. It will not stay looking pretty, but it still smells delicious :)

I was reading a post on it's A Beautiful Mess Blog, and they have some yummy sounding ones too, here's a link to their stove simmers.