With a few simple ingredients from our produce and bulk departments, you can fill your home with the festive scents of bright cranberries, zesty citrus and warm cinnamon and cloves.
Stovetop Potpourri
This potpourri is a great way to use up any produce that’s on its last leg.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 sprigs of rosemary or a couple short pine clippings from your holiday tree
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tsp. whole cloves
- 1-2 star anise pods (optional)
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a pot or slow cooker and add 4-6 cups of water.
Simmer as long as desired, adding more water when needed. You can store the potpourri in the fridge between uses, and re-simmer as desired until the scent runs out. When you’re finished with it, drain the liquid and compost the fruit and spices.
Pomander Balls
These two-ingredient orange and clove balls are a fun holiday craft for all ages. You can hang them (which dries them faster and makes them more aromatic) or place them on a mantle or tabletop.
Ingredients
As many oranges as desired
Whole cloves
Instructions
Leave the orange whole, and stick whole cloves into the rind. You can stud part or all of the fruit, and even make patterns with the cloves if you’re feeling creative! Poke the rind with a toothpick before inserting the clove to make it a little easier on your fingers!
If you want to save your pomander ball, store it in a paper bag for a few weeks until it’s completely dried out. Be sure to stud it with lots of cloves, which will draw out moisture and make the orange shrink. You can also dust the ball with cinnamon for added fragrance and preservation (cinnamon has natural antifungal properties!). Once dried, place the ball in your closet or dresser drawer for a delightfully scented sachet, or save to use as an ornament for the next holiday season!