Orange Spice Simmering Potpourri

Baby, it's cold outside! Now's the perfect time to use up the dried orange rinds I've saved. Here's the simplest of simmering potpourris to make your house smell good and put some moisture in the air.

First, save some citrus rinds from tangerines, oranges, or clementines ("cuties"). I like "cuties" because the skin is thin and dries very quickly. You can leave the peels out to dry or put them in a warm oven after you've cooked something else and turned the oven off. They will dry pretty quickly. Just don't forget them in the oven when you turn it on to cook something else. You'll end up with smelly burnt peels! Here are some peels I have dried and then broken into good sized pieces.

Simmering potpourri makes a wonderful homemade holiday gift for friends and family. If you've got an extra canning jar, fill it with dried citrus peels. Add several cinnamon sticks and a handful of whole cloves. Then top with a pretty ribbon and a card with simmering directions. Easy peasy...homemade and inexpensive!

I bought the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves at my local co-op store. If you don't have a store with bulk spices try buying the spices in the Mexican spice aisle of your local supermarket. They usually have the best prices there.

To simmer the potpourri place a few dried orange rinds, one or two cinnamon sticks, and several cloves (5-6) in a small pot of water. Put the heat on low and let it simmer. 

The fruit and spices will plump up, the water will yellow a little, and a wonderful scent will permeate the air. You may need to add water if you simmer for a long time. Keep an eye on the pot. Never leave a simmering pot unattended!

Here in Portland, we compost our food scraps so when I am done with my potpourri, I compost it! Whether you compost or not, this potpourri is a great way to use up your leftover orange rinds.

Getting the kids involved

Let the kids join in the fun! They can eat the cuties, save their peels, and watch them dry (give it a couple of days at least). Once the peels are completely dry, they can easily help make gifts of potpourri for family, friends, and teachers. If you don't have glass jars to hold the potpourri, try using Chinese take-out boxes. The boxes are inexpensive, unbreakable, have handles, and the kids can decorate them with markers, stickers, or paint.