You can decorate your home all you want, but if you really want to provide that full Christmas effect, it must smell great too. An aromatic Potpourri will do the trick.

Potpourri can be purchased at the store but making it at home will be a great holiday activity. You can even wrap some up and give it to friends. Here’s how it’s done.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cranberries (or 1 diced apple)

• 2-3 sprigs rosemary

• 2 tsp. cloves

• 1 orange (sliced or quartered.

• 2-3 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

1. Fill a saucepan with 4-6 cups of water. Place all ingredients in the saucepan.

2. Simmer over low heat.

3. Let simmer for as long as you like adding more water as needed.

You can also prepare it in a Slow Cooker by taking the following steps:

1. Fill slow cooker with 4-6 cups water. Place all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Set on high and let it cook for several hours. It can be covered or uncovered but cooking uncovered will provide a stronger scent.

3. If you are cooking uncovered, add water on a regular basis as it will evaporate quickly.

How to Package Your Potpourri for Gifting

If you are thinking of giving your potpourri out as a gift, here’s a great way to wrap it up.

1. Take a large cellophane treat bag and fill it with the items to be included placing orange and cranberries in first followed by cinnamon, rosemary and cloves.

2. Tie the bag at the top and knot it with a ribbon.

3. Print out a gift tag and punch a hole in the top corner. Slide the ribbon though the hole and tie it to keep in in place.

Ideas for Substitutions

Of course, you don’t have to follow this recipe to the letter. You can substitute ingredients as you please.

For example, the orange can be replaced with any other citrus fruit. This includes grapefruits, mandarins, tangerines and lemons. You can also substitute cranberries for diced apples, use ground spices instead of whole spices or add vanilla to the pot to give it some added sweetness.

Potpourri is a great way to infuse your home with the scents of the season and it also makes a terrific gift. Now that you have a recipe to use, you are ready to mix some up for yourself and your friends. What blend will you be integrating?

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