Next Post
Sage Crusted Standing Rib Roast with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
I don’t know about you, but I love the smell of Christmas. Give someone the gift of a Christmas scent (homemade holiday potpourri) this holiday season!
Fresh pine, cinnamon, vanilla, and orange. So fresh, yet so cozy. To me, there’s nothing better than a snow day and a pot of homemade potpourri simmering on the stove. It’s winter perfection.
Last Christmas, I made potpourri in a pot for us all to enjoy, but this year I thought, why not take those scents and turn them into a gift for all our friends and family to enjoy as well. I know, I know, I am just so nice…right. Seriously though, this is such a quick and simple gift, I cannot believe I never thought of it before!
I have customized these cute little bags to my liking, but feel free to use a little more of this and a little less of that so that your Christmas scent is just PERFECT for you.
I also used fresh cranberries and oranges in my bag. Since I will be gifting these bags to Asher teachers tomorrow, I stored them in the fridge. If you would prefer, you can make these using all dried fruits, and then you don’t have to worry about the fruit going bad. For me, the fresh cranberries and oranges make a huge difference both in appearance and in smell, just sayin.
OKAY, and now for a fun/sort of serious part of this post. In keeping with my goal to really try to give back this December, today I have partnered with ZWILLING J.A. Henckels (aka my bestest buddies) to gift THREE readers one of my FAVORITE Staub pots. I’m pretty excited about it, AND you get to choose your favorite color (my favorites are the matte black and grenadine)! I know, so fun!
Staub is hands down my all time favorite cookware. Their pots, skillets, and dishware are honestly the best. I know you guys will LOVE this Staub Cast Iron 4 Quart Cocotte. It’s the pot I use most in the kitchen!! Love it!
While I am so excited to be gifting you guys some of my favorite cookware, I am also really excited to share a little info about the charity I am giving to this week. My mom has always made a point to give back, especially around Christmas. This year, she has really inspired me to give back myself, and today I wanted to chat a little about a charity I think is pretty close to a lot of people’s hearts.
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital works day and night to help save the lives of thousands of children battling cancer. Cancer is something that has probably affected most us in some way or another. I know it has greatly affected my family. This is one of the many reasons I feel so lucky to be able to give back and help support such an amazing organization like St. Jude’s.
I was laying in bed the other night finishing up some work, I think it was like 11:45 pm and I was so ready for bed, but me being me, I just couldn’t go to sleep without a little something fun. At least for a few minutes of a Christmas movie was a must. I told myself I would only watch ten minutes, but of course, I picked one of those sappy, tear-filled Hallmark Christmas movies. A huh, you know what I’m talking about.
Anyway, long story short, the movie was about a young boy with leukemia. His mother wrote a blog about their journey, staying at St. Jude’s, and the everyday ups and downs. To say that it was intense is an understatement. I totally cried my way through the ending, but even though the story was so sad, it was also very upbeat and positive at the same time. It’s hard to explain, and I am a horrible story-teller, but the point is that it really made you think and be grateful and so happy for what you have, you know?
I really could not think of a better organization to donate to this Christmas. Kids are everything, full of innocence, energy, and life. Knowing that by giving, even just a little, I can help to fund research that can potentially help save lives, is a great feeling.
So today I am encouraging you all to give a little back too, if it’s at all possible! Please check out the St. Jude’s Website, watch the videos, learn about the kids, and learn how you can help save a life.
Sorry if that all totally sounds like an ad, BUT it’s Christmas, and it’s a time for giving, not just receiving… of course that’s fun too!
To enter the Staub GIVEAWAY: tell me what is on your bucket list of things you MUST do before Christmas? Do you want to go ice skating? Bake pounds of Christmas Cookies? Decorate Gingerbread houses? Make Homemade Holiday Potpourri for gifting?
Leave your answer in the comments and I will pick THREE winners one week from today!! Oh, and if you do decide to give to St. Jude’s, please email me or let me know in the comments. I will send you a big internet hug! 🙂
Happy potpourri making friends!
Christmas Potpourri.
Servings: 1 BAG HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries OR 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks crushed
- 1-2 star ansie optional
- 1 tablespoon cardamom crushed
- 2 teaspoons whole cloves
- 1/4 cup candied ginger
- 1 vanilla bean halved lengthwise
- 1 fresh pine or 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 cup Satsuma or tangerine OR 1/3 candied orange peel
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients except the orange in a burlap bag or glass jar. If using a jar, add the orange and seal the jar. If using a burlap bag, tie the sack shut and then tie the orange onto the outside of the sack. You can also just place the orange inside the sack. Decorate as desired.
- If using fresh cranberries and oranges, gift the potpourri within 2-3 days of making and keep stored in the fridge. If you use all dried fruits, the potpourri can be stored at room temperature for up to a month.
- To make the Potpourri, add the contents of your bag (or jar) to a medium size pot. Add water until it comes 3/4 the way up the pot. Simmer on the stove over low heat, adding water every so often to keep it from drying up.
If only you could smell my potpourri simmering away. SO Christmasy!! And isn’t that Staub pot the most beautiful thing ever? It’s really a work of art! I know I have already said this, but it’s my favorite!
Lastly, if you make this Homemade Holiday Potpourri be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
This post was originally published on December 6, 2015
Make new treeskirt in Buffalo plaid with matching stockings!
Such an awesome idea!
My bucket list includes attempting to make little glitter putz houses as well as baking sugar cookies!
YES! I love that idea! I hope it turns out amazing!
See the Christmas Story House (I am from Cleveland)
Go on the holiday Christmas trolly tour of Cleveland lights
Bake peppermint pudding cookies for my husband and friends
YES! I love these ideas! Thank you Amy!
The highest priority on my Christmas bucket list is to find a way to close the distance between my son on the opposite coast. He can’t make it home for the holiday this year so I working to pack up elements of our familiy’s traditions (tree cutting, decorating, special Christmas Eve activities), gifts that delight and deliver it with essence of me, my daughter and our dogs It’s a challenge but we are approaching it with love and laughter (also a family tradition!) The potpourri is a great idea!
Thank you so much Vicki!
My goal this Christmas is to take rides
to towns & take puctures of the city’ s
Christmas Tree ? they have in their
town square, park, or center. Can’t wait!!
That sounds amazing!
I am trying to be mindful and slow down and enjoy every single moment of this time of year with my family and friends. We are taking the kids to Disneyland in 10 days!! I love their little faces so much. I can’t wait.
I love that! I hope you have an amazing holiday season, Donna!
Hi there to every body, it’s my first pay
a quick visit of this webpage; this web site consists of remarkable and really good data
in support of readers.
Thank you!
Yes, every year I have a Christmas wish list… Of things I want to DO, not receive. Similar to your list- baking, homemade gifts etc etc. Living in South Florida prevents the “cut down a real tree” theory, lol. Even though I’m no longer working, I never finish the list… Sometimes,I can’t even begin it. I spent a lot time caring for a loved one with cancer over the last few years (my best gift to self, ever) and this year, I spent much of the last month preparing for a double baby shower for my daughter and daughter-in-law… Only to have them both snowed in up in Georgia and unable to attend! And, my husband and I rented a moving truck to bring my daughter’s furniture up to her new home.
So, my Christmas wish list??? Make it back to So Fla safely this weekend, make amends to the puppy we left behind with friends, put up the Nativity creche, get your potpourrie simmering , take a nap and pray for a blessed Christmas NEXT year with two new grandbabies!! AMEN.
Hi Ann Marie! I hope you do make it safely to Southern Florida this weekend and have a great time getting ready for the holidays. Also, I really hope you can do some of the things you are wishing to do this Christmas! Oh and congrats on the grandbabies! That is SO exciting! Thank you & Merry Christmas!
What a delectable recipe! I’m just trying to decide exactly why I’m not drinking it…. so before Christmas, I am hoping to light my entrance path cheerily and sufficiently enough that my mother feels confident walking up it(!), seriously clean the plac we’ve just settled into and prepare some sweet gifts with my three teens to share with our friends. This potpourri, for some, and maybe some homemade jar votives, packed with peppermints or such for others. Enjoying considering the possibilities. Thank you so much for your creative contribution and encouragement to share joy and prosperity !
Thank you Sara!
I’m taking the time to really enjoy the decorating, wrapping, and baking that goes along with Christmas. I am inspired by beautiful blogs such as yours. I’m so happy to have found your site.
I am so glad you found it as well! Thank you Rosemary!
Great idea! Going to try this. I couldn’t find a link to the video though, which would be useful! Please could you share a link if it is still online?
Thanks!
Here is the video!
https://vimeo.com/193100802
Make Christmas potpourri for gift giving
Yes!
I made this last year and gave it as gifts. Everyone loved it, I am going to do it again this year. It is so pretty when its done and the smell is heavanly
On my bucket list: Get everything done early so I can enjoy all the fun things with my family, like baking cookies, going to Christmas events and shows, putting the tree up early, decorating the house and having fun while doing it, rather than feeling stressed about the deadline of Christmas.
Yes! That is a great idea! The holidays are all about being with family, so getting everything done in advance would allow you to do just that! Happy Thanksgiving!
Before Christmas my goals are to bake some cinnamon ornaments for the tree, cut out/origami some snowflakes to hang around the house and make at least two cosy cocktails to enjoy with my hubby!!
Sounds amazing Kendra!