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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
Hi! I really enjoy your blog ?and those Staub pots look amazing! My bucket list is
1.cook the Christmas supper for my colleagues today
2.make peppernut cookies- a family tradition
3.have friends over to make candy/cookies
4.to make your potpourri- my house heated with a woodstove, and that will be so totally cozy to have a pot of potpourri bubbling away on it!
Wow that will be so cozy!! I hope you have an amazing time with all of these things, Melissa!
I have so much to do…..still need to buy gifts, wrap & mail gifts, bake more cookies, and plan for a family dinner, but the most important thing I need to do is go to yoga. It keeps me sane!
I am sure you will get it all done! The holidays are amazing, but can be hectic! Also, yoga is a great idea!
On my bucket list of things to do is to finally move back home! We lost it in hurricane Florence on September 12th. So excited and humbled to truely be home for the holidays! We will be enjoying your turkey and wild rice pot pie on Christmas night!
I am so sorry to hear that Lacey, but I am so glad you are finally able to move back home! Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Go look at holiday lights!
Sounds so amazing! Thank you so much!
I want to drive around and look at Christmas lights while drinking hot cocoa 🙂
Wow wow wow! This sounds magical and so fun! I hope you have a great time Lauren!
My bucket list before Christnas is to go to the mountains with my brother, sisters, nieces and nephews ???
Awh that sounds so wonderful! I hope you have fun!
This Christmas I definitely will add potpourri-ing to the list – this homemade gift looks easy but yet very thoughtful and I can send to anyone far away! Next on the list is making chocolate truffles for everyone who is super close to me, it’s a tradition I bake something new each year and 2018 is truffles!! And lastly, I have to develop all those Kodak films – yes, I carry those disposable cameras still with me and I must say people love seeing them when I take it out to snap a photo. These are great gifts to those who were in the photo to be sent one or two – it’s vintage, compact, and something unique about me that I love to share with those I love.
Wow truffles sound amazing as a gift! I love that! I hope you have an amazing holiday season Emily!
I think I need to add your Christmas Potpourri to my list. Sounds (and smells, I’m sure) delicious. In addition to that….
1. Walk through the forest and find the perfect Christmas tree
2. Make homemade Chex mix
3. Make our traditional Spiced Tea (a family heirloom)
And…on Christmas Eve make homemade eggnog
Blessings for a glorious holiday season!
Sounds amazing! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season Ruth!
Hi Teighan ! Quick question, should the pot pourri with fresh fruits be kept in the fridge before being gifted or by the person receiving the gift – or both ? Thanks a lot !
HI! I would keep in the fridge, then gift and have then store in the fridge as well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
I want to make gingerbread people, do up a gingerbread house with our 2 year old, get Santa photos done (I know, I know we’re almost missing the mall Santa), and I want to get my “mistletoes” canvases done as Christmas gifts to the girls grandparents ? that’s my bucket list!
Sounds so amazing! I hope you have an amazing time doing all of these things!
Hi Tiegen. Thank you for your very generous opportunity! My Bucket List item to complete is a family shopping day on December 15th. Myself, our three Daughters, and five Grandchildren ranging in age from 9- 16 have decided that we all have enough! So this year, in lieu of gifts to each other, each family is contributing a certain amount of money and we are doing a Toy Shopping Day together. Each Grandchild will shop for a child their own age, and all of the merchandise will be donated to a local organization in our Community who supports families in need. It’s going to be a great family day of giving and sharing time together and we are all looking forward to it. Thanks again. PS We already donate to St Jude’s and share your view of them as a wonderful organization to support.
Hi Jackie! This is so amazing!! What a nice idea to teach your children to give on the holidays! I hope you have a great time shopping for all of the gifts! Thank you!
I love this idea and plan to try it this year as gifts for friends. How large are the burlap bags you use?
Mine are about 12 ounces bags. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
In case you are having a gas boiler put in, it is important that the engineer is fully certified to work with
gas.
So many things to do before Christmas: choosing the tree, decorating the house, baking Christmas cookies and making homemade gifts, being criative trying to reuse and have environmentally friendly gifts!
I hope you have the best time doing all of those things, Isadora! I love the idea of using environmentally friendly gifts!
Spending As much time with my Son outdoors ; going to Brookfield Zoo, Morton Arboreteum, Museums in Chicago here in The Midwest. Who just got home from serving 6 years in the United States Air Force.
Wow that is amazing! Tell him thank you for serving!