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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
Get the piano tuned and play Christmas carols with the smell of potpourri in the air.
At the top of my holiday bucket list is taking my kiddos to see Zoo Lights at the Oregon Zoo!
My bucket list is to take time off work/school to spend with my family, especially my sister and niece to be.
Thank you so much for posting all the incredible recipes!
Bucket list item for this Christmas is top take our four kids out to look at Christmas lights. When we see Santa, we say “ho ho ho” and when we see baby Jesus,we say “happy birthday! “
Instantly, I know what I want to do before Christmas……take my 6 nieces and nephews skiing at Big Sky Resort and then make fabulous Christmas cookies in my decorated holiday-spirit cozy house with the fire a blazing. Then, watch Rudolph and The Grinch!
Before Christmas, I have quite a few things on my bucket list:
1- survive finals week
2- make multiple flavor infused dark chocolate truffles for my mom
3- go ice skating
4- take advantage of the crisp, winter weather and spend LOTS of time OUTDOORS!
My primary bucket list item is to carve a wooden spoon for my mom and an ornament for my dad. And to bake lots of cookies and make other yummy things!
Merry Christmas
I am reluctantly letting you know how we are preparing for the next few days because it comes from deep in our souls and we do it silently for others. We have collected, purchased gloves for a group that distributes them to school children in the inner city, we also spend the year filling a jar with loose change and then find a family that could use some “loose change” for their daily needs. I feel you change many people’s ideas on cooking with your fabulous ideas for great dishes all year long Tiegan. May you enjoy the holiday with your fabulous family. The pot would be nice for my renewed fondness of cooking your recipes. Linda Neitzel
OMG, I’m super excited to tell you about my plans. In this last year, I got married, got pregnant, quit my job, and moved across the country to live in my husband’s home state. I’m trying to make a good impression on his friends and family so have setup 5 nights this month to entertain. My plan is to provide nice winter comfort food and have a “craft” to make. I was going to use your gift jars and will also now do potpourri! I am going to provide all of the materials necessary and ask that each person give a donation to the local food shelf (where the news is reporting empty shelves).
This is BIG news for me as I’m the typical accountant at heart. I lack creativity and entertaining skills. But, your daily emails have inspired me to entertain – not with confidence quite yet but at least I know that I’m providing yummy meals and fun activities!
Thank you!
gingerbread houses are a must!
On my bucket list are Holiday Stollen for all of my clients (I’m a personal chef) and some yummy mulled cider! I’d love, love, love to win a gorgeous Staub Cocette so I can use it to prepare delicious warming foods for all of the families I cook for!
Cheers,
Maureen
It seems like the greater part of my Christmas Bucket List is reserved for school stuff… the papers are interesting, but still exhausting!
Otherwise, though, I’m counting on hosting an inner child study break for the undergrads (thinks Legos and colouring sheets), making pita chips and dip for an end of year class event, and plan and execute some delicious meals for my family.
On my 2015 Christmas bucket list is to make, rather than buy, most of my holiday gifts. Wine cork letters, wreaths, and now, this wonderful potpourri (which would of course be complimented by that stunning Staub cocotte). Happy Holidays!
make a batch of mulled wine with all those potpourri spices for our holiday open house!
What a wonderful post Tieghan! My bucket list before Christmas is a simple one, to enjoy each moment with family and friends. To not rush through the holiday season. And also to make your yearly family Christmas trip into NYC!