November 8, 2021
Make Your Home Smell Cozy with a Stovetop Simmer
Don’t you just love warm scents for fall, winter and the holidays? It’s a great time of the year to make simmers, burn candles, and run a diffuser with essential oil blends. It’s fun to be able to customize a couple scents for the seasons with what I have on hand or for the feeling I’m hoping to conjure up in the kitchen.
Here are five of my favorite simmers for fall, winter and the holidays. Mix one up and simmer it away on your stove or in a small crockpot and you’ll be feeling festive in no time. Gather any combination of the following ingredients – you only need one or two things, but you can combine to your heart’s content. A lot of times, if I’m cooking or baking in the kitchen for an afternoon, I will simmer ingredients I’m using. Extra lemon rinds or herbs? Toss them in water and simmer away.
Ingredient Ideas:
- lemons
- oranges
- apples
- cranberries
- pomegranates
- cinnamon sticks
- whole cloves
- vanilla beans
- fresh herbs
- pine needles
- extracts – vanilla, almond, etc.
- 4-6 cups water
My favorite Holiday Simmers:
HOLIDAY KITCHEN
- lemon
- rosemary
- vanilla beans
CHRISTMAS ORANGE
- orange slices
- clove buds
HOLIDAY APPLE PIE
- apple slices
- cinnamon sticks
- pomegranates
- cranberries
HOLIDAY BAKING
- orange and/or lemon slices
- clove buds
- cinnamon sticks
- vanilla beans
THANKSGIVING MORNING
- orange slices
- sage
- cranberries
Add 4-6 cups water to a large saucepan.
Combine ingredients with water in a saucepan and put on your stove. Set heat to low and let the ingredients simmer away as long as you’d like. Keep an eye on the water so it doesn’t boil over or scorch. Add water if you need to.
TIP: If you have a small crockpot you can combine the ingredients and let your simmer bubble away on low all day.
Happy Simmering!
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Julie McDougall Says
Thank you so much for your post. I will try this fall. Also thank you for your organizational skills. I have moved into a new home and had a hard time figuring out a cleaning routine that did not leave me exhausted or feeling I had no time for anything else. I am motivated and happy with a clean home that is presentable at any time. How wonderful is that. It has certainly reduces my anxiety.
Jackie Says
Hi Becky! Thank you so much for sharing all of these wonderful simmer recipes! I was wondering what that pot is in the photos? Is it ceramic? Looks like a great little pot for simmers and also stews for my family! 🙂
Clean Mama Says
Post authorIt’s a LeCreuset 🙂
Mary C Says
I had an accident with a cardboard box and styrofoam packing, melting and burning on my stove top. Got it all cleaned up however, the remaining smell is very bad! What do you recommend to help eliminate the odor!!!?
Thank you and Merry Christmas
Clean Mama Says
Post authorOh no! It might take a little bit for that smell to leave – open windows and let it air out.
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Heather Says
Are these good for only 1 day?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorYou could pour it off into a mason jar, refrigerate and reheat another day if you’d like.
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