CHRISTMAS SIMMER POT

Last year a friend gifted me a simmer pot and I absolutely loved it!  I was able to get three full days of some of the most joyful scents of the season spreading throughout my house.  So naturally since I enjoyed this gift so much, I wanted to pass it along to my own family members this year (oh, and of course I made another for myself).  

If you're totally unfamiliar with this concept.  I'm going to take you through the steps for those that I created.  The concept is to create either a gift bag or mason jar full of items that blend together when simmered on a stovetop (or crockpot) to bring to mind the scents of the holiday season.  

I chose to use fresh cranberries, and rosemary.  I dried in the oven orange, apple and lemon slices.  Then for my spice mixture, I chose cinnamon sticks, star anise and whole cloves.   The concept with the spices is to choose the natural form versus the ground versions that we all have on our spice shelf.  Wy? Because they're so pretty in their natural state, they're more robust, and you won't leave behind the powdery remnants in the container.  

I also opted to make card labels for the outside to familiarize my gift recipient of what they were receiving and how they could enjoy it.  

Since I have a Silhouette machine, I put together a festive card using it.  You could certainly handwrite the instructions or simply print out a "word" document as well.  Let your creativity be your guide. 

  

To the left is my finished product.  I chose a seasonal gift bag for one of my recipients, and for the other whose gift was being mailed, I chose a mason jar to ensure a little extra protection during shipping (forgot to get a picture before I sent it off).  

Just to get you creative juices simmering (pun intended).....this doesn't just have to be a holiday gift.  Depending on the ingredients you choose to use, you could easily enjoy a simmer pot for other occasions as well.  For instance, dried citrus fruits with a vanilla bean and thyme.    And of course, you don't necessarily have to dry your fruit.  I did that because of the gift I was shipping to my Mother- in-Law (I didn't want to send perishable items) and then used the remainder for my Daughter's and mine.

I had as much fun putting these together for others as I do enjoying my own.  I hope you do as well!