Tag: organic

Pet Friendly Simmer Pot ( Stovetop Potpourri )

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What’s a simmer pot? 

Simmer pots are sometimes called stovetop potpourri. Basically it’s a simmering pot of citrus, spices, and all things nice to make your house smell amazing and welcoming. An all-natural air freshener and this recipe is pet friendly!

Not all aromas are safe for your pets. So since I have two pups at home , this was something I wanted to share with my friends & family too.

Essential oils are fatty aromatic compounds extracted from various plants. … Passive diffusers include reed diffusers, warmers, or plug-ins; these all diffuse essential oil scents into a room, which can cause respiratory irritation in dogs and cats

Whats in a simmer pot ?

To get the best aroma out of a simmer pot , I like to add at least one thing from each of these groups:

Citrus

Definitely naval oranges. I love the combination of orange with the cranberries. You could use lemons, limes, or even grapefruit.

Cranberries

Cranberries are all over this time of year, they last a long time in the fridge and they are a beautiful shade of red ! They really make your simmer pot colorful and add such a sweet scent.

Whole Spices

I always use cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. I’ve heard Star anise are a beautiful, fun addition with their star shaped pods but I haven’t used those yet .

Herbs/Woodsy add ins

Bay leaves, rosemary sprigs, or pine cuttings add a nice, woodsy scent to the simmer pot blend.

And lastly I drop in some pure vanilla extract , just a couple drops should be good.

It’s pretty in the pot in the beginning but give it 30 minutes and it won’t be anymore , so grab a couple pics while you can to share with your friends.

How long can I use a simmer pot?

You could use it all to simmer for about a week in the same pot , just add water when the level gets low, and turn it off at night when you go to bed.

You could probably use a slow cooker too , just make sure to keep adding water so it doesn’t burn.

Ingredients

  • 1 small or medium navel orange
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 Tablespoons whole cloves
  • 4 bay leaves or a pine or rosemary sprig
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 whole star anise (optional)

Instructions

  1. Slice the orange into 4-5 rounds and put them, along with the rest of the ingredients into a medium sauce pan with 6 cups of water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for as long as you like, adding water when needed.