Have you ever walked in the front door and noticed your house has a decidedly funky smell going on? If you cook a lot, food smells often linger for days. Pets and kids can add to the funk too; stinky shoes, smelly sportswear. During the winter months when we keep our homes closed up tight the air inside can get decidedly stale. You could easily mask those unpleasant odors with chemical laden air fresheners or scented candles but a simmer pot is a lovely, natural, inexpensive alternative.
Let’s face it, we are inundated with all sorts of chemicals everyday. It’s in the water we drink, it’s in our food, soaps, detergents, beauty products, cleaners; we live in a toxic chemical soup. It’s no wonder so many of us are sick. Our bodies are desperately trying to flush out all those chemicals but have trouble keeping up. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to remove all the chemicals from our lives. But that doesn’t mean we should throw up our hands in despair and give up. If we are mindful we can start eliminating some of those toxic chemicals in our lives in small ways; baby steps. We can all agree, the fewer chemicals in our lives, the better it is for our health!
It’s citrus season here on the pacific coast. I always seem too end up with loads of lemons and other citrus from family and friends. It can sometimes be challenging to use it all up before it goes bad so doing a simmer pot is a great way to use up some of the bounty I am blessed with.
If you don’t have access to citrus fruits it’s still economical to purchase a couple lemons or oranges when you are at the market. Not only is it perfect to use in a simmer pot but it’s also lovely used as decor in your home. Their lovely bright colors add a lovely pop of color that always brightens up your home. And you can use them in your cooking.
So what can you use in a simmer pot? Almost anything that has a fresh fragrance you enjoy. Gather together some aromatic ingredients like these:
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Cinnamon sticks
- Star Anise pods
- Whole Cloves
- Rosemary sprigs
- Thyme sprigs
- Oregano sprigs
- Mint leaves
- Dried Lavender
- Rose petals
Go outside and look around your garden. Use the fragrant items from the garden that you love most. I often crush fresh Rosemary sprigs between my fingers when I’m outside working in my garden, I love it’s pungent, earthy fragrance.
Place all the fragrant ingredients you are using in a large stockpot and fill it with water. Use just a couple items or a bunch; there’s no right or wrong way to do this. Combine fragrances you love the most. I am using lemons, limes, oranges, rosemary and cinnamon sticks.
Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. I put a lid on top to get it to heat up quicker.
Once the water comes to a boil, tilt the lid and reduce heat just low enough to keep the water simmering. Tilting the lid will help prevent the water from evaporating as quickly but allows the fragrance waft up into the air.
CAUTION: Be sure to keep an eye on the water level and add more water throughout the day if needed.
Don’t toss out that water, there’s a whole lotta goodness in it! Fish out the fruits and other ingredients and toss them in your compost heap. Let the water cool to room temperature (I cover the pot and leave it sitting on the stove overnight), use the cooled water in the pot to water your plants. Your plants will love the vitamins and minerals that leached into the water.
I hope you decide to give a simmer pot a try the next time you are hanging out at home. You will love how fresh your home smells. Say bye-bye to those funky, musty winter smells and welcome spring with this easy to do, natural, and inexpensive simmer pot.
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