With all the fall baking and cozy cooking going on, you might find yourself with leftover peels, spices, and rinds. Instead of tossing them, why not turn them into fragrant simmer pots to make your home smell like fall?
A simmer pot is an easy, natural way to fill your home with warm seasonal scents. Simply simmer a mix of fruits, herbs, and spices in water on your stovetop, and let the comforting aroma spread throughout your space. Popular ingredients include cinnamon sticks, citrus peels, and cloves, but you can get creative with whatever you have on hand.
Our favorite fall simmer pot includes:
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange (or just the peel)
- 4-5 cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: sprigs of rosemary or star anise for added fragrance
Just fill a pot with water, bring the ingredients to a simmer, and enjoy the cozy scent. Keep adding water as needed to prevent it from drying out. You can even refrigerate the mixture and reuse it for a couple of days—perfect for keeping your home smelling like autumn all week long.
Here are even more ways you can utilize food scraps in other delicious uses:
