This winter has already threatened snow, in what feels like, more than the last four years combined. Every summer when the North Carolina heat bears down on us, I make a secret promise to myself that I will not complain about winter. Well last week I slipped and fell on ice and had to penguin walk through slush that left my shoes wet… so I am going to choose to focus on the wonders of winter from the indoors to try to keep my promise to myself.
Enter the simmer pot. On lazy weekends when I am cuddled up reading while my son is making his dinosaurs loudly fight to the death, there is a certain amount of calmness that a lovely smelling simmer pot brings to our home. The assembling of ingredients also gives me a moment to stop and pray for our home and those under our roof.
I usually use different ingredients dependent on the season. In the winter, it is all about a spiced scent with fruit undertones. If you have children, you know that there are some weeks where they will eat all the apples and some where they suddenly detest the fruit with all of their being. I also use this as an opportunity and nudge to make a simmer pot. In the winter, my fruits of choice are apples and oranges. I will slice up one or two to add to the pot.
For spices, I always use cloves in the winter as it reminds me of the holidays. I like to add a few slices of fresh ginger when I have it as well. Cinnamon and rosemary are other great spices that pair well with oranges and apples. I also add a bay leaf to all of my simmer pots, regardless of season, as something to hold onto and focus while I pray over our home. I imagine the prayer drifting through our home as the scent slowly flows to each room.
There is some historic symbolism with these ingredients that I like to meditate on as I pray over the pot of water while I add the ingredients:
Apples – Health and Knowledge
Oranges – Joy and Abundance
Cloves – Protection
Ginger – Healing and Renewal
Cinnamon – Love and Prosperity
Rosemary – Love and Remembrance
Bay Leaf – Protection and Purification
My process looks like the following:
1. Gather all ingredients. These can be adjusted to pot size and smell preference.
Apples – 1-2, sliced
Oranges – 1-2 (clementines work just fine as well), sliced
Whole Clove – 5 or 1/4 tsp of ground glove
Ginger – half thumb length, sliced
Cinnamon – Two sticks or 1/2 tbsp ground
Rosemary – Two sprigs or 1 tbsp loose
Bay Leaf – 1
2. Slice ingredients needed to be sliced
3. Fill a pot with water
4. Add each ingredient to the pot using the ingredient as a focus for your prayer.
Example Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the blessings you have given to this household.
(Apple) I pray for the continued health of all that live within these walls. May we not only stay physically healthy but spiritually healthy as well as we meditate on your teachings. Grant us your wisdom as we live out our days.
(Orange) May we continue to experience your blessings and create in us hearts of joy and appreciation for all that you allow to enter into our lives.
(Clove) I ask that you protect us from that which would seek to destroy us. May our house and those in it stand strong. May this land be surrounded by a hedge of your protection.
(Ginger) Where we are sick, both physically and spiritually, we ask that you heal us from these afflictions. May we have a renewed focus on you and your will.
(Cinnamon) May the love in our household only continue to grow. May it be felt by all those who walk through our doors. Allow your abundance to enter into our lives.
(Rosemary) Allow us to remember those who went before us, the lessons learned from the greats that were once in our lives. May we also remember to give thanks for all the little blessings in our live.
(Bay Leaf) Finally Lord, I beseech You to protect and purify this space. May that which does not belong, flee from Your presence.
Thank you for all that you have done for this household. We ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
5. Place the pot on the stove on low/medium. Once it begins to simmer, leave it on low. Set yourself a reminder to check in a few hours to ensure you do not burn the contents in your pot.
I hope you find your own little piece of calm as you enjoy the scents that fill your home.
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