How I Learned to Love Winter (and My Favorite Cozy Simmer Pot Recipe)
From Snowboarding Adventures to a Simmer Pot Recipe That Warms the Soul
This winter has been the stuff of my dreams—warmer than usual with tons of snow.
It brings out the playful kid in me and the cozy, bookish grown-up all at once.
I suppose I have my husband to thank for my love of winter … shhhh, don’t tell him. 😉
When we met, he was a volunteer on the ski patrol at a nearby hill in Ontario. He taught me how to snowboard, and the rest is history. Each winter for the last 15 years, we have spent at least one day each week snowboarding … well except when I was pregnant with the kiddos of course!
He taught me that with the right gear, winter can be warm.
He taught me that winter can be exhilarating.
He taught me that winter can be alive.
Today, we go with the whole crew.
On the flip side, there is nothing better than cozying up with a book under tons of blankets with my favourite hot drink. One of my favourite things is to have a winter simmer pot simmering on the stove to immerse the entire house in the essence of the season.
I’ve become addicted to putting one on when I want my home to feel extra cozy. I thought I’d share my go-to recipe.
INGREDIENTS
1 orange
1 to 2 cups of cranberries
1 tbsp of whole cloves
2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
4 to 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
DIRECTIONS
Place everything in a small pot. Fill with water so that the contents are fully submerged. Bring to a boil, then reduce your stove to low.
Let the aroma fill your home!
The only caution is to not let the water run out—add more as it evaporates. I leave mine on low all day. About halfway through, I notice that the water drops to about half. Because I'm paranoid like that... I usually top it up at that point.
Enjoy. Let me know in the comments if you make it!
Until next time … stay rooted and be true to your rhythm.
xox,
