Southern Secret

 

Ok, I am a little late on getting my usual everything about fall post up, but better late than never, right?  As you know, or don't know I absolutely love Fall!  This year it seems that we are actually getting to experience the Fall season!  Yippee!  I am typing this blog with all the windows in my house opened and enjoying the cool temperatures.  The season also brings with it football!  Go Longhorns!  The first game was over labor day weekend and they have won all their games so far.  Last night's game against OSU almost gave Dan and I a heart attack, but none the less they won!  This is the time of year when I begin to look for new soup recipes to make and bring back the good ol' favorites, like chicken tortilla and vegetable beef!  YUM!  Last but not least, Fall also starts the beginning of consuming one of my favorite drinks...Pumpkin Spice Latte!  Starbucks is responsible for this fabulous drink and I wish they would keep it all year round.  I seem to get headaches when I drink coffee drinks, but I will certainly suffer through a headache every now and then for this yummy, fall drink!  So, YAY for the fall season and everything that comes with it!  I have added something new to the list this year, I will probably use it all year round, but I will share the secret!

The picture above is not anything to sink your teeth into, but to make your home smell like Fall!  I found it on Pintrest and it is super easy and super cheap! You take a pot and peel about 3 or 4 oranges.  I am sure you can use more, but this is all that I had at the time.  Take the peels and put them in the pot add about 1 tblsp of cinnamon and then add water just until it covers the orange peels.  Set it on the burner and turn up the heat.  I usually start off on high then drop it down to med-high once it starts to boil.  You want to keep it at a steady boil. Pretty soon your house will smell so warm and wonderful!  I tried it last week and my mom and sister came in the house and instantly said the house smells so good, what candle is that you are burning?  Ha!  I shared with them the secret!  Today, we cooked bacon and you know how bacon can stink up your house, so I threw the oranges and spices together and in no time I was smelling the orange spice smell instead of bacon grease.  I actually decided to add cinnamon and pumpkin spice along with the oranges today.  There you have it!  A great natural and inexpensive way to fill your house with the smell of fall!  I took the peeled oranges and put them in the fridge for a healthy snack later!  I am starting to wonder if lemons and limes would work for the spring?  Hmmm?