Did my mom really used to cook orange peels?

I think I remember her putting orange peels on the stove and keeping it at a low heat, and it made the house smell pretty decent. Unfortunately, she's not around for me to ask anymore, so I was just wondering if she did, and how can I do the same thing? Is there any sort oil or water that I should add, or just put in the peels?

Did my mom really used to cook orange peels?
It's funny. I never though of this until I saw this question.





My mom did the same thing and she is goen as well. I asked her best friend about it and she told me tat she used:





Orange peels, Cinnamin Sticks and cloves and kept it on the stove on the lowest setting.





I have one of thoes little potporui simmer things that I am going to try it in.





Good luck!
Reply:sugarpie hit it right on the head...perfect!!!!
Reply:She amy of been making marmalaide
Reply:Yes orange peel and maybe some cinnamon sticks on a low simmer will make the house smell very nice.





Its actually is a trick that i picked up from a local real estate agent. She said that buyers walk in and like the smell of something "homey" it will attract them to the house more.
Reply:Sounds like an inexpensive air freshener to me. I'd use an old pan set on low on an electric burner. Just plop the peels in and let 'em get hot...cut 'em up into small pieces - about the size of a pea ought'a do it. Whatever y'do, don't go off and forget about it - eventually, it'll get hot enough to fill your house with smoke that won't smell nearly as good - in fact, you're liable to wind up with a whole houseful of new curtains - and a very pissed off lady of the house!


You can do the same thing with a room humidifier - buy some oil of orange at your local health food store, and when you put water in the humidifier, add a drop or two (and no more) of the oil of orange - it may be called "orange extract" - and turn it on.


In past years, gas stove tops always had a small flame going, called the "pilot light". When you turned on the burner, the pilot light ignited the gas, and when you were done cooking, you shut off the gas - but the pilot light flame kept burning. Gas ovens worked the same way. Due to safety concerns, all gas ovens and stove tops have for years used an electric igniter rather than an open-flame pilot light. Until that change was made in manufacturing, you could set a small pan over the pilot light and keep a small amount of liquid - or a handful of orange peel - warm. Can't do that no more...
Reply:The peels have natural orange oil in them, and yes, she probably put them on to simmer. Would freshen things up for sure. You can also add a cinnamon stick or two and a couple of cloves to the water adn orange peel... just make sure it is on a low simmer, and it doesn't boil dry.
Reply:Sounds like something my mom does. Just put the peels in a pot of water and let it simmer. You can also put cinnamon in it to give an orangy spicey scent if you would like. ( Id use cinnamon sticks if you do that tho...its better)
Reply:Oh yes!!! I do it all the time.....its a homemade Pot Pourri....








boil water in a sauce pan....





add orange peels, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon peels





Basically anything you want to add to it!! The house smells wonderful for hours.





And afterwards you can strain the water, and add a tea bag....it becomes a Hot Totti!!





Enjoy!!!
Reply:What Sugar Pie said is exactly what my mom used to do too. But when peeling the orange cut just deep enough so you get the peel only no white attached, that the pith might make the mixture bitter if your going to bottle it. Or if your going to make candied orange peel you need it pith free too. Also try adding cloves, and cinnemon, maybe a Star Anise pod or vanilla bean too sure would smell good. Have fun in the kitchen
Reply:I do this a lot...orange peels a few cloves....and let it simmer...during Christmas time I do apples and cinnamon.


just add orange peels and what ever spice you enjoy to water and put on low on your stove.....you will have to add more water from time to time as it evaporates.





another trick...take an apple stud it completely with whole cloves wrap in foil...and set out of the way..I use them in my closets.

Nanny Source