Bringing a Scent of Fall Inside
Fall has arrived and the house is beginning to welcome the season. Autumn decorations have begun popping up, the light feels different, and I’ve found myself reaching more often for the herbs and scents that make the season feel even more alive.
One of the things I planted this year was a small rosemary plant. I placed it in a terracotta pot where it has spent the past season slowly filling out. I had originally imagined using it for my winter posies, but with autumn here, I found myself eager to bring some inside. Rosemary feels especially at home to me this time of year, green and woodsy and a little bit resinous.
So I clipped a few sprigs, brought in a lemon from the tree, and made a simple simmer pot with rosemary, citrus, and cinnamon. Within a short while the house smelled warm and fragrant, exactly the sort of atmosphere I had been hoping for.
Fall had arrived! And with a little rosemary left on the counter, I decided to make something I’d been meaning to try for quite a while: rosemary syrup.
It couldn’t have been simpler. A little water, a bit of sugar and a couple sprigs. Before long I had a beautifully fragrant syrup.
And I didn’t waste any time putting it to use. It was delicious stirred into sparkling water and also surprisingly good drizzled over sliced apples. I even used some in a pear mocktail with tea and lemon later that afternoon.
I think that’s one of the pleasures of fall for me. Finding small ways to make its presence felt throughout the house. A branch from the garden, something simmering on the stove, a fun new recipe to celebrate the season.
Rosemary Simple Syrup
Ingredients
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat, add the rosemary sprigs, and let steep for 8 -10 minutes, tasting toward the end until the flavor is to your liking.
Remove the rosemary and allow the syrup to cool. Cover, refrigerate, and enjoy!