It's not quite December but the minute after Thanksgivings, I already had the winter holidays on my mind. I balk at all of the Christmas decorations in the stores starting in October, but now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's fair game.
All of the holidays this time of year are about the light. How in this darkness, we can juxtapose light and the nighttime transforms. The stark contrast of the two, one against the other, is simply gorgeous. I imagine back to our ancestors, and how this light was imperative to our survival. How the darkness can be too much to bear at times, and how we took it upon ourselves to create the light to remind us of the better times that will soon come around again.
But really, in most first world countries, for most people, this time of year is about stuff. Stuff to eat, stuff you want to get and stuff you can give to others to show how much you care. All of that stuff we don't really need along with the food waste and gift wrapping can really add up. It does, in fact, add up, to the tune of an extra 1 million tons of trash a week from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve (read about it here). That's a lot.
With that in mind, I thought I would do a Mini Holiday Gift Guide and share my favorite tips, ideas and recipes for gifts that don't add to all of that. It's more creative and hands on than spending money you don't have on cheap things your loved ones don't need and adding to the senseless cycle of consumerism that plagues our planet.
Step #1: Start Early & Regift
When you get a perfectly lovely gift you don't need/want, save it in a bin to regift during the holidays in the next year. This costs you nothing other than some storage space in a closet somewhere in your home and you can save some new and unused items for a future gifting.
Step #2: Gift Used Items
Look around and be honest about what you already have. Is there a book you own that you love but you know you will never read again? Is there a gorgeous sweater that no longer fits but would look good on your sister? Or maybe during your last swap, you noticed a trinket that wasn't really your style but it would work for your co-worker so you snagged it. Add in all of the second-hand and antique stores we have access to and there is a myriad of ways to gift used items without spending any money, or just a little, and still give a wonderful gift.
Step #3: Handmade Gifts
This is my personal favorite as I love craft time. It's always fun to think of organic, zero waste concoctions to create and give out. I have a few go-to items that I will share in the upcoming weeks, but this week, for our Part 1, I'm sharing a recipe that I tried out for the first time this year: Preserved Lemons.
With the lemon tree in the backyard producing more lemons than we could possibly consume, I decided to reap the bounty and share. Preserved Lemons are used in Moroccan cuisine, so I figured it would be a thoughtful gift to all of my family and friends who enjoy cooking. They are also really easy to make:
Preserved Lemons:
1. Wash Lemons (the rinds are mostly used so we have to make sure they are clean):
2. Cut an X at the Top of the Lemon, Making Sure to Not Cut all the Way Down:
3. Pack with Salt (microplastics have been found in Sea Salt so you may want to go Himalayan to avoid that):
4. Shove in Sterilized (clean thoroughly and place in the oven for 30 minutes on 350 degrees to dry) Mason Jars or other Lidded Glass Jars. Pack in as Many as You Can so They Start Releasing Their Juices (I also added a Cinnamon Stick, Bay Leaf, and a few Organic Peppercorns to start the favoring process, plus it looks pretty):
5. Pour in Lemon Juice so Immersed:
Put the Jars in a Dark Place. In about 30 Days, You'll Have Preserved Lemons.
This is definitely a gift you'll want to prep early so it's ready in time for the holidays. Thanks for reading and I look forward to next week when I'll share Part 2. Happy Holidays.