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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Sometimes the best gifts are homemade, especially when they are created with love and healing herbs.Simplify your gift list with these DIY herbal goodies.Why not try a few and see what you think?

For the Gourmet Lover

Herb Jelly

This is delicious with a variety of meats and vegetables, also tasty on toast in the mornings.

First you will need about six medium - sized organic apples. Unripe if possible because these contain more pectin.
Wash and quarter, place into a saucepan and cover with water.
Boil well until they turn to pulp.
Strain. Set the pulp aside and let it stand overnight.
Next you need to measure out two cups of apple juice and add to two cups of organic rapadura sugar.
Put this on the stove to heat.
The herbs you choose are up to you and your garden!
A good combination - mint, rosemary, oregano and lemon verbena.
Chop all the herbs separately and place into clean jars.
When the apple jelly is at setting point fill each jar carefully.
Stir to distribute the herbs through.
When cool seal the jars and label.

Herb Butter

This is delicious in mashed potatoes and also on grilled organic meats. Easy for instant herb breads too.

The easier way to prepare herb butter is in a food processor.
Pace 500 g of softened organic butter into the food processor and mix until creamy and soft.
Chop 1/4 cup herbs and add to butter.
Mix for only a few seconds.
Add a teaspoon of lemon juice and mix again to blend.
Put the butter onto a sheet of waxed paper and shape into a block or roll.
Refrigerate until firm.

Herb Vinegar

Herb vinegars are wonderful gifts if you find lovely bottles to complement them with. Cork stoppers can be used or even hand painted tops. Don't forget to label all your items as you make them because you might forget what they are later.

Cider, red and white organic wine vinegars are best to use. The amount you need will depend on the amount of vinegar you wish to make.
Fresh herbs picked from the garden and dried yourself are best to use.
Sage, parsley, mint, bay, chives, basil, oregano, lemon verbena,tarragon and lavender are just some of the many herbs you can use for herb vinegars.
You must wash and dry the herbs well, the vinegar will cloud if they aren't dried properly, we prefer to use whole leaves, but chopped ones are just as good.
All you need to do is to place the herbs in the bottles and fill them with vinegar.
Seal and store in a cupboard for up to six weeks.
You can let your imagination go with herb vinegars - Herbal vinegars lend a luscious lift to mayonnaise, sauces or salads. You can use a single herb or a combination of herbs for a signature vinegar. Experiment!

Herb Oils

These must be the easiest presents to make for the gourmet lover. All you need are fresh herbs and attractive bottles and virgin organic olive oil.

Clean the bottles well and place the herbs into them.
A full branch of herbs looks good and you could even add some peppercorns or herb flowers.
Fill the bottle to the top with the best quality oil and seal tightly.
Leave this in a cool, dark place like a cupboard for about four weeks so the flavour is enhanced.
A really lovely gift. Use for making salad dressings.

For the Tea Lover
 
Rose Tea

1⁄2 cup dried organic red rose petals
2 tablespoons dried lemon balm
1 tablespoon dried rosemary

Mix well and store in an airtight container. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

For 1 cup of tea, use 1 teaspoon of herbs in a cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and sweeten if desired.

Herb Mini Gardens

These small gardens are very useful in the kitchen so a few extra for friends are an idea.

First you need a few clay pots, short, wide pots are best.

Use a good quality organic potting mix to give them a good start.

Now you need some fresh herbs, obtain five to six different kinds for variety.

All you need to do is to plant the herbs so they look great and water them in.

Lavender Sprays

These make nice gifts, especially for the elder members of the family.

Collect the lavender just before the flowers are entirely opened, make sure you cut a long stem on each of them.

Tie a ribbon around a small bunch just under the neck of the flowers.

Now comes the tricky part, you must gently bend back the stalks over the flowers themselves, one at a time.

When all the stalks are over the flowers tie a ribbon around to secure them.

These are unusual gifts and will last for ages.

Place the sprays in a dark cupboard for four weeks or until they are totally dry.

You might like to add a few drops of pure essential lavender oil to enhance the aroma.

Herb Sachets

Herb sachets are useful little pillows filled with an assortment of herbs.

They are ideal for the linen press and they can make anywhere smell fresh and different.

Pick some fresh herbs and dry them well.

Any herb that appeals to you can be used.

Simply make a little pillow and decorate them how you like.

Handpainted ones would be lovely.

Crumble the dried herbs and place them into the pillows, a little orris root powder will help retain the smell longer.

Sew the ends and you have a nice gift.

DIY Spa Diva's - Add a loofah or sea sponge and a scented non-parrafin candle to complete these pampering gifts.

Facial Scrub

1 cup dried rose petals
1 cup dried lavender
1 cup oatmeal
1⁄2 cup chopped almonds
6 drops chamomile essential oil

Grind herbs, oatmeal and almonds in a blender or food processor until very fine. Stir in essential oil and pack in decorative four-ounce glass jars with tight-fitting lids. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

Rub a handful of the scrub gently into damp skin using small, circular motions. Allow to dry on the skin for a minute or so, then rinse well.

Relaxing Lavender Honey Bath

Honey has a calming effect and combined with pure essential oil of Lavender it's a wonderfully soothing bath treatment.

2oz. of Honey
5 drops Lavender
Combine in a jar, label, tie a sprig of lavender

Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

To use, add 1 -2 Tablespoons per bath, relax and enjoy!

Milk Bath

1 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salts
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon cornstarch
Few drops essential oil
1 cup dried lavender
Mix ingredients thoroughly and store in a clean jar
Shelf life is 2 - 3 months

Bath Oil

This sensuous oil turns any bath into a pampering spa treatment full of moisturizing plant oils and skin-friendly herbal essential oils.

1 cup almond oil
2 cups avocado oil
2 green tea bags
10 drops lavender essential oil
8 drops chamomile essential oil
4 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
2 drops rose geranium essential oil

Warm almond and avocado oils in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, add tea bags and let steep until cool. Remove herbs and combine tea-infused oil with remaining ingredients in a 12-ounce glass bottle with a lid or a stopper. Close tightly and shake well to mix the oils. Store mixture in a cool, dark place for 24 hours to allow the oils to blend. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

To use, add 2 ounces to your bath water

Soothing Bath Salts

2 pounds Epsom salts
1 pound sea salt
1/2 pound Dead Sea salts
1 1/2 cups vegetable glycerine
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops Helichrysum essential oil
5 drops Geranium essential oil
1/4 ounce bicarbonate of soda
Mix all dry ingredients together
Place essential oils in glycerine and leave to infuse for one hour
Add glycerine mixture to the salts and mix well
Leave for 24 hours and mix again
Store in a clean jar.

Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

To use, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup per bath

Warming Spice Bath Powder

This spice-scented powder is wonder-fully warming after a hot bath on a cold winter night.

1 cup cornstarch, arrowroot or rice powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
3 drops cinnamon essential oil

Combine dry ingredients in a glass bowl and stir well to mix. Add essential oil, stirring again to disperse the oil throughout the mixture. Carefully pour powder into a glass container with a shaker lid and cap tightly.

Skin Softening Wash Bags

3 Tablespoons ground oatmeal or ground almonds
3 Tablespoons ground raw sunflower seeds
1 Tablespoon Buttermilk powder or powdered goats milk
1 Tablespoon dried lavender flowers or chamomile flowers
Mix all ingredients together.
Once ingredients are mixed, store them in an airtight, waterproof container until you're ready to use them.
The recipe above is enough for one 3x5" muslin bag.
To use: fill bag with mixture, wet them thoroughly, and use them like a bar of soap or a scrubby. The bag exfoliates the skin while the ingredients clean and tone.

Herb Shampoo

Receiving herbal shampoo is delightful, especially if it is presented in an original bottle.

Buy some good quality organic baby shampoo and then pick some rosemary leaves

Make an infusion of the rosemary leaves and allow to cool

Add one cup of rosemary infusion to every three cups of baby shampoo. Combine thoroughly.

Herbs for the hard-to-please

Herbs for Him

It is hard to find herbal gifts for men that are not flowery and overperfumed but this recipe for ginger liniment  is great especially for the athlete!

Bundle these herbal remedies with a reusable ice pack, a natural sunscreen and some homemade lip balm for the active folks on your list.

Ginger Liniment

This healing massage oil is great for muscle aches and stiff joints.

2-inch piece fresh ginger
1⁄2 cup almond oil

Grate ginger and combine with oil in a small, nonmetallic saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Remove from heat and steep for another hour. Strain oil to remove bits of ginger. Using a nonmetallic funnel, pour liniment into a four-ounce glass bottle with a tight-fitting screw top. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

To use, gently massage the oil into affected area twice a day until symptoms have disappeared.

Knees to Toes... Amazing Foot + rough elbow Scrub

2 pounds Dead Sea salts
1 pound Epsom salts
1⁄4 cup borax
1⁄2 cup jojoba oil
1⁄3 cup vitamin E
1⁄2 cup olive oil
1⁄2 pound grated unscented soap, natural or organic
1 tablespoon glycerin
1 tablespoon lime essential oil
1 teaspoon ground lime peel
1 teaspoon orange peel, ground
2 teaspoons vitamin C powder

Combine ingredients in a small glass bowl, mixing well. Pack into glass jars with a tight-fitting lid. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

Scoop out a handful of the scrub and gently massage into feet, concentrating particularly on rough spots, such as the heels. Rinse feet well and pat dry.

Relaxing Bath Tea

1 cup dried chamomile
12 dried bay leaves, crushed
1⁄4 cup dried rose petals
1⁄4 cup dried sage
1⁄4 cup dried rosemary
1⁄4 cup dried eucalyptus
Premade muslin bags or large sealable tea bags
Ribbon or twine (optional)

Stir herbs together in a large bowl, mixing well. Fill each bag with the blend. If using muslin bags, tightly tie the top with a piece of long ribbon to close. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

Place the tea bag in fairly warm bathwater and swish through the water to release the essential oils. Relax and enjoy!

Teenagers Treats

Teenagers are often difficult to make presents for as the group pressure they are constantly under demands that they reject the homemade in favour of all that is glossy and new. One gift that has always been enthusiastically received is a tasty treat to eat....

Herb Dip Mix

Pack up this yummy dip mix with a bag or two of  organic beetroot, potato, vegetable or corn chips in a colourful basket or box. This dip mix also can be used as a seasoning in recipes.

1⁄4 cup dried parsley flakes
1⁄4 cup dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons dried tarragon leaves
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
3 teaspoons garlic powder
1⁄2 teaspoon celtic salt
1⁄2 teaspoon coarsely ground organic pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

Combine 1 tablespoon of the mix with 3/4 cup organic sour cream / yoghurt, 1/4 cup mayonnaise (or blend a block of fetta cheese in blender) and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Blend well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables. Makes 1 cup.

Herbal Popcorn Seasoning
 

This is a healthy alternative to the traditional salt-coated snack. Combine with a bag of organic popcorn and a voucher for a DVD in a bowl adorned with ribbons.

1⁄4 cup dried basil
1⁄4 cup dried marjoram
1⁄4 cup dried thyme
1⁄2 cup nutritional yeast powder
1⁄4 cup garlic powder
1⁄8 cup kelp powder

In a grinder, grind basil, marjoram and thyme and mix well with the rest of the ingredients. Store in an airtight glass container away from heat and light. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

Sprinkle on lightly buttered popcorn.