I decided to take a few holiday tasks off of my plate this year to ease the stress of the holiday season.
One of those tasks was baking! However, I quickly realized I wouldn't have my typical tins of cookies to gift to friends and neighbors.
If you know me, you know I love fragrance-free aromas to scent my home.
I started brainstorming and quickly remembered one of my fall favorites, the simmer pot.
I started to think about simmer pots I had created in the past and browsed various gift ideas. That is when I decided, I could absolutely give the gift of a warm
and cozy aroma for friends and family without gifting scented soaps, oils, or diffusers.
I titled this gift a " Holiday Home" simmer pot. You can find the printable gift tag below the recipe.
Holiday Home Simmer Pot
You will need:
Sugar in the Raw or White Sugar
Rosemary Sprigs
Cloves or Mulling Spices
1-2 Oranges Thinly sliced
Cranberries
Cinnamon Sticks
Three of your favorite festive essential oils ( I used Christmas Spirit, Stress Away, and Orange from Young Living)
1. Take your thinly sliced oranges and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drop your favorite spiced oil onto each slice. I used Christmas Spirit.
Bake the slices at 250 degrees for five hours or less ( watch for browning). I turned mine at the 2.5 hour mark. Allow to cool completely.
2. Place 1-2 cups of sugar in a bowl. Add 10 drops of Orange oil and 10 drops of Stress Away oil to the sugar and mix.
( I tried this with vanilla extract and it did not go well)
3. In a clear bag, drop your sprig of rosemary and a cinnamon stick. Add 1-2 tablespoons of your sugar mixture. Top with a pinch of cloves and a few cranberries.
Before twisting the bag close, add your dried orange slice.
4. Once you have add all of your items, tie a ribbon at the top of the bag and attach the gift tag below. Your recipient will add 2 1/2/ cups of water to a pot, add the contents of the pouch and simmer.
Your friends and family are sure to enjoy this comforting aroma as they prepare for the holidays!
It is back to school season which means we are doing all the things to keep our household healthy! One of the items we tend to grab in the fall and winter is elderberry syrup. You can purchase this or make your own. Making elderberry syrup is actually much simpler that you would think. You can even use your Instant Pot!
I have hit some roadblocks with elderberry syrup. The first one is, my kids and I do not prefer the taste. The second one is, I don't always have time to make it. The third one is, I am not always near somewhere where I can just "Go grab a jar." This has us purchasing our elderberry supplement in gummy form these days!
Today, I thought I would share the DIY recipe that we have used in the past and also share some information about our new favorite elderberry gummies (it is actually more than an elderberry gummy). Let's get started!
DIY Elderberry Syrup
I love a good DIY. Any DIYer knows that they are typically great money savers AND the ingredients are much simpler! We made this recipe a few years ago. Essential oils take this recipe up a notch. If giving to your kids, definitely taste test before as some of the oils can add a "spicy" taste to the mix. Take a peek below!
Directions:
Bring the berries, water, ginger, cinnamon, and clove to a boil.
Cover and simmer or 45 minutes.
Once warm, mash and strain the berries from the liquid.
In a small bowl, combine the honey and essential oils.
Once the berry mixture begins to cool, slowly stir in your honey mixture.
Adults take one tablespoon daily.
Children take 1 teaspoon daily.
You can grab the elderberries here.
Grab your Thieves and Lemon Vitality Oils here.
The BUY
Now, if the recipe above doesn't appeal to you, check out these Immugummies!
Not only do they have elderberry flower in them, they also contain beta-glucans. You can't beat the ingredients or the fact that there is no added sugar or dyes.
Here is some information I pulled from the LIfestepsApp that will fill you in on the details of this gem.
Support your family's wellness with our the Immugummies daily supplement! These delicious elderflower- and lime-flavored gummies are more than just a sweet treat. They naturally support optimal immune function, immune health, and upper respiratory tract health.
Packed with power, flavor, and pure algal beta-glucans, these gummies are a daily must-have for a healthy immune system.
ELDERBERRY & ELDERFLOWER
Elderberry and elderflower are two different parts of the same medicinal shrub, and both can be used for their health benefits! While similar, they each have distinct properties that can be used for immune and respiratory health.
Elderberries have been utilized in traditional folk medicine for thousands of years. In European folklore, elderberry consumption was associated with increased longevity and vigor! They are a great source of antioxidants, dietary fiber and vitamins, and are a wonderful way to provide immune support for the body.
Elderflowers are the flowers of the same plant that bloom before the berries form. They have a slight sweet, floral taste, making them a popular choice for teas and cordials. Elderflowers have been shown to have up to two times higher antioxidant activity than the berries due to a higher phenolic content, and they are great for supporting the respiratory system.
KEY INGREDIENTS
1,3 beta-glucans (from Euglena gracilis algae): Beta- glucans support immune health, immune function, and upper respiratory tract health. They're sourced through a sustainable indoor fermentation process to reduce waste and prevent harm to marine ecosystems.
Elderberry fruit juice concentrate: This ingredient contains antioxidants that combat free radicals and support the immune system.
Elderflower natural flavor: Flowers from the elder tree have been used for centuries to support a healthy respiratory system.
Lime essential oil: This zesty oil is a good source of d-limonene, a terpene that has antioxidant properties
What do they taste like?
These gummies are a combination of fruity and floral. You can definitely taste the Lime oil as well.
I was skeptical about whether the kids would like them but they enjoy them. In fact, they will even remind me to give them one if I forget.
So what do you think? Are you a DIYer or a BUYer when it comes to your elderberry supplement?
