Calm & Simple Holiday Preparations in Northern Europe: Healthy Homemade Food Gifts & Decorating

The holidays are just around the corner, and I’m making final preparations! I go shopping at IKEA, create thoughtful and healthy gifts, organize my tea/apothecary kitchen cupboard, visit a Christmas market, and decorate our Yule tree. Enjoy!

📌#estonia #finland

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Recipes:

🍋Lemon Salt (1–2 small jars)
▪️300g sea salt
▪️Zest of 4 organic lemons (or more for extra flavor)

1. Zest the lemons and mix with sea salt.
2. Dry the mixture in the oven at 70°C for 2–3 hours, then leave it to dry overnight.
3. Store in a jar for gifting.

🌿Herb-Infused Oil
▪️Extra virgin olive oil
▪️Dried rosemary (or herbs of your choice)

1. Place dried herbs in a clean bottle.
2. Pour olive oil over the herbs.
3. Let it infuse for 1–2 weeks.

🍯Turmeric Honey (1–2 small jars)
▪️250 ml honey
▪️5-15g turmeric powder
▪️Pinch of black pepper

1. Gently melt the honey (not too hot).
2. Stir in turmeric and black pepper.
3. Store in a jar.

🥜Granola
▪️ 4 dl whole oats
▪️ 2 dl coconut
▪️ 3 dl mixed nuts and seeds
▪️ 1–2 tsp vanilla
▪️ 1–2 tsp cinnamon
▪️ 1 tsp cardamom
▪️ 1 dl coconut oil
▪️ 1 dl maple syrup

1. Mix all the dry ingredients.
2. Add melted coconut oil and maple syrup.
3. Press into a baking tray and bake at 160°C for 30 minutes, then at 175°C for 5 minutes (depending on your oven). Stir midway if needed.
4. Let it cool, add dried fruits and berries.

💮Decorated Chocolate
▪️Dark chocolate
▪️Edible flowers, nuts, and seeds

1. Melt the chocolate and pour it into a mold.
2. Sprinkle toppings over the chocolate.
3. Let it cool at room temperature to avoid white speckles.

Music from Epidemic Sound: https://share.epidemicsound.com/xccqub

00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Shopping at IKEA
01:58 - Preparing jars and bottles
02:22 - Making lemon salt
03:27 - Herb-infused oil & olive oil benefits
04:39 - Turmeric honey
05:58 - Winter hike
06:38 - Drone shots of stunning Finnish nature
07:40 - Organizing and cleaning
10:05 - Labeling the gifts
10:33 - Cinnamon granola
11:43 - Decorated chocolate with flowers
13:41 - Fire cider
14:29 - All the gifts together
14:47 - Decorating the Yule tree
16:33 - Final look at the tree
17:20 - Visiting the Tartu Christmas market
17:46 - Watching biathlon & editing