Until last year, I attempted a Christmas theme for my December posts.   Yeah, I’ve slacked off.

We strive to make our own gifts for family and friends and this year we whipped up some great garden knee pads, spiced peanuts (in so many varieties I can’t list them all here), hot cocoa bombs (with a varying degrees of success), homemade vanilla, shower tablets, garden pot holders, scarves, pillows, and one laptop sleeve.   Then, there’s our annual play with tidy whiteys (TMI).

At the very last minute, I whipped up some more of this great stuff.

Cutting Board Conditioner

From Mother Earth Living (September/October 2018)

Pair this with a homemade cutting board and your gift will be deemed the best ever.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. beeswax
• 2 T. jojoba oil
• 4 T. coconut oil
• 1⁄4 tsp lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. Add beeswax, jojoba oil, and coconut oil to the top of a double boiler, or place them in a bowl over a pot of boiling water.
2. Melt ingredients together over medium heat. Remove from heat as soon as beeswax is fully melted. Stir together well.
3. Add lemon essential oil. Stir well.
4. Pour into a 4-ounce tin, or two 2-ounce jars.

To use, apply a thin layer of polish to clean, dry cutting boards. Allow this to sit on the surface of the board for 1 hour. Wipe off with a dry, lint-free cloth. Apply once a month.

Yield: 4 oz.

We didn’t pair it with a homemade cutting board, but that’s an idea for next year.

I do have a mango wood salad bowl that this worked miracles on.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

For the spirit of Christmas pasts, feel free to visit these links:

 

2010:  Twelve Days of Christmas Treats

Please don’t judge these early posts.  

1. Peppermint Chocolate Holiday Cookies
2. Orange Slice Cake
3. Mulled Cider Oatmeal Cookies with Cranberries
4. Pumpkin-Pecan Spice Cookies
5. Raspberry-Chili Sandwich Cookies with Ginger
6. Feliz Navidad Chocolate Cookies
7. Espresso Biscotti
8. Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters
9. Spiced Nuts
10. Christmas Fudge
11. Christmas Mix
12. Mom’s Microwave Peanut Brittle

2011:  Gifts from the Kitchen

• Butterscotch Drops
• Vino Cotto
• Guinness Gingerbread
• Healthy Holiday Spice Cookie
• Pumpkin Granola
• Wine Fruit and Nut Squares
• Healthy Muffins
• Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins
• Double Choco-Banana Muffins
• Trail Mix Cookies
• White Queso
• Homemade Cheese Crackers
• Ginger Snaps

 

2012:  Christmas Olio

• Cheese Ball Kits
• Advent Calendar
• Christmas in a Can
• Pepper Jelly Jewel Thumbprint Cookies
• White Chili
• Family Cookbooks
• Bird Feeders and Suet
• Sock Monkeys for Adults (Not X-Rated)
• Cranberry Ginger Whole Wheat Bread

2013:  The Theme-less Season

• Jalapeno Relish
• Felted Dryer Balls
• The Gift of Jam and Cake
• Garden Markers
• Caveman Fudge
• Maldivian Body Scrub
• Gingerbread Granola
• Gifts for Foodies
• Family Wassail
• “Cooky” Mix
• Carrot Cake Holiday Cookies
• Vintage Dip
• Ginger Butter Tea Cookies
• Mulling Spices
• Spice Rubs in a Cool Gift Box
• Doo-Doo Rags
• Dulce de Leche White Chocolate Cookies

2013 was without a theme but December was prolific with postings.

 

2014: Another Hodgepodge of Gifts

• Twelve Days of Cookies
• Retro Gift Bags
• Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix
• Chocolate Bourbon Kahlua
• Amaretto
• Reindeer Barbershop Sextet
• Farolitos
• Biscochitos
• Christmas; Fudge

2015: Recap

• Just a recap from the past years.  But there’s some more cool vintage postcards here.

2016:  A mix of kitchen goodies

• Jam, biscotti, cookies, homemade liqueurs, pancake mix, etc.

2017:  Book suggestions and green chile

• Book suggestions, apple-beer jelly, Biscochitos, green chile pinwheels, green chile pecans, and a family fruitcake recipe

 

2018:  Jelly of the Month Club

• January: Mead Jelly (wine and honey)
• February:  Zombie Marmalade
• March:  Spiced Merlot Jelly
• April:  Bloody Mary Jam
• May:  Cardamon-Orange Sparkling Riesling Jelly
• June:  Aleppo-White Zinfandel Jelly
• July:  Cinnamon Coca-Cola Jelly
• August:  Limoncello Jelly
• September:  Spiced Apple Beer Jelly
• October:  Tequila-Pepper Jelly
• November: Whiskey Sour Cocktail Jelly
• December:  Mulled White Wine Jelly

2020:  A Christmas Like No Other

• So, let’s have a drink:  Four cozy cocktails
• Some Seasonings for the Season