Homemade Christmas gifts made easy!

Kira Zabe
December 11, 2021
Herbal oil, bath bomb, keychain, soap, scrub, candles, bookmark, calendar, syrup or baking mixes. These are the most commonly suggested ideas when searching for "Christmas gifts DIY". Homemade Christmas gifts are the most sustainable way to give. They can include a personal touch when it comes to making family and friends happy. After all, the gifts that come from the heart are the most beautiful gifts! Moreover, it allows more time to enjoy the Christmas season in a relaxed and contemplative manner.
Christmas Presents Idea
Pinterest, Chefkoch, Utopia, Lecker.de, and Handmadedecor are sites that can be used when searching for the perfect Christmas gift. However, with the abundance of inspiration, I often feel overwhelmed and struggle to decide what the best gift is. We want to support you in this and have listed a selection of ideas here that can all be implemented last minute. Have fun getting inspired.
Cooking box
Gift baskets are indeed the most well-known way to give presents. However, it has lost some of its appeal. Since the advent of organic boxes or HelloFresh, cooking boxes have become popular everyday aids. Why not take advantage of this? Put together your own cooking box in a great crate. Maybe even of the favorite dish?
Chai Syrup
Chai flavor is an indispensable addition often added to coffee or hot milk. With just a few ingredients, you can prepare the syrup yourself. Labeling the bottle with your own label and decorating it nicely really makes it visually appealing.
Ingredients:
300 gr. Sugar
450 ml Water
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Cardamom
1 Cinnamon Stick
2 cm Fresh Ginger
Exfoliation for the senses
Freshly brewed coffee makes the senses soar. Using this for a relaxed wellness session adds an extra dose of relaxation. Therefore, do not dispose of the coffee grounds in the organic waste, but create a great scrub. 5 tbsp coffee grounds 2 tbsp olive oil Mix everything and fill the mixture into a screw jar. This can also be enhanced with a nice label.
Source: lybstes.de
Leporello
The term Leporello suggests something special, which in my opinion it truly is. After all, there's nothing more beautiful than capturing special moments in a photograph. Having these with you at all times or displayed as decoration brings a smile to your face whenever you look at them.
Instructions:
- Cardboard (elongated strip)
- Greyboard (2 mm thick)
- Decorative paper
- Bookbinder's glue or another strong adhesive
- Elastic
Fold the cardboard in a zigzag pattern. (Make sure a photo can fit in one folded section). Cut the greyboard to a size that covers the outer folded edges. Cut the decorative paper so that you can fold the edges to the back. Glue the decorative paper onto the greyboard and then adhere it to the outer sides of the folded cardboard. Before doing so, glue the elastic on one side. Now you can stick your photos in. Your personal accordion fold book is complete.
Make your own chocolate bark
Chocolate bark
Do you enjoy giving gifts that delight the senses? How about some bark chocolate? You can refine it individually with toppings. 600 g of chocolate (mixed types if desired)Toppings (nuts, dried fruits, colorful sprinkles, herbs, cookie crumbs, or whatever your heart desires)Break the chocolate and spread it out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the oven at 50 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Once the chocolate has melted, you can draw patterns with a fork and then garnish with the toppings. Finally, put the sheet in the refrigerator to cool. When the chocolate has hardened again, you can break it into pieces and fill it into jars.
Christmas decorations in a jar
Would you prefer to give something that can be enjoyed for a long time? Then decoration in a storage jar (e.g., a pickle jar) might be an idea. This way, you can create a little snowscape that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Joint excursion
Giving the gift of time is perhaps the most precious gift one can give. Thus, a trip to the zoo, climbing forest, museum, and more can be a special idea.
Give the gift of animal sponsorship
Give the gift of animal sponsorship
Does the person you're gifting to absolutely love animals? How about sponsoring an animal? You can reach out to a local animal shelter.
Subscription as a gift!
Want to support friends and family in appreciating food? How about gifting a subscription for the pantry? You'll get a 15% discount on every plan. Just enter the code "ORANGE15" when booking to take advantage of this benefit. The code is valid until 12/31/2021.
Are you now one step further and know what you can give as a gift? We're glad to hear that. Feel free to write to us at info@speisekammer.app and let us know what your personal benefit from this post was? We look forward to your message!




The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes ๐ฒโจ
Hand on heart: Each of us has them โ those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
๐ฅฃ 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips โ a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
๐ช 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
๐ณ 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread โ everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
๐ฅ 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
๐ฅก 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
๐ฑ 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
๐ฅ 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender โ perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you ๐ฒ
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
๐ Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.

New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! ๐ฑ๐ฒ
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
๐ Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! ๐ Try it now!

Sharing supplies together โ why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend โ it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together โ as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
๐ The shared economy doesn't stop with cars โ it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.

At last, it's here: The categorization of articles ๐
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you โ and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- ๐ฅฆ More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- โฑ๏ธ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling โ jump straight to the right category.
- ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- ๐ Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs โ whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality โจ
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app โ fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned โ as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
๐ Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests โ your input might directly influence the ongoing development.