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!
New version in open beta: What’s inside Smantry V1.25.0
We are continuously working to make Smantry even clearer, more stable, and more helpful in everyday life. That’s why we’re excited to give you a look at the next version:
Version 1.25.0 is now available in open beta.
We’re currently checking the last remaining points – if everything looks good, the update will be released very soon for all users.
Here are the most important new features.
New settings area with profile overview
The settings have been revised and made clearer.
In the new profile sectionyou’ll now find all the key information about your account in one central place – from language settings and premium features to account settings.
This way you can more quickly see which features are enabled and manage your settings more easily.
Blog preview directly on the dashboard
From now on, you’ll get the latest blog posts displayed directly in the dashboard.
This keeps you up to date on new features, updates, and tips related to Smantry at all times. The blog preview serves as a handy add-on and gives you a quick overview of news, helpful tips, and important posts about the app.
Articles are automatically merged when moved
A small but very helpful improvement:
When you move an item to another storage location and an identical item already exists there, the quantities are now merged automatically.
This ensures:
- more clarity
- fewer duplicate entries
- a cleaner inventory list
Simplified onboarding
New users in particular should be able to find their way around Smantry quickly. That’s why the onboarding process has been revised and simplified.
Getting started in the app is now even more clearly structured and guides you step by step through the most important features.
Improved email verification
We’ve also made some important improvements behind the scenes.
The email verification process has been optimized, so new accounts can be confirmed more reliably.
This ensures a more stable sign-up process and fewer issues during registration.
Additional bug fixes
In addition, various minor issues have been fixed, including the following:
- Account links
- Navigation within the app
Our goal is to make Smantry a bit more stable and pleasant with every update.
Now in open beta
Version 1.25.0 is already running in the open beta.
As soon as the final tests have been successfully completed, the update will be rolled out to all users shortly.
Many thanks to everyone in the community who regularly sends us feature requests, feedback, and bug reports. You’re helping us make Smantry better step by step. 💚
Smantry: Not perfect – but made with a lot of heart
Many of our users write to us that theyhave been looking for exactly this kind of app for a long time. At the same time, we also read reviews that say:“Good idea, but …”
And that’s exactly what we want to talk about openly today.
An app for everyday life – not for perfection
Smantry is designed to make everyday life easier: manage groceries, stay on top of things, waste less.
Your feedback shows us that this is already working well for many of you:
- Inputs are quick and straightforward
- The scanner reliably detects most products
- Editing and making changes is easy
- Our support is perceived as fast, friendly, and solution-oriented
We’re really glad to hear that – because that’s exactly what we’re building Smantry for.
Why some things are (still) not perfect
What you often don’t see from the outside: Smantry is developed by a very small team.
Right now we are 5 people, and none of us works full-time on the app. We do this alongside other projects, jobs, and commitments – with a lot of passion, but limited resources.
That doesn’t explain everything, but it provides context:
- Some functions take longer
- Technical issues (e.g. with premium activations) unfortunately happen sometimes
- Not every idea can be implemented right away
Frequently asked questions from your reviews
Why a subscription?
The subscription allows us to cover server costs, ongoing development, updates, and support in the first place. Without continuous revenue, Smantry would not be able to exist in the long term.
"Why isn’t the bug I reported being fixed?"
Sometimes there are several bugs at the same time and we have to prioritize the ones that affect core functions. That can mean that a different bug gets fixed first. We always try to resolve everything quickly – but unfortunately we can only do it step by step.
Why doesn’t Premium sometimes work right away?
Subscriptions are managed through the app stores. In rare cases, synchronization issues can occur. That’s annoying, but not intentional – our support team will always help you with this personally.
Where we want to go
Smantry is meant to get better – not just on paper, but in real everyday life.
This includes:
- more features from the web app
- better stability
- more flexibility with categories
- clearer communication
Your feedback plays a central role in this.
In conclusion
We’re not a corporation.
We’re a small team that believes in a good idea and is putting it into practice step by step.
If Smantry is helping you – even if everything isn’t perfect yet – we really appreciate your trust, your feedback, and of course a fair rating in the App Store 💛
Thank you for being part of this development.
Power outage in Berlin: Why preparation and prepping are more important today than ever
An unexpected power outage in Berlin has recently shown how quickly our daily life can become unbalanced. Traffic lights went out, card payments stopped working, and many households were suddenly without light, internet, or cooking facilities. Such events highlight: emergency preparedness and prepping are not about spreading panic, but rather a sensible and responsible preparation for real risks.
Power Outage – A Real Risk for Major Cities
Whether it's technical malfunctions, construction work, or extreme weather conditions: A Blackout or regional power outage can occur at any time. Especially in large cities like Berlin, the effects are immediately noticeable. Without electricity, many basic systems no longer function – from supermarkets to ATMs to communication.
The most important question is:
Am I prepared for this?
Prepping: Preparedness instead of fear
Prepping does not mean preparing for apocalyptic scenarios. Rather, it's about everyday readiness:
- remain capable of acting
- be able to provide for the family
- Reduce stress and uncertainty
- not be immediately dependent on external help
The power outage in Berlin demonstrates: Just a few hours without electricity can cause major problems.
Stockpiling food as a key to emergency preparedness
A well-thought-out food supply is the foundation of any emergency preparedness. Experts recommend having supplies for at least 7 to 14 days. These include:
- non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, canned goods
- Drinking water
- long shelf-life snacks
- Baby food or special diet
- off-grid cooking options (e.g., gas stoves)
Yet many households quickly lose track: What's available? What's missing? What's about to expire?
Digital preparation with the Smantry App
Here comes the Smantry App into play – your digital companion for prepping, preparation, and stockpiling. The app helps you to plan your supplies in a structured way and to keep track at all times.
With the Smantry App you can:
- Easily capture food supplies digitally
- Define minimum quantities for emergencies
- Monitor expiration dates and prevent food waste
- prepare specifically for power outages, blackouts, and crises
- Integrating prepping step by step into daily life
This makes emergency preparedness simple, transparent, and efficient.
Prepare now instead of improvising later:
👉 Download the Smantry App and start your digital emergency preparedness today.
Power outage in Berlin as a wake-up call
The power outage in Berlin was an eye-opener for many people. It demonstrates how quickly familiar structures can collapse – and how important it is to be prepared. Those who take precautions in time remain calm, safe, and independent.
Conclusion: Take precautions now instead of reacting later
Power outages, supply shortages, and crises are part of the reality of our time. With a well-thought-out food stockpiling and digital tools like the Smantry App you can make your emergency preparedness simple and effective.
👉 Start your preparation now
Download the Smantry App and gradually build up your personal emergency preparedness – before the next power outage occurs.
Discover the app now and be prepared.
🍂 Cozy Autumn Leftover Cooking – Comfort dishes made from what's available
When the rain taps on the window and the tea cup becomes a permanent guest, the most beautiful kitchen time of the year begins: autumn. And what could be a better match than stylish leftover cooking – dishes that are not only sustainable but also truly exciting.
Autumn leftover cooking means: use instead of waste, but with a touch of sophistication. Here are some more unusual ideas to turn leftovers into small culinary highlights.
🧀 1. Pumpkin Gnocchi from leftover roasted vegetables
Do you have some leftover roasted pumpkin or sweet potato from the day before? Perfect!
Mash the vegetables, mix them with some flour, salt, and grated Parmesan, shape them into small gnocchi, and briefly cook them in salted water until they float to the surface. Then toss them in sage butter and top with chopped walnuts.
→ Tastes like Italy, looks like fine dining – and it's all made from leftovers!
🥖 2. Rustic bread salad with grapes and goat cheese
Tear stale bread into pieces, toast in olive oil until golden brown.
Add a few grapes (wrinkled ones are especially sweet), arugula or lamb's lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and roasted hazelnuts. Mix with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, honey, and mustard.
→ A fall twist on the classic Panzanella – sweet, salty, crunchy, perfect!
🧅 3. French onion tart with leftover vegetables and puff pastry
Got some leftover puff pastry in the fridge? Make a tart out of it!
Caramelize onions in butter, add some leftover vegetables (e.g., leeks, mushrooms, or spinach). Spread on the pastry, top with a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese, and bake until golden brown.
→ Wonderfully aromatic, especially with thyme or rosemary.
🍎 4. Apple Sourdough French Toast with Vanilla Rum Butter
A piece of stale sourdough bread is soaked in a mixture of milk, egg, vanilla, and a dash of rum, fried in a pan, and served with fried apple slices and a rum butter.
→ Luxurious, yet made entirely from leftovers – perfect for a Sunday breakfast in pajamas.
🥬 5. Risotto made from leftover vegetables with lemon and herb oil
Chop the vegetable scraps finely and cook with a handful of rice into a creamy risotto.
A dash of lemon juice and some leftover herbs (parsley, basil, arugula) blended with oil make a fresh herb oil as a topping.
→ The acidity of the lemon beautifully enhances the earthy autumnal notes.
☕️ Bonus Tip: Using leftovers in a dessert glass
A few spoons of leftover compote?
Some leftover cake or cookies?
Layer it all with yogurt or mascarpone in a glass – and you have an autumnal "trifle" that looks like it came straight from a café in Copenhagen.
🍁 Conclusion
Autumnal leftover cooking is not a last resort, but a playground for creativity. When you look at ingredients with open eyes – not as leftovers, but as opportunities – small, exquisite dishes full of soul and flavor emerge.