Somehow it’s already December and Christmas is just around the corner. Two weeks away, to be exact.
If you’re anything like me, you still have lots of presents to buy, and haven’t quite nailed down what you’re going to make for your family gathering. So, to hopefully make both of our lives easier, I’m kicking off an entire week of Homemade Holiday Gifts.
I’ll be posting a new recipe every day between now and next Monday, when I’ll share my ultimate roundup of homemade holiday gift ideas, including plenty of savory, sweet, and even a few non-edible options!
Yes, you’re reading this correctly: I’m sharing SEVEN brand new recipes this week, full of fun ideas for making this gift-giving season even sweeter. As always, every recipe will be made with wholesome ingredients and no complicated techniques. And all of them can be made in advance to gift to your friends and loved ones on the big day!
Lets get started with this Immune-Boosting Ginger, Garlic + Herb Infused Raw Honey, aka Homemade Cough Syrup.
The title truly says it all: ginger, garlic, rosemary, and thyme get stuffed into a jar, covered in liquid gold (aka raw honey), and left to sit for at least a week for the herbs to infuse their medicinal magic into the honey.
The end result is a sweet, slightly spicy, totally herbaceous (and yes, a little bit garlicky) honey that’s great for soothing sore throats and keeping you well all winter long. You could drizzle it into a cup of warm water or tea, or just take a spoonful of it any time your throat is feeling scratchy and your body is telling you it’s starting to get sick.
I know it sounds a little weird, but trust me, there is a lot of plant magic going on in this honey. Among other disease-fighting goodness, raw garlic is full of antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Ginger is anti-inflammatory, and helps inhibit the growth of bacteria, thus reducing the risk of infection. Both rosemary and thyme boost your immune system and have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties. Combined with the antibacterial, anti fungal, wound-healing, stomach-soothing, sore-throat relieving magic of raw honey, and we’ve got ourselves some powerful homemade herbal medicine.
This is the part where I tell you that no, I am not a doctor, and I am not attempting to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases you may have with this infused honey. And that if you’re really sick, you should absolutely check in with your doctor and get the help you need.
But I have researched the benefits of ginger, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and raw honey extensively, and love this combination for keeping me healthy during the winter.
This would make the perfect gift for friends, family, and even coworkers- really anyone who is interested in and/or open to the concept of herbal medicine. It’s simple enough that anyone can make it, and you can even tie a little ribbon around the lid with a gift tag explaining what’s inside to make it look pretty.
I think you’re going to love this simple, immune-boosting homemade gift. It’s quick and easy, full of health-promoting herbs, and will look extra special sitting on a shelf in your friends’ homes.
If you make this Immune-Boosting Ginger, Garlic + Herb Infused Raw Honey, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below, or take a picture and share it with me on Instagram!
Stay tuned this week for six more brand new homemade holiday gift ideas this week!
Ginger, Garlic + Herb Infused Raw Honey
Ingredients
- 1 inch of fresh ginger
- 4 small garlic cloves
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 8 ounces raw honey
- also needed: 1 8-ounce glass jar with a lid
Instructions
- 1. Slice the ginger into 1/4-inch pieces (no need to peel it first). Crush the garlic cloves with the side of your knife and pop them out of their skin. Place ginger slices, crushed garlic cloves, rosemary, and thyme into the empty jar. If needed, fold or break the stems of herbs in half to allow them to fit comfortably. Cover with honey, and let sit for at least a week to infuse. This infused honey will technically last forever, but I recommend using it within a year of making.
Notes