A Very Homemade Christmas

By A Venturing Nomad. 

Back in 2010, the then Kate Middleton famously took a jar of homemade chutney to her first-ever Sandringham Christmas before her wedding to Prince William the following year.

The story goes that unsure what to give her fiance's grandmother, who also happened to be the Queen of England, for Christmas she reverted to what she would give her own grandmother, and that she would make something.

The sentiment was clearly appreciated and welcomed as, apparently, the jar was on the table, prominently at the next meal, and here we are 14 years later, still talking about it.

In these days of 24-hour shopping and instant deliveries, it can make heaps of sense to rush through our gift-giving 'to do' list like a person possessed and accomplish the task with military precision and speed, another thing "ticked off'. But in all honesty, who can remember what they were given last year?

I read somewhere recently that for someone of the minimum wage to buy a gift of £25, it takes them almost 3 hours of their life/work to earn money and pay the taxes, for it simply to be forgotten about next year.

With this in mind, and taking inspiration from our now HRH Princess of Wales, we have created two simple homemade Christmas gift ideas you can gift this season. Neither will cost you the aforementioned £25 or indeed take three hours of your time, so by using our free recipe ideas, why not try your hand at some super easy essential oil bath salts or, in true royal respect, our very own homemade Christmas chutney?

Enjoy, and have a Very Merry 'homemade' Christmas.

Not travelling overseas until age 19, this Venturing Nomad's work and life have taken her to just under 70 countries, with more adventures always planned. Twelve years as a Diplomat led to excitement and adventures across the globe, and she is now enjoying travelling with her young daughter and seeing the world afresh through her eyes.

A published author in fact and fiction, she firmly believes in the mantra "take only photos - leave only footprints". More of a feeder than a foodie, she has cooked her way around the globe, from the hill tribes in Thailand, Nonna's kitchen in Italy to the beachfront hotel in Morocco. There is always a story and, more importantly, a recipe.

You can contact her at [email protected]