10.15.2017
0600
Having an Eco-friendly holiday isn’t as daunting as it sounds. It might sound complicated because the concept is different, but it’s actually pretty simple. So for each holiday there are basic aspects of the holiday celebration I like to check off: decorations, food and entertainment. I don’t always cover all three categories equally and majority of my focus will usually be on the food.
Decorations tend to be covered easily being that Christmas is such a huge holiday celebrated. Honestly, any type of decoration that is compostable or reusable is a good idea. Here are some ideas for zero waste holiday.
- Decoration Ideas:
- Seasonal
- Seasonal leaves, fruit, create a centerpiece suing branches and colorful seasonal leaves.
- Christmas
- Use existing jars filled with some seasonal and colorful leaves to decorate the table
- Use branches and leaves from outside to decorate the table surface
- Seasonal
- Zero Waste Food
- Consider using fresh fruits and vegetables as ingredients in your dishes. You can compost the skin or the non edible pieces after
- Buy your ingredients from the bulk aisle or bulk bins
- For ingredients that usually come in packaging, consider making your own homemade version or looking for it in paper, aluminum or glass packaging
- Share recipes or give the gift of different types of dishes to one another
Gift ideas can be tricky for this holiday since it’s based around an iconic tree as well as what surrounds it on Christmas Day. However, here are a few ideas for zero waste gifts, you might want to consider. Check social media sites (Groupon, Living Social, Ticketmaster, etc.) for great deals for events and activities for family and friends during the holidays.
- Gift Ideas:
- Compostable Gifts
- Food, snacks, bulk candy wrapped in reusable packaging or compostable packaging
- Buy bulk foods and create a recipe kit for a gift
- Seasonal fruit, fruit basket gift
- Gift of Goods and Products
- Consider checking out thrift stores to find a gift for the recipient
- If you want to give a new gift, look for gifts with no packaging or recyclable paper packaging
- Gift of Experiences
- Sporting events ( football, soccer, tennis, gymnastics, baseball, etc.)
- Theme parks (check for local theme parks near you or near the recipient)
- Outdoor experiences (pedle boating, wind sailing, kayaking, rowboats, canoes, skydiving, zip lining, rock climbing, trampoline time, golfing, etc.)
- Gift card or money for food & drinks (breakfast, lunch, dinners, coffee, tea, desserts, wine bar, wine/beer tour)
- Gift card or money for activities (cooking classes, yoga, spin class, kickboxing, zip lining, etc.)
- Gift card/money for events (museums, concerts, festivals, fairs, movies)
- Gift card or money to treat yourself (spa, massage, facial)
- Service Ideas (This will differ based on location, so check your local listings)
- Volunteer for a charity or organization that will help hand out food during the holidays
- Donate toys, clothes, coats, shoes to an organization that will help distribute them this season
- Volunteer your time in a hospital, care home, nursing home to those who may not have family near or at all
- Compostable Gifts
- Gift Wrapping:
- Reusable cloth gift bags with string to tie bows (if wanted)
- Fabric sheets or bandanas to wrap and tie around gifts
- For the larger gifts, I’ll use a pillowcase or really large bed sheets to wrap the gifts
- For medium sized gifts, I’ll wrap the gift in an extra t-shirt.
Entertainment during the holidays can be daunting as well. Usually families have kids around or simply need entertainment playing while the day is happening.
- Entertainment
- Movies- if you are able to stream movies, there are a few great resources to stream holiday movies during this time. Check YouTube or other streaming media, they usually have full movies uploaded to watch.
- Board Games – Ask your guest if they have any board games to play or would want to bring for the kids to share and play with
- Card Games – these games are always fun because a deck of cards can be really versatile
I hope this outline helped to brainstorm ideas for you. This is an overall idea list and if you want to check out other holiday blog posts, check out these holiday blog posts from these websites:
- Suburban Salt- How to Cure Olives for the Holidays
- Little Sprouts Learning – Holiday Gifts Make Garden
- Ever Change Productions – Christmas Gift Mason Jar Recipes
- Curbside Overhaul – DIY- Reversible Holiday Sign With Scrap Wood
- Pink Paperdoll – Decorate With Squash
Good job
A good food in Tet’s Days at Vietnam, however, eating it in normal days is ok ! ^^
Year round is definitely okay with me too
Thanks! Just wish I had some Dua Cai Chua to go with this. =]
its so hard to find vietnamese recipes i understand and use online. more more more.
=] sure thing.
This reminds me of a Korean side dish called “Jang Joh Rim.” I wonder if they taste similar!
Yeah it seems a lot of Asians share a similar variation of this dish!
Huy, do i cover the pot with a lid? or leave it open?
You only need to cover it slightly at the start so the liquid can reduce. Towards the end you can probably remove the lid entirely–adjust as needed.
Really great recipe, the step by step pictures are really appreciated. Thank you for sharing, and keep them coming!
Similar to adobo in the philippines:) ill try this recipe..
A friend made this as a comfort meal for me once and I loved it!
Now I can try making it for my family. Wondering if this needs to be simmered covered with a lid or left open to boil? Thanks
Lid open mostly, to reduce. If the meat is still tough you can add water as needed and continue to boil uncovered until it reaches a sauce thickness you like.
This is way better than the Filipinos’ adobo.
looks similar to adobo but taste way different to adobo trust me this dish is heaps tastier
make sure you use good fish sauce, like the one pictured above.
I love the pictures and the steps are very similar to my notes from my mom’s cooking lesson to me. The only thing is I just cooked it today with the country style boneless ribs and I compared it to the pork belly meat. Somehow the rib meat was more tough. Is there a way to make it more tender? I cooked 2hrs as your recipe dictates.
Also, many people asked & I wonder also, do you cook your pot covered or uncovered?
I cook it uncovered so the liquid can reduce (evaporate) to an amount I like. If you see it reduces too much you can put the lid back on or add some water.
As for toughness of the meat, different cuts will vary in amount of connective tissue. Just cook it longer if its still too tough. At first I was afraid to overcook it, but giving it more time has always resulted in tender results. Just check it every 15 minutes or so.
Just tried your recipe. Turned out so awesome. Thanks!!!
Is that a typo? This doesn’t take 20 hours does it? If so, can we cook this in a crock pot?
By the way, I’ve had this dish many times at parties and IT IS TO DIE FOR! I love that the ingredients are simple and so are the directions. Is there a substitute for the coconut soda, if I’m not able to find it? Thanks!
I’m DYING, that’s hilarious!! Yeah I meant to say 2 hours–oops, that’s been updated and thanks!
The best thing you can use is fresh coconut juice, coco soda 2nd, then 3rd is cola or lemon-lime soda. Hope that helps.
Can you substitute chicken or beef? I do not eat Pork. I’m sure it won’t taste the same but thought I would ask
Have you or can you substitute chicken or beef. I have taken pork out of my diet.
Hey Trinity, I personally haven’t tried it but I bet it would be pretty good too. I’ve had this with tofu instead of meat and really enjoy that version too!
Super easy recipe to follow, and ended up delicious! I used pork shoulder only because the local grocery store didn’t have any pork belly left, and the end product was still absolutely delicious! The meat was so tender and flavorful without being too salty. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Hey Amy glad to hear you liked it! Yeah you can really use any cut of pork you want and it still turns out pretty well