Gifts in a Jar
Holiday Cookies
1 ⅓ cups all purpose flour, leveled
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup M & M’s or Reese’s Pieces
(Thanksgiving-Reese’s Pieces or Orange and Yellow M & M’s or Christmas-Red and Green)
¾ cup milk chocolate chips
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup white sugar
Additional to add in when ready to bake:
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup butter or shortening (softened)
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar layer the ingredients from the bottom and flush to the jar’s top:
flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt (firmly pack it down)
Oats
M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces
Milk Chocolate Chips
Brown Sugar
White Sugar
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Baking Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, vanilla and butter/shortening and mix well.
Scoop dough into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
One jar makes approximately 2 dozen small holiday cookies.
Kind Soup in a Jar
¼ dehydrated carrots
¼ cup dehydrated celery
1 tsp dried onion flakes
1 tsp dried minced garlic or ½ tsp garlic powder
2 heaping cups of wide egg noodles
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried rosemary
⅓ cup dried chicken bouillon (about 5 ½ bouillon cubes)
1 bay leaf
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar layer the ingredients from the bottom and flush to the jar’s top:
Dried carrots, celery, onion flakes, garlic
Thyme, rosemary, chicken bouillon and bay leaf
Wide Egg Noodles
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Cooking Instructions:
Heat 7 cups of water in a stock pot.
Remove and separate the the wide egg noodles into another bowl.
Add all of the dry ingredients into the stock pot and simmer on medium-low about 10-20 minutes. Optional add 2 cups canned chicken or 1-2 average size cooked chicken breasts to soup, and simmer. Last, add wide egg noodles for approximately 6-8 minutes depending on whether you like noodles al dente, firm or tender and simmer until noodles are cooked through, remove bay leaf. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves approximately 3-4 bowls of soup.
Peppermint Mocha Mix
1 cup instant chocolate drink mix
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
(optional french vanilla non-dairy creamer makes it richer in flavor)
⅔ cup instant coffee granules
¼ peppermint baking pieces
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar layer the ingredients from the bottom and flush to the jar’s top:
Instant Chocolate drink mix
Non-Dairy Creamer
Instant Coffee
Peppermint baking pieces
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Mix in hot water, stir until at desired consistency, serve hot and with whip cream for a fun extra topping.
‘Tis the Season Trail Mix
1 bag Caramel Bits
16 oz. jar of Honey Roasted Peanuts
16 oz. can or bag of Salted Almonds
1 box Brown Sugar Quaker Squares cereal
1 box Cracklin’ Oat Bran cereal
1 box Granola Cereal
2 bags of seasons Candy Corn
1 large bag of seasonal M&M’s
16 oz. bag of dehydrated Apples
1 large bag of Reese’s Pieces or Peanut Butter Chips
Dump all the ingredients into a large bowl. Toss with a spoon or clean hands so all ingredients are mixed together. This is a large recipe. Can yield approximately a dozen gift jars.
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar spoon the trail mix into the jar.
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Frito Chili Pie
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 tbsp. dried minced garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
¼ cup chili powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper optional
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp. paprika
2 tbsp dried cumin
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
½ cup rice
⅓ cup beef bouillon (approximately 5 bouillon cubes)
1 cup dried pinto beans
1 cup dried black beans
½ cup dried small red kidney beans
Additional to add in when ready to bake:
1 lb. ground meat-beef, elk, bison or deer
7-8 cups water
1 can (14 oz) chili ready stewed tomatoes
½ cup salsa
¼ grape jelly
½ Frito chips-chili flavored
Optional toppings; grated pepper jack or cheddar cheese, diced green onions and sour cream
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar layer the ingredients from the bottom and flush to the jar’s top:
Dried beans
Rice
Beef bouillon, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic and onion
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Cooking Instructions:
Remove the top layer of ingredients from the jar, set aside in another bowl. Soak all beans overnight or approximately 8 hours. Brown and cook meat thoroughly in a skillet, drain any grease and set aside. Drain water from beans. Heat 7-8 cups of water in a stock pot.
Add beans and all of the dry ingredients into the stock pot, except the rice, and simmer on medium-low about 10-20 minutes. Stir while simmering. Add stewed tomatoes, salsa, and grape jelly, and stir consistently. Add meat and rice last. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the rice is fully cooked. Serve when chili is hot and thoroughly cooked, over Fritos and optional toppings. Add more salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Serves approximately 4-6 heaping and hearty bowls of chili.
Toffee Blondies
1 cup all purpose flour, leveled
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup miniature semi-sweet chocolates
½ cup toffee or butterscotch pieces
Additional to add in when ready to bake:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
¼ cup butter or shortening (softened)
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar layer the ingredients from the bottom and flush to the jar’s top:
Flour, baking powder, and salt (firmly pack it down)
Miniature chocolate pieces
Brown Sugar
Toffee or butterscotch pieces
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Baking Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan.
Stir all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, vanilla and butter/shortening and mix well. Spread mixture evenly across the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown Cool and cut bars.
One jar makes approximately 16 toffee blondie bars .
Hot Chocolate Mix
1 cup instant hot cocoa mix
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup milk chocolate chips
2 dozen mini marshmallows
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar layer the ingredients from the bottom and flush to the jar’s top:
Instant hot cocoa mix (use the bulk cans, not the packets)
White sugar
Non-dairy creamer
Chocolate chips
Mini-marshmallows
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
Mix in hot water, stir until at desired consistency, serve hot and with whip cream and sprinkles for a fun extra topping.
Christmas S’mores Snack Mix
1 box Graham cracker cereal
1 bag red and green M&M candy
1 bag mini marshmallows
Dump all the ingredients into a large bowl. Toss with a spoon or clean hands so all ingredients are mixed together.
Gift Jar Directions:
In a 1 quart jar spoon the snack mix into the jar.
Secure lid tightly and (optional) decorate top with fabric, twine, ribbon or bows, and include a gift tag with the ingredients and directions. Double or triple the recipe to make more than one gift.
