Recipe: Gifts in A Jar

Carrot Cake Mix in a Jar

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Combine and blend ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

Attach the following recipe to the jar:

Carrot Cake

Makes a 13 x 9-inch cake.

1 jar Carrot Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups grated carrots
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 13 x 9-inch pan.

Place Carrot Cake Mix in large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the mix and add the oil, eggs, carrots and pineapple. Blend until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool the cake and frost, if desired, or dust with confectioners' sugar.

Christmas Cookies in a Jar

"With layers of vanilla chips, oats and dried cranberries, this delectable cookie mix looks as good as it tastes! For a special gift, tuck a jar in a pretty basket with wooden spoon, cookie sheet, kitchen timer and instructions."
PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 10 Min
READY IN 25 Min
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup orange flavored dried cranberries
1 cup vanilla or white chips
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
In a 1-qt. glass jar, layer the sugar and brown sugar, packing well between each layer. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; spoon into jar. Top with oats, cranberries and chips. Cover and store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
To prepare cookies: Pour cookie mix into a large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Beat in butter, egg and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drop by the tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Oatmeal Breakfast Biscuits in a Jar

3 cups Self-Rising Flour;
1 cup quick oats
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped English walnuts

Layer White Lily Self-Rising Flour, oats, sugar, raisins and walnuts in
a glass jar and decorate as desired.

Gift Tag: Empty contents in medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup milk or
buttermilk and 1/2 cup melted butter until dough forms. Drop spoonfuls
onto baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with additional
granulated or coarse sugar, if desired. Bake at 450° for 10
to 12
minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Makes 12 to 15 biscuits.

Texas Two-Step Soup Mix in a Jar

1 (1.61 ounce) package brown gravy mix (regular or no-fat)
2 tablespoons mild red chili powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
10 to 12 regular-size tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
1 to 14 cups uncooked small to medium-size pasta (such as
wheels, shells, macaroni)

Pour gravy mix into wide-mouth pint jar. In small bowl, stir together chili powder, oregano, cumin, onion and garlic salt. Pour into jar to make second layer. Add layers of tortilla chips and pasta to fill jar. Seal with lid. Attach gift tag (below) and decorate jar as desired.

Attach a gift tag with the following instructions:

Texas Two-Step Soup

Brown 1/2 pound ground beef in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add contents of jar and 7 cups water; heat to boiling. Stir in 1 (15 ounce) can corn with red and green bell peppers and 1 (16 ounce) can chopped tomatoes. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.

Serve with crushed tortilla chips and shredded Monterey jack cheese, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.

Love Soup Mix in a Jar

18 cubes beef bouillon
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1/2 cup dried split peas
1/2 cup uncooked twist macaroni
1/4 cup barley
1/2 cup dry lentils
1/3 cup long-grain white rice
1 cup uncooked tri-color spiral pasta

Use a canning funnel or any funnel that has about a 2-inch neck. This will make it easier to fill the jars with the ingredients. Be sure to use a wide-mouth, 1-quart canning jar.

Layer ingredients in the order given: bouillon, onion flakes, split peas, small shape pasta, barley, lentils, rice, and enough tricolor spiral pasta to fill jar.

Attach a tag with cooking instructions:

Love Soup

In large kettle, brown 1 pound ground beef or stew beef cut into bite-size pieces in a little olive oil. Remove tricolor pasta from top of jar and reserve. Add the rest of the jar contents to the kettle with 12 cups water. Let come to a boil and simmer 45 minutes.

Add tricolor pasta and simmer 15 minutes more.

Serve with your favorite bread or rolls and a tossed salad.

Makes 12 servings

Spiced Cranberry Cider Mix in a Jar

1/2 cup dried cranberries
12 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp. crushed whole cloves
2 Tbsp. whole allspice

In a small bowl, stir the cranberries and spices together. Store in an airtight container.

Attach this to the Jar

Spiced Cranberry Cider Mix
Serves 12 to 14

2 quarts apple cider
1 quart water
1 package Spiced Cranberry Cider Mix
2 oranges, sliced

In a large saucepan combine the cider, water, and Spiced Cranberry Cider Mix. Heat through but do not boil. Add most of the orange slices. Serve warm, garnished with the remaining orange slices

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
6 ounces butterscotch chips
1 cup coconut
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

Please graham cracker crumbs in a small zip-type bag. Layer ingredients in a quart size canning jar in the order given, placing the bag of crumbs on top.

Attached the following instructions on a gift tag:

Hello Dolly Bars

1/2 cup butter
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter. Stir in the bag of graham cracker crumbs. Pat evenly onto the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle remaining layered ingredients into crumb mixture and spread evenly with spoon. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over all. Bake for 30 minutes; cool. Cut into bars.

Makes about 36 bars.

Snowman Soup Mix in a Jar

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup nonfat dry milk
2 cups instant NesQuik
3/4 cup nondairy creamer
1 (6 ounce) box instant chocolate pudding

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and store in airtight containers.

Add the following instructions to a gift tag:

Snowman Soup

To enjoy, add 3 tablespoons Snowman Soup Mix to a cup of boiling hot water. Use more or less mix depending upon size of mug and your taste buds.

1/2 cup dried parsley
1/3 cup minced onion
1/4 cup dried chives
1/3 cup chili powder
1/4 cup ground cumin
1/4 cup salt

In a large bowl, combine the spices and store in an airtight container.

Attach this to the Jar

Mexican Fiesta Dip
Makes 2 cups

3 Tbsp. Mexican Fiesta Dip Mix
1 cup mayonnaise or low-fat mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream or low-fat yogurt

In a medium mixing bowl combine the Dip Mix with the mayonnaise and sour cream. Whisk the mixture until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours. Serve with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables