Seeking Gift Ideas

Go to allrecipes.com they have some great gifts in jars ideas. I did a whole gift basket last year with soups in jars. They were a huge hit.

Pam,
I have a few recipes for you.

Wild Rice & Barley Soup

In a wide mouth quart jar layer these items:
1 cup Barley
2/3 cup instant bacon bits
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oreagano
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon celery flakes
1/2 cup beef boullion granules
1/4 cup wild rice
1/2 cup regular rice
1/4 cup wild rice
1/2 cup chopped dried onion

Mix with 14 cups water-bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer 1 hour.
Other Options: 2 cans mushooms-drained
1/2 pound browned ground beef

Chicken Noodle Soup
In a wide mouth quart jar layer these items:
2 Tablespoons dried minced onion
2 Tablespoons Chicken Boullion Granules
2 teaspoons celery flakes
1 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon parsley
4 cups wide egg noodles
Bring 10 cups water to boil-add mix and 2 (5oz.) cans canned chicken & 2 Tablespoons shredded or chopped carrots for color. Cook for 10 minutes and you are done.

Friendship Tea
1/2 cup instant tea
2 cups Tang
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (2 quart) package lemonade
Mix thoroughly. Store in covered containers. For each cup of tea place 2 heaping teaspoons of mixture in 1 cup boiling water and stir.

Hot Chocolate Mix
2 pounds Quik
2 pounds sifted powered sugar
12 ounces instant cream
1-16 oz. box instant dry milk (21 1/3 cups)
1 cup cocoa powder
Mix well. Store in airtight containers. To serve add 3 tablespoons mix and add hot water. Stir and enjoy.

Hope that these help you I know that both of these soups are very good and I use them also when giving gifts. Enjoy, A. H

Not sure if you're seaking adult or kid ideas. But my SIL gave me a great cocoa in a bag/jar recipe. Instant cocoa, teddy grahams on top and then mini marshmellows on top of that. Place in cute Holiday bag tied with bow or in a jar. For an adult version you could do gourmet cocoa (just something a little nicer) or an instant coffe, small biscotti or butter cookies.

The Pampered Chef has a few mixes you can do layered in a small batter bowl. I've included the recipe for the white chocolate cranberry cookies. They are amazing and so pretty! If you email me at ____@____.com I can email you the actual recipe cards and gift tags you can use if you want. I also have instructions for brownies, chili, minestrone soup and pumpkin bread.

Celebration Cookie Mix
A great gift for teachers and co-workers! Cranberries, chocolate morsels and pecans look lovely when layered in our Small Batter Bowl.
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup sweetened dried cranberries
½ cup white or semi-sweet chocolate morsels
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup quick or old-fashioned oats
½ cup pecan or walnut halves, coarsely chopped (optional)
In Small Batter Bowl, layer ingredients as follows, gently patting each layer before adding the next ingredient: granulated sugar, cranberries, chocolate morsels, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oats and pecans. Cover with lid. Attach the gift tag and give it as a gift.

-Fresh homemade salsa
-A good bottle of wine (Surdyks or Haskells can recommend a good one for $10)
-Pecan waffle mix
-Friendship tea
-Dip mixes (start with something basic like ranch, and add fresh dried herbs or bacon bits)
-Get a tall jar or vase, and put in beef sticks and wrapped cheese
-Loose leaf tea (I have a friend who sells this teas with whole chunks of fun stuff like nuts, dried fruit, even tiny pieces of candy--really festive looking)
-Get smaller jars, and create a variety of spice blends (like Italian, Mexican, popcorn seasoning, etc.)

Hi Pam,
One other website that has a bunch of "gift-in-a-jar" recipes is www.razzledazzlerecipes.com. I've had good luck with their recipes in the past!
Have fun,
Sara

Their are cook books for gifts in a jar. Thay ahve everything. Check it out.

My mom got one last year that was chili in a jar... it turned out great. I wish I could find the recipe but I can not.

Is this something to be given to someone else as a christmas gift to make at a later date or is this to be made while at the Christmas celebration to eat.

Here are some links to Mason Jar recipies:

http://www.kitchenlink.com/holiday/merrygifts.html
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftsinajar/GiftsInAJar.htm
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/giftinamasonjar

There is also a book called "Cook'n Gifts in a Jar" not sure if that would be of any help, I am going to check it out because I am planning on making some for gifts also.

Have you heard of Tastefully Simple? They sell great little food kits. You can get a beer bread mix and a dip mix. They don't need beer to make it, they can use any carbonated soda, too. http://www.tastefullysimple.com/Cultures/en-US/
Beer bread is $5.50, and the artichoke and spinach dip is $7.50, but to-die-for good!

(and I do not sell it, hehe, just get to eat it lots and lots!)

Hello!

Bake or purchase round cookies or scones and purchase red and green cellophane like you would see covering a fruit basket. (It's easy to find this time of year!)

Stand half a dozen of the cookies or scones on end in a row and wrap the cellophane around them and secure it. Then twist the ends like a piece of hard candy and secure it by tying ribbon or yarn around each end. Put several of each color in a basket or gift bag and include a card with the recipe to complete the gift.

I've made these many times and it's a one-time expense for the cellophane as I've used the same roll three years in a row! The gift looks adorable and can be enjoyed right then or they can freeze the cookies/scones for a busy morning later.

Hope this helps!

What about a basket with a meal in it? Maybe some gourmet pasta sauce, pasta, a box of breadsticks.... you could even put in a brownie mix or a bottle of sparkling juice or something.

Pam,
I'm a Tastefully Simple Consultant. We do gourmet type foods, either ready to eat or ready to prepare (easily). Makes for delicious gift giving. Lots of items under $10.
www.tastefullysimple.com/web/tnugteren
Its all soooo yummy!