Christmas Gifts for Neighbors

I have books on making the jar gifts-- you have probably seen the cookie ones but they have ones for soup and other items too. They are relatively inexpensive and you can decorate them pretty. I have never done it my self even though I bought the books but I think I will this year with the tough financial times. Here is one of the recipes.

Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
-2T dried minced onion
-2T chicken bouillion granules
-2tsp celery flakes
-1tsp pepper
-4cups wide egg noodles

Layer the ingredients in the order given into a wide-mouth 1-quart canning jar. Pack each lyer in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag with the cooking directions.

Chicken Noodle Soup (cooking directions)
-1 jar Chicken Noodle Soup Mix (the gift)
-2 (5 oz) cans chicken

Bring 10 cups of water to a boil in a large soup pot. Add the Chicken Noodle Soup Mix. Add chicken, breaking it up well with a fork. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until noodles are tender.

Hope this helps.

Another one of the jar ideas is hot chocolate. You put the mix and some mini marshmellows and mini choc chips. It is so fun for kids :-)

You can order them a name plate or stake for their yard, "The Johnsons".

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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If you're feeling crafty, you could make some ornaments for them. There are lots of ideas on the web, but I've always liked these stars: http://www.craftideas.info/html/german_star_instructions....

go to the dollar store and get a christmas basket and fill it with some popcorn candy and snack stuff then go to blockbuster and get a giftcard for % dollars, put it all together and they have a family movie night.

I wish you a speedy recovery after your surgery.

Great ideas so far! Blockbuster sells buckets with popcorn, that you pop. I bought these for teachers last year. I put in a blockbuste gift card, some candy and extra packs of popcorn or soda's. Makes a cute gift and the only thing you need to decide is how much to put on the gift card!

The can have a movie night with their family.

L.

Candles, house plant, fruit basket, gas gift card, gift card for books, chair massage, music, etc.

Have you ever made sugared nuts? They're good and pretty easy to make.
OR you could get/make/send them a holiday floral arrangement for their Christmas tables.

Are you crafty? Can you sew? Here's some ideas: Buy some holiday fabric or some large tablecloths in Christmas colors and patterns. Make some placemats with matching napkins...or just one or the other. (Use a placemat/napkin bought from a dollar store as a template, or use your own)... Tie them with a nice ribbon and put in a dollar store gift bag with tissue paper. Make napkin rings out of artificial silk poinsetta and Xmas Ivy or holly. Either wrap a poinsetta sprig into a ring or glue gun the poinsetta to the holly and make a ring out of thick chenille pipe cleaners. Decorate some simple terracotta clay planters from the craft store with paint, and personalize with their names. Cover a plain cardboard or plastic box with fabric for their family photos. Glue Xmas fabric onto a boutique tissue box (or if you know the color of their bedroom or bathroom, use fabric scraps and lace and ribbon). They can add tissues to the box when empty. Make kitchen refrigerator magnets/ tree ornaments out of craft store wooden shapes or clothespins. (the magnets are self stick and come on a roll that you cut) I color copy family photos and glue them onto little wooden heart shapes and add lace ribbon trim on the edge, and a magnet on the back. Then I attach a loop at the top so the people can hang them from their tree or attach them to their fridge when Xmas is over. Hope this helps.
A little about me: I am a stay at home crafter, my 2 kids are grown but I look forward to grandkids. I live on a 39 acre farm way out in the boonies in Northeast PA, and since I am 10 miles from civilization, I spend much of my winters crafting and cooking to keep busy.
Susan

Why not a special Christmas tree ornament or wreath for your friends. It could be very memorable and it will last longer than New Year's day

Wine!! A nice bottle of wine is a great present (unless they don't drink, obviously). If you know their decor, a cute holiday decoration, or a Xmas ornament with the year would be nice, too. If you want to do something a little more practical, a gift card or even a gas card would surely be appreciated.

Hi D.,

My husband's cousin gave us this pancake mix last year that was yummy. She put the dry ingredients in a ziploc bag inside a paper bag that she had her kids decorate. Good luck with your surgery.

Mama’s Spice Pancakes

2 eggs

2 cups flour (all purpose)

1 cup milk

4 tablespoons veg. oil

6 tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3 tablespoons Sugar

1 cup applesauce

Pinch of ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

So I just mixed all the dry ingredients and put the wet ingredients and instructions on the card.

Mix all ingredients together. Grease skillet or griddle. Heat to medium heat. Flip panckaces when first side begins to look bubbly. Feeds four starving children under the age of 6! (that’s what it says)

Hello D.,
How about the homemade bath salt, bubble bath, soap, or candle route? Or you could always purchase these items. Look at Ulta.com and others for sales. Or the dry jars, buy a box of mason jars, add all of the dry ingredients for your favorite cookie/cake/muffin recipe pretty up the jar with fabric and ribbons over the lid and add a recipe card with the instructions so now all they would have to do is add the wet ingredients and bake. It's cute, and it's quick for busy Moms. If you can sew, make them momogramed aprons. Best of luck with your surgery!

If they have any kind of visitors in for the holidays, you could do a Fruit Flowers Arrangement. They are beautiful and the fruit is always the best - so fresh and sweet.

How about offering to address their Christmas/ holiday cards. I have put together the dry ingredients for things like chili and soups (bean is easy) in a nice glass jar and tied a ribbon around it with the directions.

not sure how "easy" this would be, but what about enlisting your children's help and making each of them a special mug or plate? i just saw in the Discovery Toys magazine that they have kits where your kids draw the pictures, then you send the pictures to a company that puts the pics on a bowl and cup. you could find something like that, or go to one of those pottery places, and have the kids make something for the gift recievers. it's way more personal, and it would be a fun way to get out of the house while you're recovering!

Hi

If you neighbors have kids--those big popcorn tins with 3 different kinds of corn are nice.
They are sold at walmart, CVS, and target.

Good luck.

D. :)