Gifts in a Jar

Do you remember when gifts in a jar first gained popularity? It was back in the 90’s when I first too notice of this unique gift giving idea. The great recipe ideas come from a newsletter that I subscribe to called “I’m not Martha”.

Most of the following recipes require a quart jar, large or

small mouth opening. I find though a large mouth works easier

to get the ingredients in.

Besides a quart jar with lids, you will need a large rubber

band. A piece of material 8x8 square. Ribbon to decorate.

After filling the jars, place the material on the lid and

put the rubber band around it to secure it in place. Tie

with decorative ribbon and tie the recipe card to the ribbon

for the directions on how to bake the ingredients. If you

have a printer, print out the tag onto a colorful piece of

paper or onto adhesive paper.

When putting in the ingredients, make sure to pack them down

tightly. If you have loose ingredients like nuts, M&M,

raisins...etc. make sure they are the next ingredient on

top of packed brown sugar. If the next layer is to be white

sugar or flour, the white sugar or flour will seep through

the nuts, M&M...etc some what.

Also when using coco, wipe inside of jar before adding

another ingredient to keep jar looking nice.

Have fun....it's a nice thing to do with your children for

their gifts. They get to feel the pride of having made the

gift.

LAYERED SNACK MIX

Layer snacks into a wide mouth quart canning jar. Select 4

or 5 diferent salty type small snacks of different colors.

Put in even amounts of each kind. As an example, layer in

this order.

Sunflower seeds

Salted peanuts

Fish crackers

Small pretzel nuggets or twists

Raisins

CHRISTMAS SOUP MIX IN A JAR

1/2 cup dry split peas

1/3 cup beef bouillon granules

1/4 cup pearl barley

1/2 cup lentils

1/4 cup dried minced onions

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice

1/2 cup alphabet macaroni or other small macaroni (put in

a plastic sandwich bag)

In a pint jar, layer the first eight ingredients in the

order given.

Seal tightly

Attach recipe below, to jar:

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Christmas Soup Mix

You will need the following additional ingredients:

1 pound ground beef or stew meat - 3 quarts of water

1 can (28 oz.) tomatoes, undrained.

Remove macaroni and set aside. In a large saucepan

brown beef and drain. Add the water, tomatoes and

soup mix; bring to a boil, reduce heat.

Cover and simmer for 45 min. Add macaroni and simmer

for 20 min. more

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GINGER SPICE MUFFIN MIX IN A JAR

1 3/4 cups flour

2 Tbsp. sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. salt

Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Store the

mixture in an airtight container.

Attach this to the Jar

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Ginger Spice Muffins

Makes 1 dozen

1 pkg. Ginger Spice Muffin Mix

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, and grease 12 muffin

tins. In a large bowl, combine the muffin mix with the

butter, egg, vanilla and milk Stir the mixture until the

ingredients are blended. Do not overmix. The batter will

be lumpy. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full, and bake for 15

minutes.

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OATMEAL FRUIT COOKIES

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup wheat germ

1 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup dried cherries

1/2 cup raisins

2/3 cup packed flaked coconut

1 cup flour mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp.

salt.

Layer ingredients in order given in a quart jar.

Attach recipe below, to jar:

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Oatmeal Fruit Cookies

Empty the contents of the jar into a large bowl. Blend

mixture well before adding: 1/2 cup of softened butter

or margarine. Mix until mixture resembles coarse

crumbs. Beat 1 egg with 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/4 cup

milk. Blend egg mixture into the dough until well

combined. Bake on greased cookie sheet at

350* for 10-14 min. Makes 1- 1 1/2 dozen cookies

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RUSSIAN TEA MIX IN A JAR

2 & 1/2 cup Tang

1 & 1/2 cup white sugar

1 - 12 oz of instant lemonade mix w/o sugar

2 tsp. cloves

1 & 1/2 cup instant Lemon flavored tea

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

Measure out all ingrediants first into separate bowls.

Layer the tang, sugar, lemonade and tea into jar as little

or as much as you like. Repeat the layers often to make a

pretty layered looking sand art type look. Add the cloves,

cinnamon & nutmeg last. This is a very sweet drink.

Attach recipe below, to jar:

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Russian Tea

Mix dry ingrediants well and replace

into your jar for storage. Add 2 Tbls. into

coffee cup and add hot water.

Stir well - Get a good book - relax!

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And for friends who everything especially your love....

FRIENDSHIP CAKE

1 cup of greetings

1 cup of love

1/2 cup of smiles

1 tsp. sympathy

1 large handshake

2 cups hospitality

Cream greetings and smiles thoroughly. Add

handshake separately. Slowly stir

in love. Sift sympathy and hospitality and fold in

carefully.

Bake in warm heart. Serve Often!

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