October 10, 2008
I’m sorry I didn’t get this post up this morning as I usually do but our internet has been down all day. As our economy falters, this is the year to give holiday gifts that have real meaning, and will be a real benefit to those who receive them. We don’t need any more toys, fancy clothes or knick knacks. We all have far more than people in any other nation on earth. Let’s all commit to helping our family and friends by giving fun yet practical gifts this year.
Today I suggest ready to use Foods in a Jar. 
These are an awesome gift. They can be stored and used as a quick dinner or dessert. They will be appreciated by all. They include ingredients which are real food, your know every ingredient in the recipe, and they even look great. If you have a single mom on your gift list, how wonderful it would be for her to be able to come home and fix a quick meal or a great dessert. A child would love to get a case of dessert mixes with a note that they are to use them whenever they want cookies.
There are dozens of possible mixes you can create, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and desserts. If your extended family is still having trouble accepting the importance of food storage this is a great way to “sneak it in”. Let me share a few of my favorites:
(All are designed to fit into a wide mouth quart jar. All ingredients should be added to the jar in the order listed.)
More Than Chocolate Chips
2 C flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 3/4 C brown sugar, 1/2 C white sugar, fill remaining room in the jar with M&Ms.
Additional ingredients needed to prepare: 1 C butter, 1 egg, 2 tsp. vanilla
To Prepare: Empty ingredients in jar into a large mixing bowls. Soften butter in microwave until almost melted. Lightly beat egg and add to butter, add vanilla and mix well. Pour butter mixture over cookie mix and mix well. Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees 10-12 minutes.
Beef Barley Soup
1/2 C rice, 1/2 C split peas, 1/3 C barley, 5 beef bouillon cubes, 1/3 C barley, 1/4 C dehydrated onion, pasta to the top
Additional ingredients needed to prepare: 1 can beef chunks (adding a bottle of diced tomatoes is also yummy)
Remove pasta and set aside. In a large stock pot combine 14 C water with soup mix and beef. Bring to a boil and simmer 25 minutes or until peas, rice and barley are almost tender. Add pasta and continue cooking 15 minutes more. Feeds 10
Divide this recipe in half and layer it in pint jars.
Fruit Crisp Topping
1 1/2 C flour, 3/4 C brown sugar, 1 C oats, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, chopped pecans to fill jar
Additional ingredients needed to prepare: 3/4 C butter, fruit
Add fruit to a 8×8 inch baking dish (canned, fresh or frozen). Place crisp mix in large mixing bowl. Melt butter and pour over mix. Toss to coat completely. Sprinkle evenly over fruit. Bake until topping is slightly brown and fruit is softened.
Double Chocolate Cookies
1 1/2 C flour, 3/4 C brown sugar, 1/2 C white sugar, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/2 C cocoa, chocolate chips to fill jar
Other ingredients needed to prepare: 1/3 C butter,1 tsp. vanilla, 2 eggs
Remove chocolate chips and set aside. Place mix in large mixing bowl. Combine butter, vanilla, and eggs and mix well. Add egg mixture to mix and combine well. Add chocolate chips and mix well. Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees 10 minutes or until firm around the edges but not browned.
There you go. Make a list this week of friends and family who will enjoy receiving food storage in jars this holiday season. Set aside an evening or Saturday and make up several mixes, don’t forget a few for your own family. Kids love helping to make these! Do you have any recipes you can share?
I love these- if you get more, please share!
I’ve heard some good things about this blog. The content has really been useful a great balance of text and pictures.
Ooh, pretty! And shiny, too! (And I bet they’ll taste good!)
This is a great idea. I found a similar idea on a you tube video, where they used mylar bags instead of glass bottles to store the contents in. It, of course, isn’t as pretty as a jar, but won’t break, and you can cook a meal in it, especially the ones with rice. I love your blog, by the way. I found it recently, and am excited to keep reading an learning. Thanks
Michelle
I recently did this for my own food storage. My thought was to make 12 jars with one kind of soup mix, so I’d have one meal a month already done, then I’d move on the to the 2nd soup mix and so forth. It’s been kindof nice, when we want soup I just grab a jar.
Great Idea!! I believe that providing family and friends with what the truly need and not always want shows the true thought of the gift.
Very Cute, I love those, especially the dessert ones.
when i was a kid, we received these occasionally, with a square of pretty gingham ribboned to the top. they always looked so nice in our pantry with their neat layers and pretty pink and blue patterned tops!
That is a great point, these don’t have to be just for Christmas. You can add any type of a bow or place a circle of fabric under the ring and then replace the ring and it can be for any occasion. These make fun housewarming or hostess gifts, birthdays, Chanukah, Chinese New Year, let your imagination run wild.