Nothing is more homespun than a gift in a jar. If you haven’t been fortunate to receive one of these quaint homemade gifts you’ve been missing out – make up for it by giving them to the folks on your gift list this year. Maybe they’ll get the hint!
A gift in a jar typically includes all the dry ingredients needed to make a batch of – you name it! Soups, dips, desserts, breads and beverages; almost any recipe that has dry ingredients can be adapted to put into a jar. The charm lies in how the ingredients are layered and the presentation of the jar itself. Vintage canning jars make the most adorable containers; look for them in thrift stores. Their subtle shades of green, lavender or blue add a keepsake quality to the gift.
Consider the most attractive way to layer the ingredients in the jar. For example, if there are several white ingredients like flour, white sugar and baking powder, alternate them with more colorful items like chocolate chips, cocoa powder or brown sugar for the best effect. Remember to never include anything in your gift in a jar that could go bad. If the recipient waits a long time to use their gift things like nuts, coconut or marshmallows could all go stale.
It’s vital to include instructions with your gift. Turn this functional element into something fancy. Print out the instructions with an interesting font or use your best penmanship to place the directions on a piece of card stock or recipe card. Use a pair of decorative scissors to cut a lacy design on the edge of the paper. Punch a small hole in one corner of the card and tie it around the jar with a colorful ribbon. Viola! A gift in a jar!
Two of the best things for putting in a gift in a jar are cocoa and soup. Everyone loves these items, especially during the cold weeks of winter. The ingredients are affordable and they look great stacked up in a jar. But only the best recipes will do for holiday gift giving. The following recipes for dark chocolate cocoa and lentil soup each have a little something extra to give them a special zing.
Once you start making gifts in a jar for holiday giving you won’t want to stop. They’re perfect for teachers, hostess gifts, clients, coworkers and everyone who enjoys good food made easy.
Dark Chocolate Cocoa Mix
In a 1-quart jar layer 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 1/2 cup dry powdered milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 cup miniature dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks chopped into small bits.
Instructions: Mix ingredients in a large bowl. Stir 1/3 cup of dark chocolate cocoa mix into 1 cup of boiling water. Place mix back into jar for storage.
Lentil Soup Mix
1-quart jar layer1/4 cup red lentils and 1/2 cup barley. Crush 1 cube of vegetable bouillon in a bowl. Stir 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic, 2 tablespoons parsley flakes, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme and 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes into the bouillon. Layer the seasonings on top of the barley. Add 1/4 cup yellow lentils and place a single bay leaf of the very top.
Instructions:
Bring 10 cups of water to boil in a stock pot. Add 2 cups chopped carrots, 2 cups chopped celery and the dried soup mix. Bring mixture to a boil and boil for 1 full minute. Reduce the heat and simmer covered for 60 minutes or until the lentils are soft. Remove bay leaf before serving.