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Hello,
This week we have a bunch of ideas for edible gifts and gift mixes that you can give for Christmas. If you have any gift mix ideas to share, please post them here:
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Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Tips
Use a basket for this one. Put in a muffin pan, a whisk, muffin mix, mixing bowl, pot holder. Put it in a pretty jar or seal-a-meal pouch and attach directions.
For an added bonus, add a coffee mug with packets of sugar/sweetner, creamer with packets of coffee and plastic spoon.
Attach an attractive note card and fancy bow:
"Joy is sharing wih a special friend." Use your imagination.
Ms. Syd Barr - Dunkirk, MD
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Feel free to post your favorite last minute gift ideas below.
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These can make a great gift. Take a pint jar, layer the different beans, put the spices in a small ziplock bag. Print cooking instructions on paper and glue to a recipe card. After closing the jar with lid and ring, cover the jar top with fabric or wrapping paper. Tie with curling ribbon in maroon, dark green and gold, or black, to color coordinate with the beans in the mix. Punch a hole in the top of the recipe card and thread the card onto the back of the package.
Use 2 cups total beans.
You can include: pinto beans, small red beans, kidney beans, yellow split peas, green split peas, baby lima beans, small white beans.
Spice packet:
Recipe to Print
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Heat water and Winter Bean Soup Mix to boiling in a 4-quart Dutch oven or soup pot. Boil 2 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand one hour.
2. Stir carrots and celery into bean mixture. *Add ham shanks. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 2 hours or until beans are tender.
3. * Skim fat if necessary. Remove ham shanks; remove ham from bone. Trim excess fat from ham. Cut ham into 1/2-inch pieces. Stir ham into soup.
Heat until hot. (6 servings about 1-1/2 cups each)
* (do not include for vegetarian soup)
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Years ago when we decided to make a 110' x 50' garden and we bought about 20 cases of canning jars. We didn't get what we thought we would from the garden. We didn't realize high mountain growing was so difficult. We have tried every year to make the garden produce mass amounts of veggies to can but have not had too many produce for us. Just enough to get us though the summer.
Since we ended up with so many jars I decided to use them for gifts. I get recipes for cookies, brownies, cakes, chili, or whatever I can find and then put all the dry ingredients into the jar. I then decorate the jar with raffia ties, paint, material, or whatever I can find. Last year I tied belles and candy canes on the outside and gave these as gifts at Christmas.
I love giving gifts and since I'm on a limited budget I can purchase the dry ingredients all year long and be able to make many gifts and always have one handy in case I forget someone. It's lots of fun to come up with ideas to put into the jars. One year I made cookies and candies and gave those. Most jars only end up costing $2 since I always buy in bulk. Hope you have fun!
By RoseMary
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Cheaters Brownie Bags - Easy Gift Idea!
By Kelly McCausey
Do you know how everyone is making those fun "brownies in a jar" gifts? Well they're great! But I can do you one better! The next time that the grocery store puts a good brownie mix on sale, grab a bundle of a special flavor, like peanut butter cup or caramel nut.
Have the kids decorate some plain brown paper bags as a craft project. On your computer or by hand, create a slip with baking instructions (taken right from the box!)
Transfer the brownie mix from the box to your own plastic bag and seal carefully. Place in the bag with the instructions and turn the edge over a few times. Use a hole punch to create two holes about an inch apart and run a piece of ribbon through and tie it.
You'll have a fun 'homemade' gift and you didn't have to do any measuring!
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I make gift jars and cans. I use empty food jars and coffee cans. Wash them clean and take the labels off and then use recycled wrapping paper to wrap the jar or can. This makes a neat gift jar that can also be made into a potpourri jar.
By Zelora
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A great tip for the holiday season. I am always having trouble finding small bread pans for gift loaves. My mother gave me the idea of using soup cans. Just wash good. remove the label and spray with a bit of cooking spray. Fill can to 3/4 full and you have a great little loaf. I have used this to make pumpkin, banana, even mini cakes. some cans have ridges on the interior and that mold comes out on the loaf, makes for easy uniform cutting. You can give them right in the can, decorate can after cooling, or they very easily slide right out.
By Melissa Blake
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Giving Homemade Mixes in a Jar
By Monica Resinger
Mixes in a jar are thoughtful and inexpensive gifts to give to anyone for any occasion. The idea is to layer dry ingredients of a cookie, cake, biscuit, muffin, beverage or other recipe decoratively in a jar and add directions of how to complete the recipe. The jar can be a mason jar or a recycled, clean mayonnaise or other large jar that has a lid and can then be decorated with fabric, ribbons, paint, etc.
I have seen these jars of mixes sell in retail stores for around $8.00! Imagine the savings if you were to make your own! A few inexpensive ingredients like flour, brown sugar, chocolate chips and a jar don't cost very much! Gift recipients will love receiving a homemade mix from you so they can easily prepare a treat to enjoy and when they prepare the treat, they'll be thinking of how thoughtful you are.
Mixes in a jar are excellent for gifts that need to be shipped because you don't have to worry about baked goods getting smashed or getting stale. A mix will allow the gift recipient to freshly prepare the treat when it is craved or needed. They are also great to give to children's teachers, neighbors and acquaintances because of the ease and money savings involved.
Here is a delicious mix recipe for you to try:
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Mix in a Jar
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. Clean the inside of the jar with a dry paper towel after adding the confectioners' sugar and after adding the cocoa powder. Be sure to pack everything down firmly before adding the flour mixture, it will be a tight fit. Store in a cool dry place away from a heat source so condensation and clumping does not occur. Instructions to attach to Jar:
Peanut Butter Cookies
Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend mix. Add:
Mix until completely blended. Shape into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheets. Press balls down with a fork. Bake at 350F degrees for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Makes 3 dozen cookies.
By Monica Resinger
http://homemakersjournal.com/mixes.htm
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For a quick and meaningful gift for anyone, write an acrostic poem. Simply write the person's name down the left side of a sheet of paper, one letter at a time. For each letter, choose a word or words that describe the person. For example,
Ingredients:
Directions:
(Or you can get fancier and write a rhyming poem!)
Print out the acrostic on your computer printer. Make each beginning letter in a larger, bolder font, and add appropriate artwork if you want. Frame in a dollar store frame, and you have an easy and inexpensive gift.
By zballoongirl
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Measure all of the ingredients into a clean, dry bowl. Use a fork to combine everything evenly. If you are ambitious, you can powder everything in a blender. I don't always do this because I am lazy. You do get really impressive results from it though, and it is easier to do than one would expect. Transfer the mixture to a resealable container, or a pretty jar.
To Prepare: Place 2 tablespoons of Mocha Espresso powder in a small coffee cup. Add hot water to fill the cup (about 1/2 cup hot water.) If you are using a large coffee cup, increase the amount of Mocha Espresso powder you add. For instance, use 3 tablespoons to an average size coffee cup, (adding about 3/4 cup hot water). Stir well and serve.
By Kathy
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Sift dry ingredients and cut shortening into it with a pastry blender. Measure 3 cups into 4 jars.
Decorate jars with raffia or ribbon. Attach gingerbread cutter and the following recipe:
Gingerbread Boys
Combine gingerbread mix, molasses, egg and flour. Blend well. Roll to 1/4" thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut into gingerbread shapes. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool. Can be decorated with cinnamon candies. Recipe to be used within 3 months.
By Kathy
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For coffee or cocoa: Buy a package of sturdy plastic spoons, preferably in festive colors. Dip them in chocolate (melted chocolate chips work well) and shake off the excess. Place them on wax paper and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy. After they dry, wrap them in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Put a few spoons in a coffee mug along with some individual hot cocoa or coffee packets
By Anna
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Sand Art Brownies
This is a recipe for brownies to give as a Christmas gift . . . . or whenever. Mix ingredients in a wide mouth quart size jar, just like sand art that kids make today.
Add to wide mouth quart jar in this order:
This should pack nicely into jar. Include a decorative tag with instructions for making the brownies:
Combine contents of jar with:
Pour into a greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 27-32 minutes
Spiced Tea
This mix makes a great gift for neighbors, the elderly, school teachers, etc.
Mix all ingredients together well. Put in a sealed container until ready to assemble the gift.
To make individual gift packets: you can put into a small plastic bag, then insert into a small muslin bag, tie with a pretty piece of Christmas fabric. With each gift make sure you add a note that states: One tablespoon + one teaspoon per cup of hot water. I also look for pretty cups and saucers, at garage sales, flea markets, etc. and then you can package with the ingredients.
Hot Chocolate Mix
This mix makes a great gift for neighbors, the elderly, school teachers, etc.
Mix ingredients well and store in air tight container until you're ready to make the individual gift packages.
With each gift add a tag that says: 3 tablespoons per cup of hot water.
This is wonderful hot chocolate, we get raves from it every year from grandchildren. They seem to think this is the Best!
Gourmet Vanilla Sugar
For those who like a little gourmet, but can't afford it, place a dry clean vanilla bean in a mason jar. Cover with sugar. In a few weeks, the sugar will be flavored vanilla.
Note* the bean can be used for years be sure the receiver of this gift understands all they need to do is refill the sugar and shake occasionally for a few weeks.
Home school Mom in Florida
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In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Layer ingredients in order given in a quart size canning jar. Mix oatmeal in a blender. Grate chocolate bar and mix into the oatmeal. It is helpful to tap jar lightly on a padded surface (towel on counter) as you layer ingredients to make all ingredients fit neatly. Use scissors to cut a 9 inch- diameter circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric circle over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band. Attach a card with the following directions:
Gourmet Cookies
Remove chocolate chips and nuts with a large spoon. Empty cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Stir mix with large wooden spoon to evenly distribute ingredients. Add 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Mixture will be thick, so you may need to use a wooden spoon to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls and place onto a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet and then place cookies on baking racks to finish cooling.
Yield: 3 dozen
By Kathy
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Low on Cash for Christmas? Try Gifts in a Jar (Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies in a Jar)
By Kristin Johnson
Time is money, and right now you don't have either the time or the money to answer the call of the shopping mall at Christmas. The only way you can show your friends love, peace on earth, goodwill towards men is by shopping at Macy's, so you think.
It's a safe bet that the Three Kings didn't buy the gold, frankincense and myrrh given to Jesus Christ in the manger from Macy's or Pottery Barn.
This year you, too, can give frankincense and myrrh of the tasty kind. The best part is, the ingredients come from your neighborhood grocery store or even your own kitchen. The Three Kings used ornate containers, but you can make do with an inexpensive 1-quart mason jar to hold your "sand art" cookies, or "Gifts in a Jar."
What do you need to make "Gifts in a Jar"? Let's take, for example, the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oatmeal and raisins. All of these are available for under $5 at your local grocery store. If you buy in bulk, you'll save more time and money-- -just make sure to create your "Gifts in a Jar" as soon as possible before you plan on giving them. The ingredients have a shelf life of 3 months in most cases, so use fresh ingredients.
Layer the dry ingredients in the order listed above, alternating light and dark-colored ingredients for that "art" effect. Your recipient supplies the moist ingredients, and you can attach your favorite recipe or the Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies in a Jar recipe, printed on fancy paper (such as the kind you'd find inexpensively at Kinko's) with a decorative font from your computer, and tied to the jar with pretty ribbon or raffia (inexpensive at craft and sewing shops). Cover the top of the jar with a circle of pretty fabric--- maybe from a tablecloth, curtains or a dress that's headed for the rag bag.
To turn your favorite cookie recipe into "Gifts in a Jar," just make sure the total of dry ingredients is 1 quart (1 l) or less. You may have to cut your current recipe by half or one third to get the correct amount of dry ingredients but it will work. Remember to adjust the amounts of wet ingredients needed when writing out your directions to place on the jar. Or, rather than cutting your recipe, you can use the larger 2-quart (2 l) mason jars, and if there is any space left at the top of the jar, pack it tightly with tissue paper or add a few extra raisins and a sprinkle of oatmeal--this adds pizzazz!
Your thoughtful, personal gift will delight everyone on your list and save you money when you make "Gifts in a Jar." Besides, you'll no doubt get invited to eat the cookies---when was the last time a sweater from Macy's gave you that kind of sweet rewards?
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies in a Jar
Sift together flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda and salt, then place in the bottom of a 1-quart (1 l) glass mason jar. Tamp down the flour mixture so it is packed in firmly. Add the rest of the ingredients in the order given, making sure to pack down each layer firmly before adding the next. Screw the lid on the jar. Attach the following directions:
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies Note: Store this jar in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months before using.
Pre-heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Empty the jar of cookie mix into a large mixing bowl, blend the mixture thoroughly. Stir in butter or margarine, egg, and vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Place 2 inches (5 cm) apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. Makes 36 cookies.
By Kristin Johnson
http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com
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