foodsandflavors~™
Courtney Tevepaugh
Courtney Tevepaugh photo: Pixels On Paper Photography
WRITER/PHOTOS Courtney P. Tevepaugh Family and Consumer Science Agent, Wilkes County North Carolina Cooperative Extension Courtney_tevepaugh@ncsu.edu Follow along on Facebook @wilkesFCS
As we approach the holiday season, many might be scrambling to find gifts for the special people in their life. I often find myself wondering what to get someone who has everything they need. I'm a huge fan of practical gifts that (hopefully) bring joy to the recipient. After all, what good is a nice gift if it's of no use to the person receiving it? A few years ago I began making holiday gifts in a mason jar. At first, I tried hot coco and flavored coffees, this quickly transformed into cookies and soup mixes, even chili and cornbread. I remember the first holiday party I carried gift mixes to. I stuck a jar of homemade cookie mix into a gift and it was a hit. My friends wanted the instructions so they could then make the mixes for others. Since then I have explored many options for my "gifts from the kitchen". Each mix can be fun, and not to mention good on the wallet. 40
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Gifts from the Kitchen I know mason jars have been difficult to find in the past few years, so I encourage you to think creatively. Utilize recycled pasta sauce jars or even pickle jars. Dress it up with fabric, ribbon, or a nice label and you are good to go. Just make sure the container you choose is clean, with a lid, and large enough to fit the recipe mix you intend to use. So what are my favorite mixes you ask? Well, I haven't met one that I don't like! Mixes in a jar are so handy for gifting, but you can apply the same concept to everyday life as well. For example, you can give homemade pancake mix, but you can also make a large batch of it to have on hand at home. Other convenience mixes I enjoy are homemade taco and ranch seasoning, these are less expensive than a single package at the grocery store and can be tweaked to your liking. If you're ready to wow friends this season try out a few of these DIY gift mixes. To make the mixes follow the first set of instructions under each recipe. Then provide a copy of the recipe instructions for using the mix with the gift.
Friendship Soup Mix 1/2 cup dry split peas 2 Tablespoons beef bouillon granules 1/4 cup pearl barley 1/2 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup dry, minced onions 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1/2 cup rice 1/2 cup macaroni noodles
In a clean, quart-sized jar, layer all the ingredients except the macaroni. Place the macaroni in a sandwich bag and place it on top of the other ingredients. Cover the jar tightly with a lid, decorate it and attach a copy of the recipe card. Friendship Soup Recipe Instructions 1 container Friendship Soup Mix 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey 3 quarts water 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes Brown meat and drain. Place in a large pot and add the water and tomatoes. Add soup mix except macaroni. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for one hour. Add macaroni and continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes (until macaroni is tender). For best flavor, use this mix within one year. Makes 12 servings.
