Christmas Gifts

[MNNorsk]

I have received mixes at Christmas for making bean soup, a wonderful rice blend, and other baskets of items. Does anyone have the ingredients and amounts for these and any other interesting ideas I may give as gifts? Most of my friends are past where we want "things" for Christmas.;-)

[Stacy]

Hi. I would recommend go out and buy the book by Gooseberry Patch called "Gifts for Giving". It's full of recipes for cookie mixes, hot chocolate and coffee mixes, and also bean soup and other soups and things. It's a great book. You can just go to Gooseberrypatch.com to get it. It's a great cookbook, all of their books are great! Look out! You might get hooked and want all of them like I do!:-D

Good luck!

Stacy:angel:

[MNNorsk]

:) Thanks Stacy. I'll look into it...sounds interesting.

Maybe I should just give the book.;)

[charlen]

Mnnorsk,
Here are 2 recipes for gift baskets that I got out of Bon Appetit magazine last year.
BROWNIES IN A JAR- 1 1/2 Cups sugar
1/3 Cup Hersheys Cocoa
1 Cup white chocolate chips
1 Cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup pecan pieces

Layer the ingredients in a 1-quart glass canister in the following order (bottom to top): sugar,cocoa, white chocolate chips, floue, baking powder, salt, chocolate chips and pecans. Tap jar gently on the counter to settle each layer before adding the next one. Cover and attach baking directions to the jar. Makes one jar.
Baking directions:
Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour 8x8x2 inch baking pan. Combine 1/2 cup melted and cooled butter and 2 slightly beaten eggs in a large bown. Gently stir in contents of the jar. Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until done. Cool in pan and cut into bars. Makes 16 brownies.

[charlen]

FRENCH MARKET SOUP MIX
1 lb dried black beans 1 lb dried green split peas
1 lb dried great Northern beans 1 lb dried yellow split peas
1 lb dried navy beans 1 lb dried lentils
1 lb dried pinto beans 1 lb dried baby limas
1 lb dried red beans 1 lb dried large limas
1 lb dried black-eyed peas 1 lb barley pearls

Combine all ingredients in a very large bowl. Divide mixture evenly into 13 packages with 2 cups in each. Bag in plastic sack and tie with ribbon. Include recipe for soup in the basket. Makes 13 packages.
INSTRUCTIONS
1 package (2 cups) French Market Soup Mix
2 quarts water
1 large smoket ham hock
1 can (16 oz) whole tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 chile pepper charsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 green pepper, chopped 1/2 red pepper chopped
1 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Sort and wash soup mix; place in Dutch oven. Cover with water 2 inches above the soup mix, let soak 8 hours. Drain soup mix and return to pan; Add 2 quarts water and ham hock. Bring to a boil; cover and reduce then simmer 1 1/2-2 hours. Stir in tomatoes and next 6 ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 30 minutes. Remove ham hock; remove meat from bone and chop. Return meat to soup and stir in salt & pepper. Phew, I'm tired from all the typing !!^^ ^^

[kimmyo]

Try these links:

www.dcrafts.com/giftsinjar1.htm

www.geocities.com/giftsinajar/

[charlen]

Kimmyo,
Thanks, I will. Someone also posted www.cdkitchen.com .
I tried that and found a ton of ideas! :p

[MNNorsk]

:) Ask and you shall receive. Thanks to you all for the recipes and sites. I'm sure to find something in all of them.:-:

[kflora]

I did a search on the internet for Jar Mixes and came up with hundred of them.

If anyone see one for Rocky Road Brownie, I would like to have it.

Thanks