Gifts in a Jar

[buzzard]

Anybody like making up the jars with the dry ingredients for cookies, brownies, soups and such, then giving em as gifts? If anyone would like some ideas, let me know. Got 3 booklets with recipes/ideas and I can post some of em. Even got some instructions for bath salts and a couple other things. I used to make some up for the grandkids teachers for Christmas presents.

[mastercatter]

Sounds like a fun thing to do.. Saw Katie Brown do some things on her BPS program last week. Would be a good thing for inexpensive gifts. Thanks for the offer.

[buzzard]

Okey Dokey, I'll get the books out later today and post em. Yeah, they do make nice gifts for not too much money.

[dsmith]

Yeah, I'd be interested. Especially in the bath salts. Thanks. Bought a bunch of sugar, flour, corn syrup, etc to do a lot of baking and all. That'd be easier.

[buzzard]

Yep, and then the folks ya give em to can make itwhen they want it. I got the books out too late to start it here, so I'll post some first thing I get on in the morning, or when I get back from my folks.

[buzzard]

M&M Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup mini M&M's candies
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (see Note)
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar (see Note)
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

In 1-quart wide-mouth glass jar, gently layer and pack ingredients in the order listed, beginning with oats. If there is any space left after adding the last ingredient, add more candies to fill the jar. Place lid on top. Cut an 8-inch circle of fabric to cover lid. Place fabric over lid; secure in place with ribbon or raffia. Attach gift card with preparation instructions and decorate as desired.

Gift Card: To Make M&M Oatmeal Bars: Empty contents of jar into medium bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter, 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Press into an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until bars are light golden brown and center is almost set. Makes 16 bars.

Note: After measuring the brown sugar, crumble it between your fingers for uniform texture. Be sure to pack the brown sugar firmly in the jar to prevent the baking mix from sifting down through it

[buzzard]

Cobbler Mix

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar

Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

Attach this recipe to the jar:

Berry Cobbler

4 cups fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries or boysenberries)
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix from jar

Preheat oven to 375F. In large mixing bowl combine berries, juice, sugar, and cinnamon. Place berries in a greased 13 x 9-inch pan. In small mixing bowl blend the butter with the egg and vanilla. Add the jarred mix and stir until dough sticks together. Drop the cobbler topping by tablespoonfuls on top of the berry filling. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving

[buzzard]

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Mix

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 can (15 ounce) Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

Combine all ingredients, except Pure Pumpkin, in large bowl. Pour into 1-quart resealable plastic bag. Place in fabric bag. Place bread mix and can of pumpkin in 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

Recipe To Attach:
Beat together 3/4 cup Pure Pumpkin, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs and 1/4 cup orange juice or water in large mixer bowl until blended. Add contents of bag; stir until just moistened. Spoon batter into greased and floured 9-x-5-inch loaf pan. Bake in preheated 350-degree F oven for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Makes 1 loaf.

[buzzard]

Yes, it does take 30 days, but it is sooooooooooooo good and moist. My mom used to make this all the time. Hard to have to sit there and wait 30 days, especially after you've had it, LOL

30 Day Friendship Starter Cake

If you can obtain the "starter" juice from a friend who has made this recipe, do so. If not, you substitute a mixture of 6 ounces apricot or peach brandy, and 6 ounces of heavy syrup from canned peaches, apricots or fruit cocktail. Do not use any other type of fruit syrup. Day 1: In a glass gallon jar, put the 12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) of starter juice or the brandy-syrup mixture. Add 2 1/2 cups of sugar and a large can of diced peaches, juice and all. Stir well. Place lid on jar and refrigerate. Day 2 through 9: Stir well once a day. Day 10: Add a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple, juice and all, and 2 1/2 cups of sugar to peach mixture. Stir well. Day 11 through 19: Stir well once a day. Day 20: Drain liquid from at least 20 ounces of maraschino cherries. Sliced cherries are preferable but whole ones (minus pits) may be used. Discard liquid. Add cherries and 2 1/2 cups sugar to peach-pineapple mixture. Stir well. Day 21 through 29: Stir well once a day. Day 30: time to bake the cake! Place peach-pineapple-cherry mixture in a large strainer and drain off as much liquid as possible. It will take a while because mixture is quite thick. Save the liquid in 12 ounce lots (pint jars work nicely) and refrigerate or freeze. Will keep 30 days in refrigerator and longer, frozen. Keep this liquid as the starter for your future cakes or share with friends to start theirs.

--CAKE BATTER:--
1/2 c. EACH raisins, chopped dates,
chopped walnuts and chopped pecans
1/3 of the drained fruit mixture
1 box yellow cake mix
1 box vanilla instant pudding
4 eggs
1/2 c. Wesson oil
1 1/2 c. EACH raisins, chopped dates,
chopped walnuts and chopped pecans
All of the drained fruit mixture
3 boxes yellow cake mix
3 boxes vanilla pudding
12 eggs
1 1/2 c. Wesson oil

Use ingredients shown above to make either 2 loaves or 6 loaves at a time. If you have a very large mixing bowl, use second set of ingredients and make all 6 loaves at once. If not, use the first set of ingredients and make 2 loaves at a time. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the loaf pans. Mix ingredients and pour into loaf pans. Batter will be stiff. Bake 50 to 60 minutes. Do not overbake. If your oven temperature isn't accurate and seems too hot, use a lower temperature (325 degrees). This cake is delicious, moist and rich. Serve for special occasions or give as gifts

[buzzard]

Some links to sites with recipes for gift jars:

www.stallionstore.com/index2/giftjarrecipes.htm

www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/christmas/gifts/index.htm

www.kitchenlink.com/holiday/merrygifts.html

[dsmith]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!! I will be trying some of these. Am getting ready to start making some mini breads, candy, etc for Christmas. Might use some of these to help ease the load.