Hey friends! This past month has flown by! Holland and I have been extremely busy with planning wedding stuff and so much more we have kinda slacked off this year with buying gifts. I have made gifts in a jar in the past but this year I kinda went to town with it. These are super great gifts if you are on a tight budget financially or cutting it close on time. They are also great for the person you have no clue what to buy for. I like the idea that when I give one of these to someone it is making baking/cooking easy but they are still getting something homemade and delicious.
These recipes are from a small taste of home magazine that my dad bought me at the grocery store two years ago. Best five dollars on a magazine ever spent!
I spent a total of $70.00 at the grocery store and made exactly 12 jars( 4 of each recipe on here). I still have enough stuff to make at least two more for each recipe on here as well.
I have listed a picture for the three types of jars I made this year and on the left is the recipe you attach to the jar for the person receiving the gift. It is just some simple directions on what they need to make the recipe. Underneath each photo I listed how you put the jar together.
I tried to put the tags for jars on a google doc so I could be all techie and save you time if you decide to make any of these because let's face it, time is special and if I can keep you from having to type or write out anything I will! However, I apologize in advance if this fancy link under this paragraph does not work. Alrighty, let's get to these jars!
First up is Double Dutch Chocolate Holiday Cookies
Hollands mom made these with her niece and nephew two years ago for Christmas. They were supposed to be for Santa but Jayne said she ate about 2 dozen of them on her own!
How to make jar:
-1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup double dutch dark cocoa
-3/4 cup sugar
-1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cups red and green milk chocolate m&m's
1/3 cup white baking chips
1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. In a 1qt jar, layer the flour mixture, cocoa, sugar, brown sugar, M&M's and baking chips.
**make sure you pack down the layers, especially the brown sugar! If not not all the m&m's and chips will fit**
Hearty Pasta Soup
To make jar:
-1/2 cup dried split peas
-2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules( I used Knorr)
-1/2 cup dried lentils
-2 tablespoons dried minced onion
-1 teaspoon dried basil
-1 teaspoon fried parsley flakes
-1 envelope savory herb with garlic soup mix or vegetable soup mix
-2 cups uncooked color spiral pasta
1. In a 1qt glass container, layer the first seven ingredients in the order listed. Place the pasta in a resealable plastic bag. add to jar.
Sand Castle Brownies
To make jar:
-1/3 cup chopped nuts
-1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
-1/3 cup flaked coconut
-2/3 cup packed brown sugar
-3/4 cup sugar
-1/3 cup baking cocoa
-1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1. In a 1qt glass jar, layer all ingredients in order listed, packing well between each layer.
For the tops of the jar lids I used mod podge and some holiday scrapbook paper. I used a sponge brush to put some podge on the lid then onto the paper then sealed it all in by brushing on top as well. I let these dry over night before making the jars so they wouldn't stick at all.
I hope you all have a very happy Holiday! 2013 is coming to a close and it was a fabulous year for us. So excited for 2014!
Love,
Amanda and Holland
