I'm big on making my own gifts, and have been thinking it would be fun (and easy) to make some soup and cakes and whatever else in a jar. I've found a couple of recipes online, but am hoping ya'll might have some you'd like to share. I'll throw in one I found as well. Thanks!

Layered Dried Bean Soup Mix In A Jar

DRIED BEAN MIX:

1/2 cup of each of the following: kidney beans split yellow peas black beans red lentils small red beans split green peas

SEASONING MIX: 1 tablespoon dried sweet pepper flakes 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules 2 teaspoons dried minced onion 1-1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon celery seed 4 tablespoons brown sugar

For dried bean mix, layer each type of bean in a clear gift container. You will need a 24-oz jar. For seasoning mix, combine ingredients. Store in a resealable plastic bag. Attach to jar and give with recipe for Seasoned Bean Soup. Yield: about 3 cups dried bean mix and 1/4 cup seasoning mix.

Attach To Jar: SEASONED BEAN SOUP

Dried Bean Mix ( 3 cups) 2 cans ( 14 1/2 ounces each ) stewed tomatoes Seasoning Mix ( 1/4 cup ) 1 teaspoon liquid smoke ( optional )

Rinse beans and place in large Dutch oven or stock pot. Pour 4 cups boiling water over beans; cover and let soak overnight. Drain beans and return to stock pot. Add 6 cups water, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 to 1/2 hours or until beans are almost tender. Add tomatoes and seasoning mix. Stirring occasionally, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Uncover beans and continue to simmer about 1 hour longer or until beans are tender and soup thickens. Serve warm. YIELD: about 10 cups soup

-- witness (carlaevans@hotmail.com), March 06, 2001

Answers

Carla I stumbled onto a terrific site for "Gift Jar Recipes". It is at http://members.tripod.com/~MaryMae/jarlinks.htm for you to copy and paste in your browser's address. Everything from Hot Chocolate to Canned Apple Cake Jar Cake! Check it out! Share THE Light.

-- Eve in FL (owenall@lwol.com), March 06, 2001.

I have given as gifts some of these mixes in jars. One website that has mixes is www.realfood4realpeople.com There is another site that I also got a number of mixes from, but right now I can't locate it. I'll post it later, if/when I find it. Polly

-- Polly (NY) (oakridge@northnet.org), March 06, 2001.

Found this recipe in BHG. Split Pea Tortellini Soup:

3oz. dried cheese-filled tortellini (2/3 cup) 1/4 cup snipped dried tomatoes 1/3 cup dried split greet peas 1/2 cup dried chopped carrots 1 tablespoon instant chicken bouillon granules 1 tablespoon dried minced onion 1 1/2 teaspoons each dried basil, thyme, crushed 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Layer ingredients in a clean one pint jar in the following order: tortellini, dried tomatoes, split peas, carrots, and remaining seasonings.

Directions: Empty jar ingredients into a 3-qt. saucepan. Add 5 cups of water. Bring mixture to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 50 minutes or until peas are tender. (Option: add 1 cup chopped cooked ham or sausage.) Makes 4 servings. Good stuff and very colorful!

Another suggestion; check your local library for books by Phyllis Hobson. She has a couple of books on dried foods that include soup mixes, etc. I have also found (though I cannot remember which book or author) recipes for mixes in some homesteading books.

Another idea some of you may be interested in -- last year, our nephew graduated from high school. He was college bound, so I wanted to give him something that may be useful at college. I found a "hot pot" at a garage sale and built around it. I included homemade soup mixes in porportion to the pot size, homemade cocoa and coffee mixes, and homemade instant fruit oatmeal mixes. He absolutely loved it! I also made him a goodie bag of refills for Christmas. I figure "comfort foods" have a definite place in the college dorm room.

-- Heather (hmendoza@i2k.com), March 12, 2001.