Yummy Handmade Gifts in a Jar
Throughout my childhood, I remember, my Mother always made individual loaves of pumpkin or zucchini bread, wrapped them in red cellophane with a green ribbon, and had us give them to our teachers as Christmas gifts. She did the same thing for my Dad to take to work, and also passed them around to her co-workers. Obligatory, or not, most Moms are faced with these sort of gift giving occasions. Food gifts are often the appropriate thing to give in instances like these.
Instead of baking though, I'm going to make some coffee and cookie mixes that I found in an e-book titled "Great Gifts in a Jar". Most of the recipes in the e-book require a quart-size jar, large or small mouth opening with a lid. I find though that a large mouth jar works best to get the ingredients in easier.
Some of the mixes I plan to make include:
EASY COCOA MIX
- 1(2-lb.) box of chocolate milk powder
- 1 (16 oz.) jar powdered creamer
- 1(1 lb.) box powdered sugar
- 1 (8-oz.) box dry milk
Mix all ingredients together well. Store in airtight container. Use 3 to 4 heaping
tablespoons of mix per cup of boiling water. (Note: This makes a lot!)
BAVARIAN MINT FLAVORED COFFEE
- 1/4 C. Powdered Creamer
- 1/3 C. Sugar
- 1/4 C. Instant Coffee
- 2 T. Powdered Baking Cocoa
- 2 hard candy Peppermints
Process in a blender on liquefy until well blended. Store in an air tight
container. Use by tablespoonfuls according to taste. Spoon in cup and add hot water.
(Note: this one looks like it may need to be doubled to fill a quart-size jar)
CAFE VIENNA--INTERNATIONAL COFFEE
- 1/2 cup instant coffee
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Layer all in jar. Attach to the jar:
Use 2 teaspoons per cup of hot water.
CAFE CAPPUCCINO FLAVORED COFFEE
- 1/4 C. Powdered Creamer
- 1/3 C. Sugar
- 1/4 C. Instant Coffee
- 1 Orange flavored piece of hard candy
Process in a blender on liquefy until well blended. Store in an air tight
container. Use by tablespoonfuls according to taste. Spoon in cup and add hot water.
The book suggests getting some plastic spoons and dipping the spoon-ends only in melted chocolate chips; sprinkle with non-perils or colored sugar sprinkles if desired. Let the chocolate set up. Wrap 2-3 spoons in a piece of cellophane and tie-off with a pretty ribbon. It also has some tips on how to decorate your gift jar, and to make a special presentation.
I am planning to layer a Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a jar as a teacher's gift. At our school, there is some sort of policy about home-baked treats. If my son's teacher is unsure about the mix, she will at least have a hand-decorated jar as her gift. I thought maybe I would make some sort of a flavored coffee station for the secretaries at my husband's office, and may just keep a batch of the hot chocolate mix around the house for my little ones.
|
