Gifts in a Jar, or Gifts from your Kitchen

 

My mother never ever liked getting a gift for Christmas that had anything to do with  cooking, cleaning or eating . . .well except for chocolates that is.  I never saw her turn down a nice box of choccies.  She just didn't want to get the other stuff, like mixers or blenders, or jars of jam, etc.

Me on the other hand, I just love, Love, LOVE to get any gift that has anything to do with the kitchen or eating!  I have had a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer on my wish list for years now, to no avail, but . . . I live in hope.

 

Candy Apple Red or Powder Blue or even yellow would do me fine.  Actually who am I trying to kid, I'll take it in any colour I can get it!  But I digress . . .

 

Food gifts.  I just adore receiving them and I love putting them together for friends.  I especially love the mix in a jar things, or goodies in a mug, or Mug-ems as they are also called.  We did an activity in RS Society in August and I did a presentation on Gifts in a jar and it was quite popular so today I am going to show you two of my favourite Gift Mixes in a Jar, and in the spirit of giving, I am including my artwork Gift Tags for you to print out and tie on to your own gift jars.  All you need to do is right click and save and then you can print them out 4 or 6 to a page via your own printer.  Merry Christmas!  (And there are two versions, one with American measures and one with British measures.)


 

The first one is the Oatmeal and Raisin Cookie Mix in a Jar, and let me tell you they are fabulous cookies.  Very delicious.  These mixes are so easy to make, and such fun to give and to receive.  I really love decorating the jars up and making them pretty with ribbons and bows, etc.



You can decorate the up with Cute little Christmas Ornaments, or whatever.  Little cloth caps, ribbons . . . let your imagination and creativity carry you away!



And if you aren't into cookie mixes in a jar, you can just make some for yourself.  These cookies are fabulous.  Very, very tasty indeed!



 *Oatmeal and Raisin Cookie Mix In a Jar*
Makes 1 1-litre jar
Printable Recipe

100g of plain flour (1 cup)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
150g of soft light brown sugar (3/4 cup)
110g of granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
100g of raisins (3/4 cup)
160g of old fashioned  oats

 

Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and salt.  Layer the ingredients in the jar as follows, tamping each layer down well before adding another layer.  Half the flour mixture.  Half the brown sugar.  The raisins. The white sugar.  The remaining half of the brown sugar and the oats.   You may think it won't all fit, but it will.  Just persevere.  Screw on the lid tightly.  Decorate as you wish and attach a label with the baking directions.



You might think when you look at each recipe . . . all that would never fit in a jar, but don't worry!  It absolutely does!  I use my Pampered Chef tamper tool and it packs everything in very nicely.




These Cranberry White Chocolate and Oat Cookies are my favourites.  Oh my . . . but I could just eat them all up myself.  Quite dangerous to have around once baked.  I bet I ate three right away.  I am such a naughty pup.



I bet even YOU couldn't eat just one though . . . but who's eating??  These are for gifts right?  Yah, of course they are!!  But really . . . I don't think anyone would begrudge you making a jar of the mix, or just baking yourself up a recipe of these for your own family.  In fact, that might just be one way where you could guarantee a sweet surprise for yourself under the tree on Christmas morning!  After all, as they say . . . Charity begins at home! Ho Ho Ho!!



 *Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Mix In a Jar*
Makes 1 1-litre jar
Printable Recipe

50g of plain flour (1/2 cup  plus 2 TBS allpurpose)
40g old fashioned oats (1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
66g soft light brown sugar (1/3 cup)
63g of white sugar (1/3 cup)
75g dried cranberries (1/2 cup)
90g white chocolate chips (1/2 cup)
60g of chopped  pecan nuts (1/2 cup)

Layer the ingredients in a clean canning  jar in the order given, tamping each layer down into place before adding the next one.  (I use my  pampered chef tamper for this, but you could use the end of a rolling pin as well.)  Screw on the lid tightly.  Attach a gift tag with the mixing and baking directions and decorate the jar as desire