Rich, buttery streusel surrounding flavorful apple slices –mmmm. Apple Butter Crumb Cake is delicious as a coffee cake for brunch. It is heavenly as a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream. Your friends will love this mix! Add the can of apple pie filling to the gift bag and they will love you, too. To make the mix: Measure the ingredients in the order given. Pour each one into a quart jar and tamp gently to keep them from shifting. Tie gift instructions for Apple Butter Crumb Cake to the jar and decorate as you wish. If you don’t have a funnel, see this post Potato Soup Mix for directions on how to make one with a disposable cup and for other hints on filling the jar. Making the butter crumb crust is simple. Melt ¾ cup butter. Pour the contents of the ... [Read More]
Twelve Days of Christmas
Toffee Blondies Gift in a jar
Rich, buttery Toffee Blondies are a great gift for any occasion. The gift jars are so easy to make. Just layer the ingredients in the order given, packing each down tightly. So easy but they look spectacular! If you want to add to your gift, tie a small whisk or rubber spatula to the jar. Perhaps the recipient will be a new cook and would appreciate an 8x8 baking pan or a can of cooking spray. Don't forget to add a copy of instructions: Tags for Toffee Blondies You can use a canning funnel if you have one. If you don't have a funnel, see this post Potato Soup Mix for directions on how to make one with a disposable cup and for other hints. You can find more ideas on my pinterest Gifts in a Jar board. Toffee Blondies Gift in a jar Print Prep time 10 mins ... [Read More]
Hot Chocolate Mix
This is a basic hot chocolate mix. I always make the first batch of the season as soon as the temperature drops so we are ready for the cold weather. Hot chocolate is also Christmas Eve tradition at our house. An early supper – a lighter meal than dinner – is always planned. Afterwards there is a Christmas Eve play or service to attend. Then back home, still in our finery, we light the tree and some candles in the living room. Bytes and his brother used to beg to open “just one present tonight” and then got to choose which one. They don’t do that anymore. (Although secretly, I think, they still want to!) Mostly we just relax and talk with Christmas music in the background. With hot chocolate in the Christmas mugs, of course. It's a ritual all ages can appreciate! If the ... [Read More]
Savory Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
Savory chicken noodle soup mix is not your grandma's chicken soup even though it tastes just like it! And just like grandma's soup, this makes a healthy, comforting gift -- but so much easier to make. Pair a jar of mix with a can of chicken and it is perfect for a sick friend. A minute or two of measuring water and waiting for the soup to cook is all the effort needed to make four servings of healthy comfort. Chicken noodle soup mix is great for the pantry shelf as well. A healthy no preservative quick lunch or dinner for those really busy days – just add crusty bread and/or a salad. A single college student or young professional would also appreciate this (along with a couple of other mixes!) as a stock the shelf gift. Minimal prep time and there will be 2-4 meals depending on ... [Read More]
Potato Soup Mix — gift in a jar
Potato Soup Mix is great for your own pantry shelf. You can make a mug for lunch or as a warm up after a chilly afternoon raking leaves. It's convenient, quick and very easy to make a tasty mug full! For the same reasons, this Potato Soup Mix also makes a great gift for the person who often eats lunch at their desk. It's perfect for the backpacker who needs something lightweight and filling as a meal or quick snack. Create your own uses. Begin by mixing all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Buy the instant potato flakes in a box or pouch. I use 1 package of buttery instant potato mix in the pouch because it gives a flavor boost. You'll have to use a full pouch and a part of a second. I usually use one pouch and complete the full amount by using the plain potatoes from ... [Read More]
Chai Tea Latte Mix
Chai Tea is just one thing I have learned about from my Secret Sisters. They’ve written beautiful notes, shared their talents in different ways and introduced me to all sorts of new indulgences. One secret sister was a tea drinker who gifted me wonderful chai tea. Mmmmmm --- a cup of delight! And of course, curiosity . . . . . . “Chai” is from India where it means “tea”. A combination of spices added to black tea in India eventually came to be associated with the word “chai” in English. Even though tea is made with milk in India, English speakers began using an Italian “latte” to indicate that fact. So when we refer to chai tea latte, we are really saying “milky tea, tea, milk”. Or something like that. . . . A little odd when it is the spices that set it apart and make it ... [Read More]
