Holiday Split Pea Soup Mix In A Jar

1 (2.75 ounce) package country gravy mix (regular or no-fat)
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
2 teaspoons imitation bacon bits
2 teaspoons celery flakes
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1 1/4 cups dried split green peas
1 bay leave

Pour gravy mix into wide-mouth pint jar.

In small bowl stir together bouillon granules, bacon bits, celery flakes, onion and parsley flakes. Pour into jar to make second layer. Add peas; place bay leaf on top. Seal with lid. Attach gift tag (below) and decorate jar as desired.

Attach the following instructions to a gift tag:

Holiday Split Pea Soup

Empty contents of jar into large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add 6 cups water; heat to boiling, stirring often. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until peas are tender, stirring frequently to prevent peas from sticking. Remove bay leaf. Serve soup with dollop of sour cream and bacon bits, if desired.

Makes 6 servings.

Layered Dried Bean Soup Mix In A Jar

Dried Bean Mix:
1/2 cup kidney beans
1/2 cup split yellow peas
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup red lentils
1/2 cup small red beans
1/2 cup split green peas

Layer each type of bean in a 24 ounce clear gift jar.

Seasoning Mix:
1 tablespoon dried sweet pepper flakes
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 1/2 teaspoon 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

Combine ingredients. Store in a resealable plastic bag. Attach to jar and give with recipe for Seasoned Bean Soup. Yields about 3 cups dried bean mix and 1/4 cup seasoning mix.

Attach these instructions to the jar:

Seasoned Bean Soup

Dried Bean Mix
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans tomatoes
Seasoning Mix
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.

Yields about 10 cups soup.

Christmas Morning Pancakes

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Scoop into a quart jar, shaking down to fit it all in.

Attach the following recipe to a gift tag:

Christmas Morning Pancakes

Makes 12 medium pancakes.

3/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/3 cups Christmas Morning Pancake Mix

Heat a lightly greased griddle.

In a medium bowl, combine the milk, egg, and oil. Add 1- /3 cups pancake mix, and stir just until moistened. It should still be somewhat lumpy. Cook on the heated griddle or in a waffle iron.

Best if used within 6 months.

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies Mix In A Jar

1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 cup white chocolate or vanilla milk chips
1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

In a 1-quart wide-mouth jar, gently layer and pack ingredients in the order listed.

If there is any space left after adding the last ingredients, add more nuts or baking chips if desired.

Place lid on top. (For a decorative lid, cut an 8-inch circle of fabric, place over lid, secure with a rubber band, then tie with ribbon or raffia.)

Attach the following gift card to the jar:

White Chocolate-Macadamia Cookies

Empty contents of jar into medium bowl. Stir in 1 stick butter or margarine, melted, 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract. Mix until well combined. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on bakind sheets coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Tropical Treats Mix In A Jar

Layer the following in a quart-size jar, packing down well between layers:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup dried papaya, chopped
1/3 cup dried pineapple, chopped
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Attach the following recipe on a gift tag:

Tropical Treats

Heat oven to 350 degrees F; coat two cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

Empty contents of jar into a large bowl. Add 1 large egg, 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 8 ounce crushed pineapple in juice (undrained). Mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonsful about 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

Snickerdoodles Mix In A Jar

Snickerdoodles are soft German sugar cookies dusted with cinnamon and sugar.

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

In a large bowl, combine the ingredients with a whisk. Store the mix in an airtight container.

Attach these instructions to the jar:

Snickerdoodles

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 package Snickerdoodle Mix
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until light; add the eggs, and beat on low speed until the mixture is smooth. Add the Snickerdoodle Mix, and continue to beat on low speed until the dough begins to form.

Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar blend. Arrange on ungreased baking sheets 2 inches apart, and bake for 16 to 19 minutes or until light tan. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Apple Crisp In A Jar

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup chilled butter or margarine
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine all ingredients and seal in a zip-tope or vacuum seal bag (or jar). To give as gift, Place 2 cans apple pie filling in gift basket with the mix along with the following preparation instructions.

Apple Crisp

Spread 2 cans apple pie filling in a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle topping over apples. Bake at 400 degrees F for 19 to 21 minutes or until filling bubbles and topping is golden brown. Serve warm.

Apple Bread Mix In A Jar

1/2 cup nuts, chopped
1/2 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Layer ingredients in a wide-mouth 1-quart canning jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Attached the following instructions to a gift tag:

Apricot Bread

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease well a large loaf pan and place wax paper on the bottom.

In a large bowl, place the Apricot Bread mix. Make a well in the center. Mix 1 1/4 cups milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 slightly beaten eggs and 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine into dry mixture. Mix until completely blended. Spoon the batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack before removing.

Malted Hot Cocoa Mix

1 (25.6 ounce) box nonfat dry milk powder
6 cups miniature marshmallows
1 (16 ounce) container instant chocolate milk mix
1 (13 ounce) jar malted milk powder
1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 (6 ounce) jar powdered nondairy creamer
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well blended. Store in an airtight container. Keep in a cool place.

Makes about 20 cups or 10 gifts.

To serve: In mug, pour 6 ounces of hot water over 1/3 cup cocoa mix,  and stir until well blended.