giftideas

Snowballs In A Jar

From the kitchen of: Karol Ü

You will need a 1quart jar for this gift. Canning jars are a seasonal item at most stores so if you are unable to find them you can use a celophane bag, layer ingredients as instructed and tie with decorative bow, then attach tag.

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine confectioner's sugar and flour. Place into a 1 quart canning jar. Put chopped nuts on top. Put lid on jar and attach a tag with the following instructions:

Snow Balls, Makes 4 dozen. Preheat oven to 325º. Grease cookie sheets. Measure 1 cup confectioner's sugar in small bowl and set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together 3/4 cup shortening and 1/4 cup margarine. Stir in 2 tsp vanilla. Add entire contents of jar, and mix well. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place them on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and roll in confectioner's sugar. Cool and roll in confectioner's sugar again.

*Jar Mixes look nice with fabric circle on top of jar (cut circle of fabric 2 times bigger than size of lid). Tie piece of twine or ribbon around fabric to hold it on and attach tag to string.

Raisin Molasses Gems

From the kitchen of: Sheri Cumbie

My friend Sheri gave me this recipe when we got together to these for teacher gifts one year. They are delicious!

! cup sugar

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup raisins

Mix all ingredients and pour into 1 quart jar. Put lid on jar and attach tag with following directions:

Raisin Molasses Gems, Makes 3 dozen. Preheat oven to 350º. In medium bowl, beat together 3/4 shortening or butter, 1 cup molasses, and 1 egg. Next add contents of jar and mix well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

*Since molasses isn't an ingredient most people have in the pantry, it would be nice to include this jar mix in a basket with a small jar of molasses and a wooden spoon.

Munchy Crunchy Cookies

From the kitchen of: allrecipes.com submitted by: Jo Johnson

These look great because there are several ingredients with different colors and textures. Even the name sounds fun! Ü

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup cornflakes cereal

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup rolled oats

In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Pour into jar and add the remaining ingredients in the following order, packing down after adding each ingredient: sugar, brown sugar, cornflakes, coconut, chocolate chips, oatmeal. Decorate jar and attach tag with following directions:

Munch Crunchy Cookies, makes approx. 2 dozen cookies. Preheat oven to 350º. In a large bowl stir together 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 egg, and 1/4 tsp vanilla. Add entire contents of jar and mix well. Roll dough in 2 inch balls, place on cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

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Cider Spice Bundle

From the kitchen of: Karol Ü

This smells so good to make and when the recipient enjoys it! Makes a great teacher or neighbor gift.

6 whole cloves

6 whole allspice berries

1 tsp dried orange rind

1 cinnamon stick, crushed

Cut two 4-inch squares cheesecloth, place or top of each other or you can use 1 coffee filter instead of cheesecloth. Place cloves, allspice berries, orange rind and cinnamon on top. Gather and tie into bundle with string. Place bundle in jar or mug. Makes 1 bundle, enough for 2 cups. Include tag with following instructions:

Spicy Apple Cider: Pour 2 cups cider or apple juice in saucepan or microwaveable container. Place Cider Spice Bundle in cider. Heat just until boiling. Serve hot.

Hot Chocolate Mix

From the kitchen of: Karol Ü

I make these almost every year. This is great to give as a teacher gift along with a cookie mix jar. I keep a few extra jars of this around for quick gifts for someone I forgot to put on my list or I think of at the last minute.

2 cups skim-milk powder

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

2 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips (you can substitute for white chocolate chips if desired)

Set sieve over large bowl; pour in skim milk powder, sugar cocoa, and cinnamon. Stir to combine until mixtures passes through sieve. Stir in mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. Spoon mixture into jars. Cover with lids. Mixture can be stored at room temp. up to 1 month. Makes 5 cups mix. Add a tag with the following instructions:

Hot Chocolate Mix: Add 1/4 cup to mug of very hot milk and stir well.

Cappuccino Mocha Mix

From the kitchen of: Karol Ü

I LOVE cappuccino! This can be given in a small airtight container or a celophane bag with ribbon and tag.

6 Tbsp plus 2 tsp instant espresso coffee powder

3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa

1-1/4 cups powdered non-dairy creamer, plain or Irish cream

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar

2 tsp ground cinnnamon

In a medium bowl, stir together espresso coffee powder, cocoa, non-dairy creamer, sugar and cinnamon. Store tightly covered. Makes 2 1/2 cups of mix; enough for 10 servings. Attach a gift tag or label with the following:

Cappuccino Mocha Mix: For each cup of cappuccino, measure 4 Tbsp mix into a coffee mug and stir in 6 oz. boiling water.

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