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We’re going to make “gifts in a jar” today. I think these are really nice gifts to give to daycare providers, school teachers, Sunday school teachers or just someone who likes to cook and bake. It’s kind of a sneaky way to have someone finish what you started. It’s kind of putzy so get someone to help in this project, like your teenagers, mom or best friends. That’s it for talk today. We have to get busy and get these gifts made.

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Let’s start with . . .

CRANBERRY

HOOTYCREEKS MIX

1/2 c. plus 2 T flour

1/2 c. old fashioned oats

1/2 c. flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/3 c. brown sugar

1/3 c. white sugar

1/2 c. dried cranberries (Craisins)

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped pecans

Layer ingredients in order given into a wide-mouth one quart canning jar.

Pack each layer into place before adding the next ingredient.

Attach a gift tag with the following mixing and baking directions:

CRANBERRY HOOTYCREEKS

1 jar hootycreeks mix

1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

In large bowl, cream butter, egg and vanilla. Add Hootycreek mix and mix together by hand until mixture is well-blended.

Drop by heaping tablespoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees or until edges start to brown. Cool on wire racks. Makes 1-1/2-2 dozen.

NOTE: At times it may seem impossible to make all the ingredients fit in the jar, but be persistent, they do all fit. Be sure to attach a gift tag with mixing and baking instructions.

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This is a great jar gift for a snacker–-college, school kids or anyone!

BLIZZARD BITES MIX

1 c. bite size square rice cereal

3/4 c. broken mini twist pretzels

1/2 c. coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

1/2 c. coarsely chopped dried pineapple

1/2 c. dried cranberries (craisins)

1/2 c. white baking chips (placed in a sandwich baggie––not the zipper type)

*Use same instructions as in Hootycreek mix.

BLIZZARD BITES

1 jar Blizzard Bites mix

Remove white baking chips from jar and set aside.

Put rest of contents into a medium bowl, stirring to combine.

Put white chips in a saucepan and melt over low heat. Pour melted chips over snack mixture. Stir till mixture is evenly coated. Spread in a single layer on waxed paper to harden. Store in airtight container. Makes 4 cups snacks.

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I think I’m stuck on gifts with cranberries in them, but this is so-o-o good!

CRANBERRY BISCOTTI MIX

3/4 c. dried cranberries (craisins)

3/4 c. pecans

2 c. flour

1/2 t. cinnamon

2 t. baking powder

2/3 c. sugar

*Use same instructions as in Hootycreek Mix.

CRANBERRY BISCOTTI MIX

1 jar Biscotti mix

1/3 c. butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

In large bowl cream butter and eggs.

Add biscotti mix; stir just till mixture is combined.

Divide dough into two loaves, chilling if necessary to make dough easier to handle, and put on greased cookie sheets. (Each loaf should be about 9-inches long and 2-inches wide.)

Bake at 375 degrees, 25-30 minutes or till toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool one hour.

Turn oven temp down to 325 degrees. Cut each loaf diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices using a serrated or very sharp knife. Put slices on ungreased cookie sheet, not touching. Bake 10 minutes; turn and bake 8-10 minutes more or until dry and crisp.

Put on wire racks to cool.

NOTE: These are great for “dunking.” Include with the jar a couple tea or coffee bags (flavored tea or coffee is nice). Makes 2-1/2 to 3 dozen.

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To decorate wide-mouth jars, cut festive pattern fabric in 9-inch diameter circles. (Use a pinking shear if you have one.) Place over jar, then screw down the jar ring to hold fabric in place or hold fabric with a ribbon, raffia, twine, yarn, lace or crinkle ribbon (first hold the fabric with a binder before typing). Punch a hole in the corner of a tag that has mixing instructions on it and tie it to the jar.

These gift jars should keep up to six months if unopened. If mix contains nuts, use within three months.

More kitchen gifts next week!

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Thought for the day: One of the nice things about Christmas is that you can make people forget the past with a present!

May your Christmas celebration be filled with faith, hope and love . . . the greatest of these is love.

Alice

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