Kitchen Gifts

Christmas will be here before we know it and it's always been a tradition for me to give gifts from my kitchen each year to family and friends. My favorite things to put together are jar mixes. The idea first came to me years ago when I saw a recipe for Brownies-in-a-jar in a magazine. After that, each year I came up with a new jar mix to give. In the past, I have given soup mixes, cookie mixes, trail mix, and my favorite, home made hot chocolate mix that I have to my co-workers a few years ago. I even get asked each Christmas for more of that one.

Presentation is important. I like putting together gifts baskets with the jar mix being the focal point of the basket. One year, I have a basket with M&M Cookie Mix in a jar, an oven mitt, and a box of herbal tea with a cup. I also always cut a circle from holiday fabric with pinking shears to put under the ring of the jar to make it a little more colorful.

Most mixes work best in a quart size canning jar, but depending on the mix, smaller jars might work better. For instance, this year I will be making a flavored coffee creamer for someone and I will put that in a small bottle that I found at the Dollar Tree store. I stored the hot chocolate mix in a small canister type jar I found at Big Lots. I made a card on the computer with mixing instructions and attached it to the jar with a pretty ribbon.

In addition to the coffee creamer, I am mixing up something new for Christmas this year. What is it? Well, that's going to have to wait because I don't want my family and friends reading about their gift on here ahead of time.

Below is the recipe for my hot chocolate mix that everyone loved. It makes a very large batch to divide into several jars. Attach a bag of mini marshmallows and it makes a great gift. Happy Holidays.

Hot Chocolate Mix

8-quart box of powdered milk
1 15 oz. can chocolate milk mix
1 6 oz. jar plain coffee creamer
2 cups powdered sugar
1 bag mini marshmallows

Mix the first four ingredients together in a large bowl and store in individual jars. Attach a small bag of mini marshmallows and a card with the following instructions: Add 4 1/2 tablespoons of mix to a mug of hot water and enjoy.