Thanksgiving Day dawned bright and beautiful and just begged for people to be outdoors as well as indoors, with the weather being just cool enough for a light jacket or sweater, and many family members did just that.
My son got his large turkey-fryer out and soon had everything set up to begin cooking a turkey while the ladies were inside getting ham and dressing into the oven to heat and tables set up so everyone had a place to sit as we visited and compared notes.
It is always an interesting time for me, as we never have “just family” for a Thanksgiving Day at their home, it has always been family, extended family (from both sides), and basically anyone who decided they wanted to be with us. One year, we had Military members with us, and even though, technically, we were a little ways out of the distance allowed, (at that time, it was thirty miles from the base), since a family member was stationed in San Antonio, it was allowed, and we had an interesting and fun day.
This year, we were family members, and a couple of friends but we were missing several family members due their being with their spouses’ family. However, we still had another great and memorable day, sitting around the table playing games after the meal and dessert! This has become a tradition with this group and the amount of game players and the games change from year to year. All I can say is “Thank you, Lord for another great Thanksgiving with my family”.
Well, everyone, since Thanksgiving is over and done with, most of the leftovers eaten, and our memories made, the so-called Black Friday, (which to me, started early and was followed by Cyber Monday), with shops opening at all hours beginning on Thanksgiving Day, is over as well, and you either were up until all hours shopping, or like me, didn’t even bother to go, maybe it’s time to think about making some Christmas gifts.
I have been getting requests for recipes, and it seems as if everyone is ready to begin baking and gift making! This week, we’re going to do recipes for ‘gifts in jars’. One of the most important things to remember is to attach a tag with the instructions for using the mix! A pint jar will take a 6½-inch round of fabric to cover the top and a quart jar will require one that is 8 to 8½-inches in diameter. Tie on with ribbon or raffia and attach tag with instructions for making the ‘gift in a jar’.
Also, it is very important, not only with these recipes, but with others you may find in a magazine or newspaper, to add up the amount of ingredients and see what size container you need. Several times, I have found recipes that called for a quart jar, however on reading the recipe, found that the dry ingredients totaled more than that. Check for containers with tight fitting lids at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and Michael’s to fill your needs. Just be sure it has an opening wide enough for you to spoon the ingredients into the container.
Brown and White Krispies Cookie Mix
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup crisped rice cereal (i.e. Rice Krispies, or a store brand of crisped rice cereal)
½ cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
½ cup quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)
To prepare mix: Stir together flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Pour into wide-mouth, 1-quart jar. Tap on counter, then press firmly into place. Add layers of semi-sweet chocolate chips, sugar, rice cereal, brown sugar, white chocolate chips and oatmeal, pressing each layer into place. Close jar tightly.
Additional ingredients needed to make cookies:
½ cup softened butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons water
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Pour ingredients from jar into a bowl; stir to combine. In another bowl, beat butter until fluffy, add beaten egg and the water; beat to combine. Add dry ingredients; beat at lowest speed with electric mixer or with wooden spoon until well combined. Form dough into 1-inch balls; place 2-inches apart on cookie sheets and bake 10 to 12 minutes in pre-heated oven, or until light brown. Allow to cool 5 minutes on baking sheet, and then remove to wire rack to cool completely before storing.
Sugar Cookies in a Jar
(For this recipe, you will probably need some type of decorative jar with a tight fitting lid as it contains over 5½ cups of ingredients)
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
11/2 cups sugar
Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. In a clean glass jar, with a wide mouth, layer the sugar followed by the flour mixture. Press firmly in place and seal.
(Put the following on the gift tag).
Additional ingredients needed to make cookies:
1 cup softened butter
1 egg
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
In a large bowl, beat the butter and egg until light and fluffy. At low speed of an electric mixer, add the sour cream and vanilla. Mix together and then add the contents of the jar. Mix until combined, using the mixer on low speed or a large spoon. Cover dough and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove dough from the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Roll chilled dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thick. Cut dough into desired shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 2-dozen cookies.
M&M® Cookie Mix-in-a Jar
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1/2teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 cup M&M’s® Chocolate Mini Baking Bits, (divided use)
¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1¼ cups uncooked quick oats (not instant)
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In 1-quart clear glass jar with tight-fitting, resealable lid, layer flour mixture, walnuts, ½ cup M&M”s®, brown sugar, remaining M&M’s® and oats. Seal jar; wrap decoratively.
(Information for gift tag).
Additional ingredients needed for cookies:
1½ sticks butter
1 large egg
¾ teaspoon vanilla
Beat together until well blended. Stir in contents of jar until well blended. Roll into 1-inch balls and place about 2-inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container.
Spicy Popcorn Seasoning Mix
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2½ teaspoons onion powder
3 tablespoons paprika
1 to 2 teaspoons ground Cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg.
Place all ingredients in small bowl with tight-fitting lid. Place lid on bowl and shake to mix ingredients. Allow to set for a couple of minutes until the dust settles. Makes about 7 to 8 tablespoons of mix. To give for gift, measure out 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls and place in small plastic bags. Add a couple of bags of microwave popcorn, place in a bag and you have a cute, inexpensive gift.
Directions for use:
Microwave one bag of popcorn according to directions on bag. Open bag carefully, sprinkle ½ to 1 teaspoon seasoning mix (more if you can handle the heat), over the popcorn. Hold top of bag closed and shake to mix with popcorn.