Gifts from the Kitchen

It’s holiday time and everyone’s favorite time of year to give and receive gifts.

This year why not make your family’s gifts? These recipes are simple enough for older ones to do on their own, younger kids with a little help for mom or dad or even better for the whole family to do together.

Cake in a Coffee Cup

This is a perfect gift for your favorite teacher. Start with a pretty mug and choose your flavor.

You will need:

·        1 cake mix any flavor

·        1 small box of instant pudding mix you choose the flavor

·        sandwich baggies

·        large coffee mugs

Put the cake mix and pudding mix into a large bowl and stir well. This will make about 8-9 coffee cup cake mixes. Place 1/2 cup dry mix into a sandwich bag. Tie shut with a pretty ribbon.

Icing mix:

·        1/3 cup powdered sugar

·        1 1/2 teaspoon dry flavoring (such as powdered lemonade mix, powdered orange breakfast drink mix, cocoa powder)

·        Vanilla powder (sold by coffee flavorings)

·        coconut, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips

Select the flavoring. Place the glaze mix ingredients into another baggie and tie into corner of bag.  If you are going to include sprinkles or coconut wrap that separately with a note to sprinkle on top when done.
Place one baggie cake mix and one baggie glaze mix in each coffee cup. Now attach the following baking instructions to each coffee cup.

Directions:
Bake your cake in a coffee cup. Generously spray inside of coffee cup with cooking spray. Empty contents of cake mix baggie into the cup. Add 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon water to dry mix. Mix 15 seconds, carefully mixing in all the dry mix. Microwave on high power 2 minutes. While cake is cooking, make the glaze. Mix the glaze packet with 1 1/2 teaspoon of water. Mix well. When cake is done, pour glaze over cake in cup. Enjoy while warm.

NOTE: low wattage microwaves may not bake right.

M & M Cookie Mix in a Jar

·        1 1/4 cups sugar

·        1 1/4 cups M&M candies

·        2 cups flour

Layer ingredients in the order they are above in a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. It will be a tight fit, make sure you firmly pack down each layer in place before adding
the flour.
Attach these instructions to the jar:
Empty cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly blend mix.
Add:
1 stick margarine or butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix until completely blended. You will need to finish mixing with your hands. Shape into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined or lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are slightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to finish cooling. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Snowman Soup
You will need:

• 1 package Hot Chocolate Mix
• 3 Hershey Kisses or Hershey Hugs
• 10 miniature marshmallows
• 1 peppermint Candy Cane

Place all the ingredients into a new mug, then cover or wrap with cellophane, fabric, or decorate the mug how you like. Attach the following poem:
Was told you've been real good this year
Always glad to hear it
With freezing weather drawing near
You'll need to warm the spirit
So here's a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow
It's sure to do the trick!
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Alphabet Soup in a Jar

Ingredients:

• 2 packets of Lipton Onion Soup (1 box)
• 1/2 cup dried split peas
• 1/2 cup alphabet pasta
• 1/2 cup shell pasta
• 1/2 cup small colored pasta
• 1/4 cups dried lentils

Directions
Combine all the above ingredients in a bag and shake well to mix. Pour into a jar.
Attach these directions to the jar-

In a large kettle, add 7 cups of cold water, 1/2 pound of uncooked hamburger and dry mix. Stir to blend. Bring to a slow boil and immediately reduce temperature to simmer (low temperature) until the pasta is cooked.

Some recipes courtesy of RecipeUsa