C is for cookie!

Heyo-the DIY Diva here with two cute and crafty gift ideas that cost under $5 each if you make them in bulk.

I don’t know about all y’all – but, being broke I’m obsessed with food.  Having it, getting it, eating it, wondering if I’m going to go without.  One of the most considerate gifts I think you can give is something that a person needs or wants — and, if you’re broke and hungry — you want foodstuffs.  (Even if it’s a treat like cookies that you can’t make a meal out of.)

A great gift is to package all or most the ingredients needed for something yummy to eat in an attractive way, including the recipe: here are two options for you – one a healthy meal, one a desert treat.  These gifts cost less than $5 each if you make more than 10 (and, Mason jars come in packs of 10 or 20, so there you go!)

What you need to make this into a gift:
-Mason jars with lids
-Squares of holiday themed fabric
-Ribbon (gross grain works best)
-A marker or felt tip pen
-Labels you can write on

How to:
-Place the ingredients in layers into the jar.
-Seal the jar with the lid so it’s airtight.
-Cover the lid with fabric and tie a ribbon around it to secure.
-Write the instructions to complete the recipe onto the label and place on the jar.
-Voila! A thoughtful, cheap gift you can give to friends, neighbors, co-workers and the like.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (firmly packed) light brown sugar
12 oz. semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup (firmly packed) light brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar

Attach these instructions to the jar:

Baking instructions:
In a large bowl, beat 2 eggs, 1 cup of butter or margarine, and 1 tsp. of vanilla. Stir in contents of jar until blended. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets, and bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Soup Mix:
1 cup uncooked fine egg noodles
1 1/2 tablespoons chicken-flavored bouillon
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried whole thyme
1/8 teaspoon celery seeds
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 bay leaf

Attach this recipe to the jar:
Chicken Noodle Soup:
Entire contents of soup mix from the jar
8 cups water
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup minced onion
3 cups cooked diced chicken

Empty the soup mix from the jar and the water into a large stockpot. Add the carrots, celery, and onion and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the chicken and simmer an additional 5 minutes.

Enjoy!  Back next week with my roundup of my favorite handmade and crafted gifts for this holiday season.

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Tags: cookies, DIY gifts, gifts in a jar, Recipes, soup