Basics about jar mix recipes

[carnation037]

This is a little help for those that may not have made any jar mix recipes and would like to try their hand at it.
Enjoy.

[carnation037]

What are Jar Mix/Gift Jars?

Jar Mix/Gift Jars are decorated canning jars with the dry ingredients of a recipe packed in the jar and with a recipe tag with the wet ingredients need to make it, and the instructions, attached to the jar.
These are good for any occasion or no occasion. Holidays, birthdays, baby showers, hard to buy for, welcome gifts, etc.
Gift Jars may also be sold at Craft Fairs, Baazars, and as an excellent way of fund raising or just to bring in a little extra income.

[carnation037]

Decorating the jars

- for the lid part:
Cut out a 7 - 8" (across) circle.
Place canning jar lid in center of fabric and put the ring around the lid to securely fasten the material in place.
You might want to add cotton balls underneath the fabric to give it a quilt look.
Try different fabrics for different themes. Use gingham, plaids, holiday decorated fabric, or even bandanas. Be creative! Personalizing makes the gifts even more special for the person receiving it.
Or use the cinnamon ornament recipe; it is great for holiday themes.
Cinnamon Ornament Recipe:
1 cup apple sauce
1 ounce ground cloves
1 ounce cinnamon
1 ounce ginger
1 ounce nutmeg
cinnamon for dusting
Combine all the ingredients together to make the dough.
Roll on a surface dusted with cinnamon.
Cut out whatever shapes with whatever you have to use, plain round or shaped cookie cutters.
Lay the ornament(s) flat to dry for a couple of days, turning every 10 - 12 hours until dry.
Decorate with painting. Then glue to the lid using a glue gun.

- for the gift tags + recipe tags:
You could print your own design from your computer onto cardstock or recipe cards.
Or, print out the recipes on your computer and use cookie cutters to make a drawing around the recipe and cut it out.
There are so many different cookie cutter shapes out now.
Or you could write the directions on the recipe tag by hand.
Punch a hole in top corner of the tag.
If desired, you can tape or use reinforcements on the hole, to keep it from tearing.
Add a ribbon or string to the card and attach to the jar.
Also, you can include the whole recipe on the gift tag, in case the person receiving your gift wants to make the recipe again
or want to make it as a gift to give to someone else.

- A decorative ribbon would dress up the whole thing. It holds the recipe tag on the jar and adds a decorative touch.
Use 2 or 3 feet of ribbon that coordinates with your fabric. Put the ribbon through hole on the recipe tag and tie it around the jar ring on the lid. You could even make a bow and glue it on if needed.
Try using raffia in place of ribbon.

- Attach objects such as cookie cutters, wooden spoons, measuring spoons, utensils, a mini rolling pin, bells, hot sauces with spicy recipes, crackers in a plastic bag attached to jar for soup recipes, store bought ornaments or homemade ornaments.
Use what you think would go with the jar.
Use the recipe for the cinnamon ornaments and poke a hole in top of dough with a straw before drying so you can attach ribbon or string for fastening to the jar.

- Decorate the jar itself. Use stencils or patterns. Non toxic paint from craft stores, decals, stickers are some ideas for decorating your jars. Place your name on sticker papers and put on the jars; "Made by Jane Doe."

- Make figures with the jars, such as snowmen, animals, people, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, etc. Try painting jolly faces on the jars and make the lid into a hat.

[carnation037]

Filling the jars

- Be sure to pack the ingredients tightly when adding to the jar, especialy brown sugar. (Try crumbling the brown sugar to give it an even texture before packing into jar. Recipes with brown sugar should be used within weeks of making because the sugar will turn rock hard the longer it sits. If this happens, you may have to pick at it to remove it from the jar.)

- When adding ingredients such as nuts, candy, etc. it is best to place under the brown sugar in the jar.
Flour and sugar seep through, so nuts and candies should be on top of flour or white sugar.
You can put the flour and sugar on top of brown sugar if both sugars are in the recipe.

- Pack contrasting colors together, the layers will look nicer.

- Wipe the inside of the jar after adding ingredients like cocoa, brown sugar, etc. Be sure to do this before adding the next ingredient so you don't get a smeared look on the outside.

- Use a hammer or mallet to help pack the ingredients into the jar firmly. Persistent tapping with a towel will help the ingredients to pack firmly. You can even cut a jar gripper to size and place in the jar before tapping to help pack down the ingredients; be sure to wipe the gripper before the next addition.

- Always use clean jars and let them dry completely before using.
A dishwasher dryer or hair dryer can speed up the drying process if you are in a hurry.

- Use a funnel to help pour most of the ingredients into the jar.

- Use colored coordianted candy for holiday themes, such as pastel M&M's for Easter or babyshowers, or red and green M&M's for Christmas.

- Use wide mouth, 1 quart canning jars for most recipes.
Some recipes require bigger jars, and others will only need a smaller jars.

Or you can use clear cannisters, plastic zip bags, or any other sealable container.
Seasonings can be made in small jars or bags.
You can also make fabric bags and place the sealed plastic bags with the dry ingredients into the fabric bags.
The fabric bag is a good idea for spiced drinks, coffees and cocoas.

- Be sure to follow the recipe's directions.
Some jar recipes may need to be refrigerated.

- How much will fit into jar?
Approximately 4 cups fit into a 1 quart, wide mouth canning jar.
Brown sugar compacts well, so recipes with brown sugar can fit more into a jar.

- If there is any space left after adding all ingredients, you can add more candy, nuts, chocolate chips, etc. Any that are included in the recipe, to fill up the space.

* These dry mixes can be made ahead, but for no longer than 3 months; and if your jar mix includes nuts, the recipe should be used no later than 3 months.
You do not have to keep these dry mixes in the refrigerator unless the recipe states to do it.

There are so many different recipes for these. And who knows, maybe you will come up with one of your own.

[Earthly]

this has been moved to sub category "Sites with Jar/ Gift Recipes"



Wanted to share this amazing site with you...

[carnation037]

from jephay
« Thread started on: May 29th, 2003, 01:39am » <br>
preparing the jars

hi! I'm new in this forum and i was just wondering how do you
guys prepare the jars before putting your homemade mixes.
It's my first time trying to do this and I want to do it right.

Thanks in advance...

"Food is not about impressing people.
It's about making them feel comfortable."

[carnation037]

carnation037
« Reply #1 on: Mar 21st, 2004, 8:09pm » <br>Re: preparing the jars

The jars, lids, seals should be clean,
just as you do with your everyday dishes.

If you want to decorate them first before
filling you may...paint, put piece of material
with a ribbon, make labels "from Jephay's Kitchen"
and stick on, or make the recipe cards with
from Jephay's Kitchen at the top and the
recipe underneath....let your imagination be
your guide.

[carnation037]

moving up