HELPFUL HINTS: Stock your pantry with gift mixes for the many people in your life or those unexpected guests to your home. You can use clear canisters, plastic zip bags, or any other sealable container. Package seasonings in small jars or bags. Or, make fabric bags and place the sealed plastic bags with dry ingredients into the fabric bags. These are a good idea for spiced drinks, coffees and cocoas. All recipes include directions. To make your own 7″ wide Ziploc bag topper, see directions at bottom of this page.

CHRISTMAS CINNAMON COFFEE MIX
1 cup powdered creamer
1 cup instant coffee
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Place ingredients in large bowl and blend with whisk.
Place in a suitable mix container.
Gift Tag: To serve: mix 2 Tbsp. Mix with 1 cup boiling water.

CHRISTMAS CAPPUCCINO MIX
2 1/2 c. instant chocolate drink mix
8 c. dry milk
2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. instant coffee granules
8 oz. Jar French vanilla flavored non-dairy creamer

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, then store in an airtight container.
Gift Tag: To make per cup: Combine 1/4 to 1/3 cup cappuccino mix and 6-8 oz. Hot water. Stir to blend.

COOKIE MIX IN A JAR
Makes 36 cookies.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
1 (1.5 ounce) bar milk chocolate
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda with a wire whisk. Pour into jar, pack down level with heavy object. Mix oatmeal in a blender. Grate chocolate bar and stir into the oatmeal. Pack on top of flour in jar. Add white sugar and pack down. Add brown sugar and pack down. Layer chopped nuts on top of brown sugar. Finish layering jar with mini or regular chocolate chips until even with the top (no more than 1/2 cup). NOTE: Use a funnel that has a 2-inch opening, to layer nicely in jar.

Instructions for gift card: Preheat oven to 375°. Spoon chocolate chips and nuts into small bowl, set aside. Spoon brown and white sugar into a mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup margarine or butter, cream well. Add 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, mix well. Pour oatmeal and flour mixture from jar into bowl, mix thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Roll into walnut size balls, place on slightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 min.

In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In 1-quart glass jar with tight-fitting resealable lid, layer flour mixture, walnuts, 1/2 cup M&Ms, raisins, brown sugar, remaining 1/2 cup M&Ms and oats. Seal jar, wrap decoratively.

Gift instructions:Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease cookie sheets; set aside. In large bowl beat 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) softened butter, 1 large egg and ¾ tsp. vanilla extract until well blended. Stir in contents of jar until well blended. Drop by heaping teaspoons. About 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 9 to 11 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

CHIVE AND GARLIC DIP MIX
4 tsp. dried chives
2 tsp. minced onion
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. celery seed
pinch of pepper

Combine the above ingredients and stir until well blended.
Place in bag and seal. Attach directions (below) to top of bag.

Chive & Garlic Dip
1 pkg. Chive & Garlic Dip Mix
3 c. light sour cream

Combine the Chive & Garlic Dip Mix with the sour cream. Stir until well blended. Cover and refrigerate. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve with chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

DILL DIP MIX
2 1/2 tsp. Dried dill weed
2 1/2 tsp. Minced onion
2 ½ tsp. Dried parsley
1 1/2 tsp. Spice Islands Seasoning

Combine the above ingredients and stir until well blended. Place in bag and seal.
Attach directions (below) to top of bag.

Dill Dip
1 pkg. Dill Dip Mix
1 c. light mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 c. sour cream or low-fat yogurt

Combine the Dill Dip Mix with the mayonnaise and sour cream. Stir until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables or as a topping for baked potatoes.

ONION DIP MIX
4 tsp. Beef bouillon granules
2 T. minced onion
1/8 tsp. Garlic powder
1 tsp. Dried chives
1 tsp. Dried parsley
1/2 tsp. Powdered onion

Combine the above ingredients and stir until well blended. Place in bag and seal.
Attach directions (below) to top of bag.

Onion Dip Directions
1 pkg. Onion Dip Mix
2 c. sour cream

Combine the Onion Dip Mix with the sour cream. Stir until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve with chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

FIESTA DIP MIX
1 T. chili powder
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. Sugar
1/2 tsp. PLUS 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. PLUS 1/8 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. PLUS 1/8 tsp. dried cilantro
1/8 heaping tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 heaping tsp. pepper
1/8 heaping tsp. salt

Combine the above ingredients and stir until well blended. Place in bag and seal.
Attach directions (below) to top of bag.

Fiesta Dip Directions
1 pkg. Mexican Fiesta Dip Mix
1 c. mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 c. sour cream

Combine the Mexican Fiesta Dip Mix with the mayonnaise and sour cream. Stir until well blended. Cover and refrigerate. Dip is better if made 8 hours before serving. Serve with chips, crackers or fresh vegetables.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP MIX
Place below ingredients into airtight jar:
1 cup uncooked fine egg noodles
1 1/2 Tbsp chicken-flavored bouillon
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp dried whole thyme
1/8 tsp celery seeds
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 bay leaf

Chicken Noodle Soup Directions
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

Dump 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. Serve and enjoy!

SPICED CRANBERRY CIDER MIX
Place ingredients below into an airtight jar:
1/2 cup dried cranberries
12 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp crushed whole cloves
1 Tbsp whole allspice

To the jar, attach this recipe:

Spiced Cranberry Cider Directions
Serves 12-14
2 quarts apple cider
1 quart water
Contents of cider mix from jar
2 oranges, sliced

In a large saucepan combine the cider, water and cider mix from the jar. Heat thoroughly. Add most of the orange slices. Serve warm, garnished with remaining orange slices.

CRANBERRY BISCOTTI MIX IN A JAR
Layer in a quart jar in this order:
3/4 c. dries cranberries or cherries
3/4 c. chopped pecans
2 C. flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 t. baking powder
2/3 c. sugar

Attach a recipe card with these instructions:
Add 1/3 C. butter to a mixing bowl. Add 2 eggs and beat until well combined. Stir in ingredients from the jar. Mix well. Divide into 2 loaves. Each loaf should be 9 inches long and 2 inches wide. Bake at 375°. for 25 - 30 minutes. Cool for 1 hour. Cut each loaf into 1/2 inch thick slices using a bread knife. Place slices on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 8 minutes, turn them over and bake for 8 - 10 minutes until crisp and dry. Cool on a wire rack.  Makes 32 cookies.

INSTANT MOCHA MIX
3 cups powdered chocolate milk mix
1 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 1/2 cups instant coffee
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup sugar or Splenda

Mix all ingredients together.  Store in an airtight container.

Attach to Gift: To enjoy a warm, soothing cup of mocha, add 2-3 heaping teaspoons of mixture to a mug of boiling water.

MUG CAKES
Use any flavor cake mix and complimentary flavor of pudding mix. For the glaze, use a complimentary flavor of powdered mix, such as lemonade for lemon, cocoa for chocolate, etc. Buy holiday, microwave-safe coffee mugs which hold 1 1/2 cups water.  (Chocolate cake shown.)

1 (18.5 oz.) box yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding mix
2 2/3 C. confectioners’ sugar
1/4 C. powdered lemonade mix
8 coffee mugs

Place dry cake mix and dry pudding mix into a large bowl and blend well with a whisk. This will be about 4 to 4 1/2 cups of dry mix and will make 8 mug cake mixes. Divide mixture into 8 small plastic bags (about 1/2 cup each). Place mixture into a corner of each bag and tie it there with a twist tie.

Make glaze mix: In a medium bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar with powdered flavoring mix.

Divide into 8 small plastic bags and close bag with a twist tie. Attach each glaze mix to the cake mix bags with a twist tie. Place one of each bag into each cup.

Attach the following instructions to each cup:
Generously spray inside of mug with cooking spray. Empty contents of cake mix packet into cup. Add 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon water to dry mix. Mix 15 seconds, carefully mixing in all dry mix. Microwave on full power for 2 minutes.

While cake is cooking, place ingredients from Glaze mix into a very small container and add 1 1/2 teaspoons water. Mix well. When cake is done, pour glaze over cake in cup.  Enjoy warm.

DIRECTIONS TO MAKE A 7″ ZIPLOC TOPPER
similar to the one below.

Cut a 7″ (or 6 1/2″ depending on the width of bags you use) x 3″ out of cardstock
(your choice of color). Fold in half lengthwise and decorate.
Using stickers, colored pens, and your imagination, fill in the information.
Just remember to invert one side of the card.
With card folded in half, slip over top of Ziploc bag and tape or staple in place.