It is always nice getting presents for Christmas, but what is more exciting than receiving is giving, and what a better way to give than by making something. The real spirit of Christmas is about giving of yourself in time and spirit, and making gifts from the kitchen is a perfect way to send those you love a message of good tidings and cheer.
For the past 20 + years my kitchens have seen a variety of foodie and scratch made edible gifts ranging from home made smoked meats and sausages, beef jerky, meringue mushroom cookies, chocolate bouchettes de noel (miniature yule logs), corn flake and red hots wreath cookies, sugar cookies, pecan pralines, divinity, sugar and spiced pecans, spice mixes, gourmet ingredient gift baskets, bourbon chocolate pecan pies, and many others I cannot recall.
This year I decided to put together some of my spice mixes and give those away, and I also put together a bean soup in a jar with recipe too! With our family focused on high fiber dieting now a bean soup would be the perfect gift from the heart and soul and to the stomach with love. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, well I can say the way to a woman’s heart is the same, and it was fun making the jars too. So here is how I put the “Six Bean Soup” jars together and the associated recipe card too!
Six Bean Soup
This recipe makes 6 each 3-cup canisters but you can modify the amount based on the size of the mason jar or canister.
Ingredients |
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| 2 | Lb. | Black beans | |
| 1 | Lb. | Navy beans | |
| 1 | Lb. | Red Kidney beans | |
| 1 | Lb. | Green split peas | |
| 1 | Lb. | Great Northern beans | |
| 1 | Lb. | Pinto beans | |
| Spice Packet Ingredients (Individual bag portion measure) | |||
| 6 | Tbsp | Beef bouillon powder (1 Tbsp) | |
| 6 | Tbsp | Italian Seasoning (1 Tbsp) | |
| 18 | Tbsp | Chives, dried (3 Tbsp) | |
| 6 | Tsp. | Salt (1 Tsp) | |
| 3 | Tsp | Cumin (1/2 Tsp) | |
| 3 | Tsp | Black Pepper (1/2 Tsp) | |
| 6 | Each | Bay leaves (1 each) | |
Preparation Steps |
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| 1. | Layer the beans in order evenly between the jars, start with one pound of black beans, then layer in the Navy, Red, Split Pea, Great Northern, Pinto, and finish with the other pound of black beans on top. | ||
| 2. | Fill 6 small plastic bags with the spices and seal then top each jar with the enclosed bag. | ||
| 3. | Seal each jar and wrap for the holiday theme. | ||
The accompanying recipe card is in the image below, feel free to write up your own version, I have the recipient add 2 cups of onions and 2 cups of celery in addition to a can of stewed tomatoes. You could add a couple cups carrots to other vegetable to your recipe to make it your own!
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| Recipe Card Directions | |
| 1. | Soak beans over-night or 3 hours before serving sort and rinse beans with cool water then in a stock pot cover with 9 cups water and bring to a boil for 3 minutes. |
| 2. | Drain beans and rinse beans and return to stock pot and cover with 6 cups water. Add 2 cups onions chopped and 2 cups celery chopped and bring to a boil. |
| 3. | Reduce heat to a simmer and add the seasoning packet and continue to simmer until beans are tender or about one and a half to two hours. |
| 4. | Add one 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes with liquid and simmer another 15 minutes. |
| 5. | Serves 6 to 8 generous portions. |
21 responses so far ↓
1 BeFoodie // Dec 15, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Awww that’s such a cute idea! Love it!
2 sweetsfoods // Dec 15, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Hi Ryan!
Excellent recipe and post ideal for these days!
Thanks for sharing!
Gera .:. sweetsfoods
3 miniature pecan pies | Digg hot tags // Dec 19, 2008 at 8:41 pm
[…] Vote Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen […]
4 Jessie // Nov 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm
great gift idea!
5 Trix // Nov 27, 2009 at 2:30 pm
What a great present! I totally agree with you – putting time and love into a gift is the best.
6 Noelle // Nov 27, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Such a GREAT idea. I love giving food gifts to people.
7 ninni // Nov 27, 2009 at 4:41 pm
wow…GREAT idea!!!I think i will use it this year /of course with my recipe!!!/.I only can say that You have a BIG gift!!!I am so happy to know You!
8 Bibiana Bailey // Nov 27, 2009 at 5:05 pm
That’s a great idea. I was thinking the same way this year. I actually picked up a little booklet called Holiday Gifts From a Jar and it comes with tear-out recipe cards.
9 The Chocolate Priestess // Nov 27, 2009 at 5:12 pm
This year we bought these ziploc baggies because we always give our guests at our huge annual party treats but generally struggle with how to wrap things up. This year we aren’t giving other individual gifts, economic reasons, but we can make more food and then folks can pick out what they like from our table. Let’s hope it works out well.
Thanks for raising this gift giving idea, Cajun Chef Ryan.
10 Martica // Nov 27, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for the gift idea. I usually do cookies and fudge but this sounds great also.
11 foodlovee // Nov 27, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Sounds good.
12 TeenieCakes // Nov 28, 2009 at 12:26 am
I love this idea and the jars are so festive and pretty! Thanks for sharing and the ideas!
13 alison // Nov 28, 2009 at 1:26 am
wonderful ideea!
14 penny aka jeroxie // Nov 28, 2009 at 3:14 am
Very nice xmas present idea!
15 Drick // Nov 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm
great gift and great recipe….gee, don’t know how I could possibly be on your list….maybe if I lived a little closer…………lol
16 redkathy // Nov 28, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Nice gift idea! Candy used to be my kitchen gift of choice. Lots of fun and my family so appreciated them. ” They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, well I can say the way to a woman’s heart is the same”… I couldn’t agree more!
17 happyshoes // Nov 29, 2009 at 12:11 am
Great idea!! May I ask where you bought those jars?
18 Miriam/The Winter Guest // Nov 29, 2009 at 5:45 am
Lovely idea! I also like to give homemade goodies every now and then.
19 Cajun Chef Ryan // Nov 29, 2009 at 10:09 am
Great responses everyone.
HappyShoes, the jars were purchased at Target, I was actually looking for canning jars and ended up getting these with the locking lids.
20 Mr. P // Nov 30, 2009 at 7:04 pm
My mum would go for that. I used to make coconut ice, but she doesn’t eat sweets. Then I made muesli and she thought it was too beautiful to eat.
Gonna try soup this year!
21 Danielle // Dec 1, 2009 at 1:51 pm
It is truly better to give than to receive! Great idea! I may have to borrow it to give to some of the nice eldery folks in my condo building. Thanks Ryan!