DIY Gift Jar Round-Up

We’ve all seen the wall pics and posters and advertisments all over the place that talk about buying LOCAL for Christmas instead of shopping at big stores that carry items made in China. In fact, I even discussed this in a post called Birth of a New Tradition. No Chinese, Please last year around this time. Here’s a refresher:

Most of them seem pretty simple. You go out and get some gift certificates to a local restaurant or hair salon, etc. (And in this tough economy people truly do appreciate gifts like these.) But for the crafty, DIY-type gifts, you my be feeling, well….not so crafty. But these are super easy to put together and can be (and should be) made in bulk so that you have enough handy for those moments when a small something is needed such as a hostess gift, Secret Santa, teacher gifts, or as party favors. For a bigger, more personal gift, try creating a basket with several different jars.

What I love about the gift jars is that there are no rules, so it doesn’t have to be food related. You can make a yummy brown sugar body scrub and pair it with a body brush, or make a sewing kit (yes, I’ve seen those- so cute! Click here for that one.) So here are a few ideas:

 

I made a bunch of these for my church bakesale. It was super easy. I created my own labels/directions using a desktop publishing CD. Add a little ribbon and you’ve got something gift-worthy.

Dry Cream Soup Mix by The Home Heart

  Cowgirl Cookies @ Bakerella

These Marshmallows are the perfect addition to a steaming mug of hot chocolate. What else possibly signifies the winter season better? Package in cellophane bags and tie with a cute, festive ribbon, and you’ve got a great gift. Pair it with some cocoa and you’ve got a gift basket.

Cocoa Candy Cane Marshmallows @ A Field Journal

Cinnamon Honey Butter @ Tidy Mom

Peppermint Stick Cocoa @ My Recipes

Friendship Soup @ All Recipes

Chcoclate Chip & Oatmeal Quickbread @ Sunset

Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Scrub @ Tidy Mom

S’more Kits @ Twig & Thistle

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

My insatiable appetite for anything Mexican-flavored cannot be quenched. Hence, this newest addition to my list. I loved this casserole. It was flavorful but it was also comforting. You know what I mean? Just add it to the list along with your chicken noodle soup and meatloaf. This casserole is sure to become one of your go-to favorites as well.

I found this “healthified” recipe at eatbetteramerica.com where I have found many other wonderful, healthy recipes and options. I did adapt this recipe quite a bit, so you’re welcome to check out theirs as well. Here’s what I did:

*Since hubby is out if town I only made 1/2 a casserole. It was enough for me and the boys with enough leftover for my lunch the next day. No waste probably excites me more than organizing. Weird. I know.

**Cream Soup Mix

2 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded

4 oz. sour cream

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped

3 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

4 corn tortillas (6 inch) torn into bite-sized pieces

1. Heat oven to 350*. Spray 4×7 or 1 1/2 qt. baking dish with cooking spray.

2. In a small saucepan mix up cream soup mix by adding 1 1/4 cup water to 1/3 dry cream soup mix. Whisk and bring to soft boil for 2 minutes. Stir to avoid scalding. Once thickened, remove from heat.

3. In a large bowl, mix soup, sour cream, chicken, pepper and tomatoes, 1/2 the cheddar, Parmesan, chili powder, cumin, and tortillas. Spread out in baking dish.

4. Cover dish with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered for another 5 minutes or just until melted and casserole is bubbly. Let sit for 5 minutes.

**The dry mixture is more than you need for this recipe but it is good to have extra on hand. Dry mixture will measure close to 2 1/2 cups and only 1/3 cup will be needed for any recipe that calls for a regular 10 oz. can of condensed cream soup.

I used what ingredients I had on hand, but I would definitely like to try this with green chiles. We ate this with a green salad. It was super yummy!