| Every hostess is happy to have additions to her | | | | wide enough for all of the ingredients to pass |
| meal or snack table, but what about bringing along | | | | through. |
| personalized, handmade hostess gifts that are | | | | - Make sure you include a recipe card attached to |
| really just for the hostess, and not her guests? | | | | the jar, or in the basket with the jar. |
| Soup in a Jar especially one with pasta and/or | | | | - After you screw on the jar lid, cover it with a |
| comfort food is one of the best handmade | | | | dishcloth and tie with a matching ribbon. |
| hostess gifts you can give, and it comes from | | | | Remember, use your imagination and add your |
| the heart. | | | | own personal handmade, homemade touches to |
| Why not offer your hostess a chance to put her | | | | each gift jar you make. Also remember that if |
| feet up and let you do the cooking for her, using | | | | you make several of these gifts ahead of time, |
| your own special recipe. With soup in a jar, you'd | | | | they will never be a time when you show up to |
| at least be doing the planning for her. Soup in a | | | | an event empty handed. As a hostess yourself, |
| jar is not hard to make and since you won't be | | | | you know you'd love to receive the same type |
| using perishables, you can make this gift or two | | | | of gift in return. |
| or three well in advance of any event. That way | | | | Ideas |
| you'll never be left high and dry without a hostess | | | | - The Gift of Comfort ingredients to their own |
| gift at your disposal. | | | | favorite soup. |
| Ingredients will depend on the recipe you choose. | | | | - The Gift of Adventure ingredients to a brand |
| If you want to give your hostess a gift she'll | | | | new recipe neither of you has ever tried. |
| cherish, include not only the ingredients but the | | | | - The Gift of Surprise mix all of the ingredients |
| recipe for your family soup she's begged you for | | | | into a big bowl, and then add to the jar in a |
| over the years. | | | | hodgepodge manner. When doing this, it's best to |
| Ingredients that store well: | | | | have simple additions to the soup. For instance, |
| - Dry ingredients such as powdered items; flour, | | | | use dried onion and celery flakes, etc., so that the |
| cocoa, sugar (brown sugar may harden), herbal | | | | only thing your hostess needs to add is liquid. In |
| seasonings, etc. | | | | this case, do not include a recipe card, just list the |
| - Oatmeal | | | | amount of liquid that should be added. |
| - Raisins or other dried fruit | | | | - As an added touch, instead of adding the recipe |
| - Dried vegetables | | | | card to the jar, use it as your thank-you card. |
| - Pasta | | | | Send it in the mail the day after the party or |
| Incorporate artistic flair | | | | drop it off at her doorstep. |
| - Layer ingredients for texture and color (don't | | | | - If you are planning soup in a jar for new |
| put two like colored ingredients side-by-side. | | | | neighbors, gift them with a soup that will give |
| Likewise, don't put two ingredients with the same | | | | them the flavor of their new neighborhood or use |
| texture side-by-side. | | | | vegetables or other ingredients that are local. |
| - Choose soups with a variety of ingredients. | | | | - If possible, include a photo of you and the |
| - When adding pasta, be creative. Use alphabets, | | | | hostess on the back of your recipe. Or make a |
| ruffled, tri-colored, and different lengths and | | | | photo frame from a recipe card, insert the photo, |
| shapes of pasta. | | | | add a magnet to the back, and tie it around the |
| - Use a variety of jars. You don't need to use a | | | | jar with a ribbon for a nice touch. Each time your |
| canning jar. If you want to use a V-8 jar, then | | | | hostess cooks, she'll see the photo magnet on |
| use it, just make sure the mouth of the jar is | | | | the fridge and remember you. |