Easy Jar Meals - For the Pantry or Gifting

As promised, I am going to start to post some jar recipes that are just wonderful to have on hand in the pantry and they are also fantastic for a great gift.
I like soups in the winter, and my brother and sister always rave about getting soup "jars" in their Christmas baskets.  That is one of their favorite things.
It makes for a different meal or two - and they don't have to think about what to mix together.

Today we will do soups.  All 3 of these are going in my baskets this year.  I have everything here to make them.

WILD RICE AND MUSHROOM SOUP
2 3/4 oz. pkg. of country gravy mix (or equivalent of bulk gravy mix)
1 1/2 Tbs. chicken bouillon
2 tsp. dried minced onion
2 tsp. dried celery flakes
1 tsp. parsley
1/4 C instant wild rice (uncooked)
2 Tbsp. dried mushrooms, chopped
Pour gravy mix in a one pint jar.  Combine bouillon, onion, celery and parsley - pour over gravy mix.  Layer rice and mushrooms - seal with lid.
INSTRUCTIONS
Empty into a large saucepan.   Add 7 cups of water, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes - until rice is tender.
Serves 6

PATCHWORK SOUP
1/3 C dried yellow split peas
1/3 C dried green split peas
1/3 C dry lima beans
1/3 C dry pinto beans
1/3 C dry kidney beans
1/3 C dry great northern beans
1/4 C dried minced onion
3 tsp. chicken bouillon
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. dried oregano
Combine all the ingredients together in an airtight container.
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine 8 cups of water and soup in a large pot.  Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let it set for an hour.  Return pot to heat and stir in 2 chopped carrots and 2 chopped celery stalks.
****ADD ham hocks or ham (if desired).  Cover and simmer for 2 hours until beans are tender.
Remove hocks and tear meat from bone, chop and return to soup.  Serves 10.
****I plan on gifting this jar recipe with a can of diced ham.

Graphics from Gooseberry Patch cookbooks!  I love those books.  Make your own drawings and/or labels for instructions of soup mixes.  Use a recipe card, an index card, a stick-on label or draw up something cute and copy for multiple jars.

CREAMY POTATO SOUP
1 3/4 C instant mashed potatoes
1 1/2 C powdered milk
2 Tbsp. chicken bouillon
2 tsp. minced dried onion
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. turmeric
2 tsp. seasoned salt
Combine all ingredients together.  Place in a quart size jar or baggie.
INSTRUCTIONS
Place 1/2 C soup mix in a bowl and add 1 C boiling water.  Stir until smooth.
Great to serve for a quick meal or with a sandwich!

Easy peasy!  I plan of gifting  all three of these along with some other things.
You can always gift with a couple soup bowls or mugs to jazz up the gift.  Maybe add a box of crackers or a bag/box of oyster crackers.
I would love to receive 2 or 3 of these as a gift.  Food is always appreciated.  WE ALL HAVE TO EAT!  I like getting different things like this.

Hope this gives you some ideas.
More later!