S'Mores in a Jar

It's summer and time for S'mores....

S'mores in a Jar

What you will need:

1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs or 1 sleeve of graham crackers reduced to crumbs*

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Layer in order given in a 1 quart canning jar.

what to put on the label ...

Empty contents of jar into a bowl.

Melt 1/2 cup butter, add 1 teaspoon vanilla. 

Pour over dry ingredients, mixing well. 

Pat into a greased 9' square pan. 

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. 

Makes 9 to 12 bars.

Apple Smoke BBQ Sauce

Apple Smoke BBQ Sauce

What you will need:

1 medium onion, grated or finely chopped
4 C. pressed apple cider (not pasteurized apple juice)
1/2 C. cider vinegar
1/2 C. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 T. whole mustard seed
1 tsp. celery salt or celery seed
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. liquid smoke
2 (12 oz.) bottles chili sauce
Hot pepper sauce, to taste (optional)
2 1 pint sterilized jars

Bring all ingredients to boil in a large saucepan.
Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is thickened and volume is halved.
Pour hot sauce into two 1-pint sterilized jars.
Seal with 2-piece sterilized lids.
Water-bath process for 10 minutes.
Remove with tongs.
Cool.

Attach a bating brush with ribbon to give as a gift

Caramel Corn in a Jar

My kids love caramel corn, so to make things a bit easier when they were little we would make up a few of these to keep  in the pantry.

Caramel Corn in a Jar

Things you will need:

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/3 cups un-popped Popcorn
1 cup Sugar
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1 quart Canning Jar

Set aside can of milk. Layer sugar and brown sugar in the canning jar.
Next, place popcorn into a small zip baggie. Seal baggie and place on top of sugar.
Place lid on jar.
 Using clear packaging tape, attach the can of milk to the bottom of jar so they are firmly connected for storage purposes & store in a cool dry place until ready to use.

Attach the label:
Remove bag of popcorn from jar and using your preferred method, pop the corn until you have about 12 cups or 3 quarts of popped corn.
Remove un-popped kernels from corn, and set aside.
In a large saucepan, mix sugar from jar with 1/2 cup butter or margarine and the can of sweetened condensed milk. Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a boil. Boil for one minute and remove from heat.
Working quickly, pour mixture over popped corn, coating as much as possible while pouring, then using a large wooden spoon, mix popped corn and caramel until all corn is well coated. Spread onto cookie sheets which have been prepared with non-stick cooking spray, or eat directly from bowl.

Iced Coffee: Part 2

My Grandma used to have these fixed the same way she fixed her morning cup, mainly black but you can change it up to match the coffee house brews really easily.

To Make an Iced Coffee:
Ice
2 oz Coffee Concentrate
1 Tbs Sugar (more or less to your preference)
Milk or half & half or skim

Fill Glass with Ice, add 2 shot glasses of concentrated coffee, fill 1 shot glass with HOT water &

add 1 Tbs of sugar to the hot water, stirring to dissolve. Pour that onto the glass, fill to the top with milk. Stir and voila, you've just copied Starbucks Iced coffee for about 1/10th of the price.

You can change the flavors by using flavored grounds or by using flavored creamers.

Iced Coffee : Part 1 Coffee Concentrate

I adore iced coffee it's something my grandma drank all summer, so it brings back fond memories. Living on a budget I can't afford to go to the coffee house and buy them as much as I'd like but with this recipe I can make my own anytime I'd like and save money at the same time.

Coffe Concentrate

Mason Jar

1 c. Coffee (ground)

Water to Fill

Add 1 cup freshly ground coffee  

 to the mason jar and add enough water to completely fill the jar (about 3 1/2 cups). Let the grounds settle and absorb and top off with additional water. Cap the jar and place it in the fridge for at least 12 hours. 

The coffee will "brew" without the bitterness associated with hot brewed coffee. If you prefer the "bite" of hot brewed coffee, leave the jar on the counter overnight, rather than refrigerating it. It adds a certain kick or slight bitterness that is often found in Hot brewed coffee.

Once the coffee has set overnight or for at least 12 hours, Strain the brew carefully, reserving the coffee grounds to make another batch.

Blue Berry Scone Mix

Blueberry Scones Mix

2 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. vanilla sugar
1/4 c. nonfat dry milk powder
2 t. baking powder
1 t. dried lemon peel
1/4 t. salt
1/3 C. shortening
1 c. dried blueberries

Gently blend the first 7 ingredients until well mixed, stir in

 the dried blueberries. Pour into a jar.

Gift Tag Directions:
In medium mixing bowl add mix, 1 beaten egg & 1/4 cup water, stir till moistened.
Place dough on lightly floured surface, kneading briefly, pat or roll smooth (1/2") and cut with cookie cutters or into traditional triangles.

Bake at 400° F. for 12 -15 minutes.

Gluten Free Pancake Mix

Gluten Free Pancake Mix

3 cups powdered milk
5 cups chickpea flour
2 1/2 cups potato starch
2 1/2 cups cornstarch
1 1/2 cups glutinous rice flour
1/2 cup baking powder

Combine dry ingredients, blend well. Place in Jar.

To use:
Add 2 Eggs
1 cup of water
1 cup of mix