Soup Mixes in Jars: An Easy, Frugal Homemade Gift

Layered soup mixes in jars are one of my favorite frugal gifts. They're inexpensive, they look beautiful on a shelf, and the person who receives one gets a nearly ready-made dinner. If you've never made one, it's simple.

Friendship Soup Mix

The first mix I made is called Friendship Soup. A friend introduced me to it, and I can vouch that it's hearty and tasty once cooked. You'll need a quart-size jar for this one.

Layer in the jar

• 1/2 cup dry split peas
• 1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
• 1/4 cup pearl barley
• 1/2 cup dry lentils
• 1/4 cup dried onion flakes
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup uncooked alphabet pasta (packed separately; see below)

A canning funnel makes this much tidier. Add the ingredients in the order listed, from split peas through bay leaves, so you get those pretty stripes. Put the pasta in a small plastic bag, tuck it in at the top, and seal the jar.

Attach the cooking directions

Write the cooking instructions on a card, punch a hole in it, and tie it to the jar with ribbon:

You'll also need: 1 pound ground beef, black pepper and garlic powder to taste, 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice, 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste, and 3 quarts water.

To cook:

1. Take out the bag of pasta and set it aside.
2. In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef with pepper and garlic powder. Drain the fat.
3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, and the rest of the jar's contents. Bring to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer 45 minutes.
5. Stir in the pasta, cover, and simmer another 15 to 20 minutes, until the pasta, peas, lentils, and barley are tender. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Other Soup Mixes to Try

Almost any soup built on dried beans, grains, and pasta works as a jar mix. Bean soups, lentil soups, and chicken noodle (with bouillon) are all good candidates. I also made a Mexican bean soup mix from a recipe I found online.

Here are my finished jars. Not bad for a few dollars each!

A Lesson Learned: Test Before You Gift

Cook one batch yourself before making jars for everyone. I tinkered with the Mexican bean recipe by cutting back the bouillon and swapping vegetable bouillon for chicken. It looked great but tasted flat. A friend rescued her batch with extra salt and some Creole seasoning, but the lesson stuck: stick to the recipe, or test your changes first.

Tips for Great Soup Jars

• Use a funnel and pack each layer gently for clean lines.
• Keep it dry. Make sure jars are completely dry before filling.
• Use within about 6 months, and note a "best by" date on the tag.
• Mind allergies. List the ingredients on the tag, especially wheat (pasta, barley).

Have you ever made soup mixes in jars? Share your favorite combinations in the comments!