Gift Jars Recipes
Seasoning Mixes, Drink Mixes and More

Gift Jars

Jars filled with mixtures of spices or other goodies make great gifts. You can makes these for most everyone on your list. What kind of mixes can you make?
(continued below)

How about a spicy meat rub for those bar-b-quer's, a cookie or cake mix for someone who likes to bake, or how about a soup mix for a student living on their own.

Add a little ribbon to the jar & a gift tag and recipe on how to use. You could make up a basket with a couple of items that go along with the gift jar. Decorate the top of the jar by cutting out a fabric circle about 3" to 4" larger than the lid. Fasten it with a rubber band and add ribbon. Make sure to make a label with the name of seasoning spice mix, drink mix or whatever is in your jar, you can include the recipe for the mix if you want or even some suggestions as to how to use it. Some of the mixes here will include a recipe for you to attach with the mix.



When I make the seasoning mixes or meat rubs, I like to double or even triple the recipe and mix it all in a large bowl & then fill several smaller jars.

Another way I save money on these recipes is I like to go to the ethnic spice rack and by my spices in packages not jars. I've found this rack to be normally at the back of the store by the fresh produce. The spices here come in little packages not jars. And they are a lot lower in price than brand name spices, and are just as fresh & good. I may only have to buy one or two of the more expensive spices but normally most all I need are in the packages.

Please Note: I am in the process of revising the gift jar pages into a more useful format. Instead of all the recipes being on this page and in no specific order, I will be categorizing them into several pages for easier locating and use. Keep checking back for new categories and recipes.

2 cups flavored wood chips - your choice; Hickory, apple, oak or any other flavor
2 - 3 cups of kosher or sea salt

Soak the wood chips in water for about an hour, then drain water off. Put salt in an aluminum pan, spread the salt out to thin layer. Put your soaked chips right on the coals, make sure the coal is pushed to the sides of the grill and put your pan of salt on a rack above the coals and in the center of them, so that the salt is not directly over the coals. Cover your grill and adjust the grill's vent holes to a medium heat. Let the salt smoke for about an hour. Let the salt cool and then put in a jar/container. Store your smokey salt away from light and heat. You can use your smokey salt on pretty much anything for a nice bbq taste. Try substituting your smokey salt for regular salt in your gift jars for a slightly different flavor also. Enjoy!

1 cup Kosher, Sea or Plain Salt
1/3 cup coarse Black Pepper
1/4 cup Garlic Powder

Combine all ingredients and fill your 1/2 pint jar to give away as a gift. There will be some leftover to start a jar for yourself. I use this seasoning in just about everything from crockpot meals to mashed potatoes.

This is my favorite mix. I love this seasoning so much I make either a pint or quart size jar worth at a time for our cooking needs. Since I use these three ingredients in most everything we cook, it's nice to have them all in one container, instead of having to pull out 3 spice containers. I also make this with white pepper.

1 cup Kosher Salt
1/4 cup coarse Black Pepper
1 T. Cayenne Pepper
2 T. Ground White Pepper (optional)
2 T. Garlic Powder

Combine all ingredients and fill your 1/2 pint jar to give away as a gift. There will be some leftover to start a jar for yourself. I use this seasoning in just about everything from beans to stews. You can add the recipe for making this with the gift jar.

1 1/2 T. Dried Basil
1/2 T. Garlic Salt
4 tsp. Dried Oregano
1/2 T. Dried Red Pepper Flakes (if you want a little more kick to this increase to 1 T. but you may want to make with the 1/2 T. first & taste test it.)

Combine the 4 ingredients above & grind until you have a fine powder texture. Note: a small coffee grinder is perfect for grinding spices as well as reasonably priced. Pour your spice mixture into a bowl & add:

1 1/3 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (the kind like you sprinkle on your pasta, like Kraft's Parmesan Cheese or store brand)Mix all spices & Parmesan Cheese together. Put your mixture in your jar. This recipe makes one half pint jar full, with some left over to use at home. I put my leftovers in a baggie and labeled it for future use. Decorate your gift jar with a ribbon or fabric top. Add a recipe card with the recipe above so they can make their own when they run out & include on the recipe card the instructions to use the spice as follows:

Sprinkle 2 Tablespoons or more (to taste) over warm fresh popped popcorn. Enjoy!!

Include a package of microwave popcorn with the gift jar, perhaps add a mini ornament or even make a cloth top for the jar & there's your fun gift.

1/4 cup Dried Basil
1/4 cup Dried Marjoram
1/4 cup Dried Oregano
2 T. Dried Garlic
2 T. Dried Thyme
1 T. Dried Sage

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl & fill your 1/2 pint jar. Remember you can double the recipe for a pint jar. Perhaps with this gift jar buy a package of spaghetti & a jar of pasta sauce or Parmesan cheese & put in a gift bag or basket, add your favorite recipe for spaghetti, using about 1 - 2 T of the seasoning mix.

Start Small and Watch Your Savings Grow

It is better to have tried and failed than to fail to try.