Soup mixes are a wonderful gift from the kitchen for college students,
Grandparents, young married couples or anyone that is new to cooking.
The following combinations can be placed in jars; 1 cup of beans to each
jar with a seasoning packet. Other gift suggestions are at the end of
each mixture.
Mixture #1:Southwestern Beans
1 cup each of:
pinto beans
northern beans
black beans
lentils
Seasoning packet:
8 tablespoons dried basil
4 tablespoons chili powder
4 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. garlic powder
8 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
Stir together beans and split into four
bags or jars with one cup in each.
Stir together seasoning and divide
equally into 4 small plastic bags.
To give place in basket or gift bag
with the following recipe:
Southwestern Bean Soup
Cover beans with water, and soak overnight. Drain
beans. Brown 1/2 pound crumbled Italian sausage
in large pan. Add beans, 8 cups of water and 2 cups
of tomato or spagetti sauce and seasoning packet.
Stir well, and bring to simmering, cover and cook for
an hour and 1/2 until beans are tender. Stir occasionally.
Gift ideas: Line a wicker basket with one or two red
bandanas. Place in a jar the beans and
the seasoning packet, put on the lid and tie with natural
raffia, using a hot glue gun carefully glue several small
dried hot peppers to the raffia bow, or thread floral wire
through the peppers and attach to lid. In the basket
you can include two bags of cornbread mix, a bottle of
hot pepper sauce (I like the brands with fun names), bowls
and if you wish, a cast iron cornbread pan.
Mixture #2 Italian Minestrone
1 cup dried navy beans
1 cup dried chick-peas
1 cup dried kidney beans
1 cup dried pinto beans
Seasoning packet:
8 tsps. dried basil
8 tsps. dried oregano
8 tablespoons beef or vegetable bouillon granules
2 tsps. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried rosemary
4 tsp. ground black pepper
As above, mix beans and divide into four. Mix
seasoning and divide equally into four small bags.
Include this recipe:
Vegetable Bean Minestrone Soup: Cover beans
with water and soak overnight. Drain beans and
rinse. Saute 1/2 pound hot Italian Sausage or
ground beef in a large pan, add beans, 8 cups
water, 2 cups tomato sauce and the seasoning
packet, and bring to simmering. Cook, covered
for one hour. Add 5 cups sliced vegetables such as
cabbage, green beans, onions, green pepper, carrots
or yellow squash. Next, add 1/2 cup small pasta
and 2 tsp. salt. Cook, covered for 20 more minutes
until vegetables are tender.
Gift ideas: Place the beans and seasoning packet in
a simple sewn muslin bag. Gather and tie the top
with a country style fabric strip. Attach the recipe.
You can also include the 1/2 cup of pasta by
placing in a small plastic bag, then place in the
middle of a fabric square (same country style material),
gather and tie with a strip of muslin. Place both bags
in a wicker basket lined with either fabric. Include
soup bowls, napkins, and a bag of croutons. Also,
if the person you are giving this to has a breadmaker
you can include a box or bag of bread mix. Available
by the cake and muffin mixes in the grocery store.
About the author
Brenda Hyde is a wife and Mom of three, a freelance writer and editor of OldFashionedLiving.com.
