Friendship Soup Mix Gift in a Jar

By WhystleStop

What a great idea! Use this wonderful 'staple' to keep or gift for a cold, gray day. I like to add a can of navy, kidney or great northern beans to make it even more hearty.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dry split peas
• 1/4 cup pearl barley
• 1/2 cup brown rice
• 1/2 cup lentils
• 1/4 cup dehydrated onion, minced
• 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup whole wheat small pasta
• 1-quart Mason jar with lid
• 6-inch circle of a Christmas print or fun print cotton material
• several cotton balls to create a soft rounded lid
• 2 small clear cellophane bags or zippered plastic bags for the seasoning and the pasta
• A blank recipe card or sheet of paper to include the directions to prepare the soup
• Red or green curling ribbon

Preparation

Step 1

Combine the dehydrated onion, Italian seasoning and salt in one of the small plastic bags. Tie closed with a piece of the ribbon.

Place the pasta in the other plastic bag and tie it closed also.

Place both of the bags in the jar.

Place sealing lid on top of jar. Place several cotton balls on top of lid and cover with fabric circle right side. Position outer ring over fabric and twist to secure attractively.

Directions to enclose with the gift:

Type or hand write the following directions to include with the soup mix:

Cook 1 pound of lean ground beef in a large pot.

While meat is cooking remove the seasoning and pasta bags from the jar. Pour the remaining contents of jar in a colander, wash thoroughly and drain.

When meat is cooked, drain the liquid but leave meat in pot. Add 3 quarts of water, 6 cups diced canned or fresh tomatoes and the seasoning mix to the pot. Cover and simmer for one hour. Add pasta, and simmer another 15 minutes.

This recipe makes 8 servings. Each serving contains approximately 201 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Another recommendation is to consume at least half of all grains as whole grains and to increase whole grain intake by replacing refined grains with whole grains. This Friendship Soup Gift encourages these recommendations. It includes split peas and lentils, which are plant-based proteins. Brown rice and whole wheat pasta are whole grains. Pearl barley is a grain but the bran has been removed.