From what I remember, I just poured in the ingredients in an order that would make pretty layers. I used quart mason jars, and tied twine around them with gingham cloth rounds underneath, stuck them in a large bushel basket with lots of fresh fruit, low-salt crackers, and lowfat cheese.
They were very pretty, and the recipient was happy with it... she was going in for gall bladder surgery the next week, and she wanted some easy to prepare, lowfat food to tide her over until then.
Basic Bean Soup Mix:
1/2 cup dried kidney beans
1/2 cup dried split peas
1/2 cup dried corn (or maybe they were yellow peas? It was a while ago I did this)
1/2 cup dried navy beans
1/3 cup wild rice
2 Tbsp dry minced onion
1 Tbsp celery flakes
1 tsp black pepper
Also include a little cellophane package with 2 tsp, more or less, salt (or you can use instant chicken bouillon powder instead), along with a note on each jar that said "Combine contents of jar package (except for salt) with 1 1/2 quarts water in a 3-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and cover; allow to stand one hour, then bring back up to a simmer for 1 3/4 to 2 hours or until beans are done. Add salt and enjoy. Makes about 8 servings."
Another was:
1/2 cup dried garbanzo beans
1/2 cup kidney beans
1/2 cup dried black beans
1/2 cup dried fava beans
1 tsp cried crushed peppers
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 tsp dried basil
1 cup pasta spirals (add to jar last)
Cello pkg of 2 tsp salt (or instant beef bouillon powder)
Another:
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup dried corn
1/2 cup split peas
1/2 cup dried great northern beans
1/2 cup pearl barley
2 Tbsp dried parsley
Chili powder
Cello pkg of 2 tsp salt (or instant beef or chicken bouillon powder)
You can add variations to the directions such as "add a pound of cooked bacon, ham, leftover chicken, browned ground beef, etc." (and of course any fresh vegetable), but these directions are just for a basic all-in-one soup starter.
They were very pretty, and the recipient was happy with it... she was going in for gall bladder surgery the next week, and she wanted some easy to prepare, lowfat food to tide her over until then.
Basic Bean Soup Mix:
1/2 cup dried kidney beans
1/2 cup dried split peas
1/2 cup dried corn (or maybe they were yellow peas? It was a while ago I did this)
1/2 cup dried navy beans
1/3 cup wild rice
2 Tbsp dry minced onion
1 Tbsp celery flakes
1 tsp black pepper
Also include a little cellophane package with 2 tsp, more or less, salt (or you can use instant chicken bouillon powder instead), along with a note on each jar that said "Combine contents of jar package (except for salt) with 1 1/2 quarts water in a 3-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and cover; allow to stand one hour, then bring back up to a simmer for 1 3/4 to 2 hours or until beans are done. Add salt and enjoy. Makes about 8 servings."
Another was:
1/2 cup dried garbanzo beans
1/2 cup kidney beans
1/2 cup dried black beans
1/2 cup dried fava beans
1 tsp cried crushed peppers
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 tsp dried basil
1 cup pasta spirals (add to jar last)
Cello pkg of 2 tsp salt (or instant beef bouillon powder)
Another:
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup dried corn
1/2 cup split peas
1/2 cup dried great northern beans
1/2 cup pearl barley
2 Tbsp dried parsley
Chili powder
Cello pkg of 2 tsp salt (or instant beef or chicken bouillon powder)
You can add variations to the directions such as "add a pound of cooked bacon, ham, leftover chicken, browned ground beef, etc." (and of course any fresh vegetable), but these directions are just for a basic all-in-one soup starter.