Soup Meals in a Jar or Mylar Bag

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Today, I want to share some recipes that could be made in advance and sealed for use at a later time. Some call these “dinner in a jar” or “gifts in a jar” or “meals in a jar.” Whatever you want to call them the idea is to put most, if not all, of your ingredients in one jar or Mylar bag with instructions on how to cook the meal at a later time.

I want to show you a video that inspired me to learn more about these meals in a jar. I hope you like it.

365 Meals

Soup Recipes

Below are five soup recipes to get you started.

  1. Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar
  2. Love Soup Mix in a Jar
  3. Layered Patchwork Mix in a Jar
  4. Split Pea Soup Mix
  5. Minestrone Soup Jar Mix

Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar

Servings: 16

Ingredients

  • 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

Directions

  1. In a 1-1/2 pint jar, layer the split peas, bouillon, barley, lentils, onion flakes, Italian seasoning, rice, and bay leaves.
  2. Wrap the pasta in plastic wrap, and place in the jar. Seal tightly.
  3. Attach a label to the jar with the following instructions:
    1. Write “Friendship Soup”
  4. ADD ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
    1. 1 pound ground beef
    2. black pepper to taste
    3. garlic powder to taste
    4. 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes – undrained
    5. 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste, and 3 quarts water
  5. TO PREPARE SOUP:
    1. Remove pasta from top of jar, and set aside.
    2. In a large pot over medium heat, brown beef with pepper and garlic; drain excess fat.
    3. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, and soup mix.
    4. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat to low.
    5. Cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.
    6. Stir in the pasta, cover, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until the pasta, peas, lentils and barley are tender.

Resource: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/friendship-soup-mix-in-a-jar/

Love Soup Mix in a Jar

Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
  • 1/4 cup dried minced onion
  • 1/2 cup dried split peas
  • 1/2 cup uncooked twist macaroni
  • 1/4 cup barley
  • 1/2 cup dry lentils
  • 1/3 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 cup uncooked tri-color spiral pasta

Directions

  1. Use a canning funnel or any funnel that has about a 2-inch neck. This will make it easier to fill the jar with the ingredients. Be sure to use a wide-mouth, 1-quart canning jar.
  2. Layer ingredients in the order given: bouillon, onion flakes, split peas, small shape pasta, barley, lentils, rice, and enough tricolor spiral pasta to fill jar.
  3. Attach a label to the jar with the following instructions:
    1. Write “Love Soup”
  4. ADD ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
    1. 1 pound ground beef or stew beef cut into bite-size pieces
  5. TO PREPARE SOUP:
    1. In large kettle, brown 1 pound ground beef or stew beef cut into bite-size pieces in a little olive oil.
    2. Remove tricolor pasta from top of jar and reserve.
    3. Add the rest of the jar contents to the kettle with 12 cups water.
    4. Let come to a boil and simmer 45 minutes.
    5. Add tricolor pasta and simmer 15 minutes more.
    6. Serve with your favorite bread or rolls and a tossed salad.

Resource: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/love-soup-mix-in-a-jar/detail.aspx

Layered Patchwork Mix in a Jar

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup barley
  • 1/2 cup dried split peas
  • 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
  • 1/2 cup dry lentils
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage

Directions

  1. In a wide mouth pint jar layer the barley, split peas, rice, and lentils.
  2. In a small plastic bag combine the parsley, garlic, pepper, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and sage.
  3. Decorate jar lid and attach seasoning packet with ribbon to jar.
  4. Attach a label to the jar with the following instructions:
    1. Write “Layered Patchwork Soup”
  5. ADD ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
    1. 1 medium onion
  6. TO PREPARE SOUP:
    1. Empty jar contents into a colander and rinse.
    2. Place contents in a large stockpot and cover with 10 cups water.
    3. Stir in 1 chopped medium onion and the seasoning packet.
    4. Bring to a boil.
    5. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
    6. Check after 30 minutes and add additional water if necessary.

Resource: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/layered-patchwork-soup-mix/

Split Pea Soup Mix

Servings: 10 cups of mix

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2 cups green split peas
  • 2-1/2 cups lentils
  • 2-1/2 cups pearl barley
  • 2 cups alphabet macaroni
  • 1 cup dried onion flakes
  • 1/2 cup celery flakes
  • 1/2 cup parsley flakes
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons thyme
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons white pepper

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients together. Store in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Stir before using. Makes 10 cups of mix.
  2. Attach a label to the jar with the following instructions:
    1. Write “Split Pea Soup”
  3. ADD ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
    1. 1 cup of cooked chopped meat, if desired.
    2. 1/2 teaspoon of salt, if desired.
  4. TO PREPARE SOUP:
    1. Combine 1 cup of soup mix with 4 cups of water or seasoned stock in large pan.
    2. Add 1 cup of cooked chopped meat, if desired.
    3. Bring to a boil.
    4. Reduce heat to low and cover pan.
    5. Simmer gently for 45 to 60 minutes, or until peas are tender.
    6. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, if desired.

Resource: http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/giftsinajar_bean_soup_recipes.html

Minestrone Soup Jar Mix

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup red lentils
  • 1/4 cup green split peas
  • 1/4 cup barley
  • 1/3 cup beef bouillon powder
  • 2 tbsp. parsley flakes
  • 3 tbsp. onion flakes
  • 1/3 tsp. thyme
  • 1/3 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • approximately 1/4 cup alphabet macaroni

Directions

  1. In a two-cup jar, layer from bottom in the order given, then seal the jar.
  2. Attach a label to the jar with the following instructions:
    1. Write “Minestrone Soup”
  3. ADD ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
    1. 1 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
    2. 2 chopped carrots
    3. 2 to 4 chopped potatoes
  4. TO PREPARE SOUP:
    1. In a very large saucepan combine 8 to 10 cups of water, a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, and soup mix.
    2. Add 2 chopped carrots, and 2 to 4 chopped potatoes (optional: 2 cups chopped cabbage).
    3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for one hour or until peas are tender. Enjoy!

Resource: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/soup-mixes.shtml

Suggestions for Your Meals

When you read through these recipes you’ll notice some of the recipes have serving sizes. If you have a small family then one meal mix could be used for several meals. Remember to have enough water stored to make your meals. Also, if there are any fresh vegetables that are used as additional ingredients, you can dehydrate them and add them to the mix.

I hope these recipes inspire you to search for more and make your food storage easier.

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