On the Eighth Day of Christmas...Mix in a Jar!

This is a gift that has been around for awhile, and it is perfect for those people on your list who are just too busy to cook from scratch, because all they have to do is to add a few "wet" ingredients to the dry mix and voila! A tasty treat for the time-deprived.

You create a Mix in a Jar for nearly any recipe that is primarily made up of dry ingredients and where the wet ingredients are common (eggs, butter, water, etc.). Simply layer the dry mix ingredients evenly into the jar in an attractive way, and then put on a lid, and tie with a ribbon or tag that indicates the type of mix and the amount and type of wet ingredients to add.

You can do anything from cookies and pancakes to soups and breads. For lots of great recipes, check out Razzle Dazzle Recipes.

One of my personal favorites is this Oatmeal Mix recipe- I love this recipe because it is versatile- you can use it for several different tasty recipes- and because it makes the BEST pancakes EVER!

Oatmeal Mix Recipe:

- 3 cups all-purpose flour

- 3 1/2 tsp. baking powder

- 1 1/2 tsp. salt

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 1 cup brown sugar

- 1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening

- 3 cups rolled oats

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar. Stir in brown sugar. Mix well. With a pastry blender (or not ;-)), cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Stir in oats and mix well. Put in a large airtight container. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 10-12 weeks. Makes about 9 cups mix.

And here are a few recipes you can attach to this mix for the recipient...

Oat Pancakes (my favorite!)

- 1 1/2 cups oatmeal mix

- 1/2 cup water

- 1 egg, slightly beaten

In a medium bowl, combine oatmeal mix, water, and egg. Blend well. Let stand 5 minutes. Cook on a hot oiled griddle about 3-4 minutes, until browned on both sides. Make 12-15 4-inch pancakes.

Oatmeal Muffins

- 1 egg

- 2/3 cup milk

- 3 cups oatmeal mix

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Generously butter muffin pans. Put oatmeal mix in a medium bowl. Combine egg and milk in a small bowl. Add all at once to oatmeal mix. Stir until just moistened; batter should be lumpy. Fill prepared muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Makes 12 large muffins.

Oatmeal Cookies

- 1/4 cup milk

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1 egg

- 3 cups oatmeal mix

- 1/2 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 tsp cloves

- 1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease baking sheets. In a small bowl, combine milk, vanilla, and egg. Put oatmeal mix, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium bowl. Add liquid ingredients all at once and stir until just blended. Stir in raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes, until edges are browned. Cool cookies on racks. Makes about 24 cookies.