Here are a few last minute Christmas Gifts to make.

"Sugar Cookies in a Jar"

1 1/2cups white sugar
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt & nutmeg. In a clean 1 quart glass jar with a wide mouth...layer the white sugar followed by the flour mixture. Press firmly in place and seal. (I cut a circle out of 'angel material' or use Christmas fabric...and place over the seal and then add the jar ring to close tightly.

Attach a card with the following instructions:

In a large bowl, beat 1 egg with 1 cup softened margarine until light and fluffy. Add 1/2cup sour cream, 1 tsp vanilla and contents of the jar. Mix until well blended. Cover dough and refrigerate for several hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough out on floured board, and cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12minutes. Makes2 dozen.

"Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar"

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups semisweeet chocolate chips
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix the salt, baking soda and flour together, then layer the ingredients into the jar. Cut the circle from fabric as in previous recipe. (If using a jar such as a mayonnaise jar instead of a canning jar, put the lid on then cover with the fabric circle and secure with a rubber band first, then tie raffia or ribbon to cover the band.

Enclose a card with the following mixing and baking instructions:

Sift dry ingredients from jar to separate the chips. Beat 1 cup margarine in bowl. Beat sifted ingredients and butter until well blended. In a small bowl, beat 1 egg with 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix beaten egg mixture into butter mixture until blended and then add chips. Drop by teaspoonfulls, well apart, onto greased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 4 dozen.

Graham Cracker "Gingerbread" Houses

A very easy and quick way to make a Gingerbread House... is to use graham crackers. It can be made any size depending on the number of crackers you use. We have made these for years, and had a lot of fun. You can use canned frosting of any color... and add candies of all shapes and sizes. Your finished product will be your own and unique. Use the frosting as the 'glue' to hold the crackers together. Also use it to 'glue' on the decorations.

Here's an example of the fun we had making them years ago... My grandson Chad...who is now the father of my first great grandchild. My granddaughter Melissa...who is now my angel in Heaven. Thank God for memories such as these.

Another

Other gifts in a jar include dry soup mixtures, snackies, cocoa, pumpkin, banana, date breads baked in a jar.
I have given all of these as gifts, and they are well received.

Something to delight the youngsters

Mix 1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup red or green cake decorating crystals.
Put into a zipper food storage bag or a shaker container.

Make a card with this poem and attach to the mixture:

Magic Reindeer Food

Be sure to take this magic food and sprinkle on the lawn
On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn,
The smell of oats and glitter path will guide them on their way
And you'll wake up to Santa's gifts...next morn on Christmas Day.

ENJOY

Angel Hugz,

 Gram

Midi: "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer"