Southwestern 3 Bean and Barley Soup Mix

Southwestern 3 Bean and Barley Soup

Source: Eatingwell.com

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/3 cup dried black beans
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 1/3 cup dried kidney beans
• 1/3 cup dried great northern beans
• 
  

Preparation:

1. Layer chili powder, cumin, oregano, black beans, barley, kidney beans and great northern beans in a clean, dry 2-cup jar or bag.
2. To turn the soup mix into a pot of soup: Heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 diced large onion, 1 diced celery stalk and 1 diced carrot; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 9 cups water, 4 cups broth and the soup mix. Bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours (adding more water, 1/2 cup at a time, if necessary or desired). Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste.

You can print gift tags for this recipe at here.

If you have any modifications or any hints on how to make this, feel free to comment. . . we'd love to hear from you.

Tutorial: M&M Cookies in a jar

One of the crafts we made at our Christmas craft night were these M&M Cookies in a jar (although, we took the ingredients and layered them in a jar).

What you need:

1 (1qt) wide mouth canning jar

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup M&M candies

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 tsp baking powder

What you do:

1. Mix together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

2. Layer flour mixture, brown sugar, white sugar, and M&M's in a jar. Pack them firmly.

3. Print out label from here and make your jar festive in whatever way you desire.

Recipe Instructions:

1. Empty jar of cookie mix into mixing bowl. Blend thoroughly.

2. Add 1/2 cup butter, softenend, 1 beaten egg, and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix until completely blended.

3. Roll into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees until edges are slightly brown, about 12-14 minutes.

4. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to cookie rack.

Source: here.