Old Reliable!

Ahhh..yes! What a relief to know that a few more of the gifts are bundled up and ready to go! Each year, the brain is in a quandary of what to get for each person that has made our list. Most of the time, things are kept to within reason or is something we have made. The list just keeps getting longer and harder each year until it is almost nerve-racking to be creative and come up with the perfect gift. I thought and thought but to no avail until...aha!...time to fall back on the "Old Reliable"!

"Old Reliable" just happens to be some sort of goody basket. This time, we packed cookie mixes in canning jars and added this to a mixing bowl filled with pot holders, oven mitts, dish towels and wooden spoons. This was all encased in plastic wrap and tied up in pretty ribbons! These were delivered today, which seems a bit early, but the timing will give those who wish to bake their cookies before Christmas plenty of time.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a clean, dry, one quart-size canning jar, place the flour and baking soda in the bottom of the jar. On top of this carefully pour in the brown sugar and then pack tightly. Next, pour in the granulated sugar and then fill the jar with the chocolate chips. Screw the lid tightly in place.

(A card explaining the mixing and baking of the cookies should be attached to the jar.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, blend 1 cup of butter, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla until creamy. Add cookie mix and stir until well blended. Drop cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet while still warm and cool completely.

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The jars can be topped with a 9 inch circle of fabric and tied with a ribbon or left plain. I left mine plain and just added a red ribbon to the top to attach the direction card. There was enough color with the other items in the mixing bowl to make up for the lack of fabric. Mark even opted for "store-bought" bows on these which made life easier yet!

Like I said...What a relief! When Mark delivered these today to his family members, they each seemed to like the idea. And the list grows shorter each day! At this rate, I might even be able to finish before Christmas!