THE MASON JAR SOUP-TO-NUTS COOKBOOK: How to Create Mason Jar Recipe Mixes

As the holidays approach and homemade gifts are in demand, cooks who are also crafts enthusiasts may appreciate Parks's ideas for putting together 50 different kinds of Mason Jar mixes. Dry, nonperishable ingredients are layered in pint- or quart-size jars; the lids are then topped with colorful fabric squares and tied with ribbon and tags bearing cooking instructions. For "Breakfast Fare," "Muffins, Scones and Breads" or "Cookies and Cakes," all the gift-recipient needs to do is add fresh dairy products to create, say, Butter Pecan Bread or Toffee Chip Cookies. Some of the "Soups and Stews" require the addition of meat and canned broth, or the overnight soaking of dried beans (Beefy Bean Soup), but most Beverages (Mexican Hot Chocolate and Southern Peach tea, for example) need only water. Cooks can keep these mixes for themselves, of course, and Parks has cleverly put instructions for preparing the different dishes at home on each left-hand page, while those for creating a gift jar are on the right; pre-written gift tags are included, too, ready for photocopying. While Parks's ideas are quaint and generous, there are too many recipes that call for such ingredients as non-dairy creamer or Tang, to fully enthuse the home cook. (Jan.)