Sonny and Dana Love the Snow:

Why do they get "green eye" instead of "red eye"?

Cookie Mixes in a Bag:

I also finally got some pretty flannel bags sewn for my cookie mixes and these are almost ready to go.  I think I will add a wooden spoon and also my tags.  They are so pretty!  At least I think so.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

You can make these yourself for gifts or to sell.  They are really easy.  This was from a post I did in June, when I was getting this project ready:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

As Jimmy Buffett says, "I got inspired and I knew that it wouldn't last long", so I began working on some cookie mixes this morning.  I have decided to put the oatmeal-chocolate chip mixes into bags this time, instead of into jars.  They will be much lighter, and the bag itself can be reused for another purpose.  And, if I decide to mail the mixes, they will not be as heavy or fragile.  Plus, making the bags are easy and will get me back into sewing.  I think that I will use some of this pretty fabric that I just happened to have laying around.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The box of  Ziplock gallon freezer bags held 38 bags.  So, I decided to make 38 batches.  I put one cup of quick oats into each bag.  It is a lot cheaper to buy your quick rolled oats in bulk, at the restaurant supply store.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Then I added 1 1/4 cup of flour (I ended up using 15 lbs. of flour!), 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.  I will need to buy more chocolate chips and coconut before I can add more to the mixes.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I rolled them up for easy storage until I can get back to them.  They are safe and clean and ready for the next step.

Here is the complete recipe:

1 1/4 Cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Cup of 1 minute oatmeal
3/4 cup of chocolate chips
(raisins are good substitute)
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar

When it comes time to bake these mixes up, preheat the oven to 350. Pour contents of bag into a big mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine 2 eggs and 1/3 cup of cooking oil (you can use shortening instead). Add that mixture to the dry stuff and mix well. Use a spoon to drop globs of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Pop into the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, remove from baking sheet to cool and then eat. This is supposed to make 4 dozen cookies, but I really doubt you will get that much out of the recipe.  Enjoy!

I have always made them in canning jars before, but I thought that these would be easier to mail.  Here is a past posts with the recipe and how to make them in the canning jars:  Dana Helps Make Cookie Mixes in a Jar.  And one about buying in bulk: Looking for Rolled Oats?


So, there you go!  Have fun with this little project.  There is plenty of time before Christmas to whip these babies up for a yummy little gift. 

Take care, 

Kathy

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.
 

Dana and the Cookie Mixes:

(This is a re-run from last year, but I thought you might enjoy it.  I made 17 cookies mixes today, and wanted to show you how I did it.)

Christmas Cookie Mix

In a Jar Gift ...

Here is an easy, fun and inexpensive gift to make. This is an oatmeal, chocolate (or other kind of chip) and coconut cookie mix. The people on my Christmas list get one of this babies whether they really want it or not. It is my tradition to hand these out each year, and I think they taste good. I hope they do. I guess they are more welcome than fruitcake, in some circles.


Recipe:

1 1/4 Cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Cup of 1 minute oatmeal
3/4 cup of chocolate chips
(raisins are good substitute)
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar


When it comes time to bake these mixes up, preheat the oven to 350. Pour contents of jar into a big mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine 2 eggs and 1/3 cup of shortening.  Add that mixture to the dry stuff and mix well.  If it is still too dry, add a few drops of milk.  Use a spoon to drop globs of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Pop into the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, remove from baking sheet to cool and then eat. This is supposed to make 4 dozen cookies, but I really doubt you will get that much out of the receipe.  Enjoy!


Here are some easy to follow, step by step pictures.

1. This is all you need:

2. Organize your items to your satisfaction.

3. Use a whisk to mix up the 
flour, baking powder and salt:

4. Place the flour mixture in the jar first:

5. Add the oatmeal (sorry, it's 
hard to see the oatmeal):

6. Add the chocolate chips. 
Keep packing everything down firmly:

7. Add the coconut:




8. Add the packed brown sugar:

My helper arrives. Dana wants to help so bad. She wishes that she has hands. There is not a day that goes by that our girl does not think about all she could do if only she had some hands. Anyway, while in the kitchen with me, she found a chocolate chip on the floor. I am keeping an eye on her to see if I will need to call the vet.  Everybody knows that dogs cannot have chocolate.  Hey, wait a minute here! T here are no dogs allowed in the kitchen. Dana, go away. Go away! Thank you. ....

9. Add the white sugar:

10. Put the flat lid down over the sugar.  Place a 9" fabric circle on that, and then put the rim on. I'll show you the finished product later, when it is finished. I usually put raffia or ribbon around the lid, and add my gift tag and the baking instructions. Some years, when I am feeling rich, I add a wooden spoon.

Have fun!

Christmas Cookie Mix in a Jar:

Here is an easy, fun and inexpensive gift to make. This is an oatmeal, chocolate (or other kind of chip) and coconut cookie mix. The people on my Christmas list get one of this babies whether they really want it or not. It is my tradition to hand these out each year, and I think they taste good. I hope they do. I guess they are more welcome than fruitcake, in some circles.


Recipe:


1 1/4 Cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Cup of 1 minute oatmeal
3/4 cup of chocolate chips
(raisins are good substitute)
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar


When it comes time to bake these mixes up, preheat the oven to 350. Pour contents of jar into a big mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine 2 eggs and 1/3 cup of cooking oil. Add that mixture to the dry stuff and mix well. Use a spoon to drop globs of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Pop into the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, remove from baking sheet to cool and then eat. This is supposed to make 4 dozen cookies, but I really doubt you will get that much out of the recipe. Enjoy!


Here are some easy to follow, step by step pictures.

1. This is all you need:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

2. Organize your items to your satisfaction.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

3. Use a whisk to mix up the flour, baking powder and salt:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

4. Place the flour mixture in the jar first:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

5. Add the oatmeal (sorry, it's hard to see the oatmeal):

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

6. Add the chocolate chips. 
Keep packing everything down firmly:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

7. Add the coconut:

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

8. Add the packed brown sugar:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

My helper arrives. Dana wants to help so bad. She wishes that she has hands. There is not a day that goes by that our girl does not think about all she could do if only she had some hands. Anyway, while in the kitchen with me, she found a chocolate chip on the floor. I am keeping an eye on her to see if I will need to call the vet. Hey, wait a minute here! There are no dogs allowed in the kitchen. Dana, go away. Go away! Thank you. ....

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

9. Add the white sugar:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

10. Put the flat lid down over the sugar. Place a 9" fabric circle on that, and then put the rim on. I'll show you the finished product later, when it is finished. I usually put rafia or ribbon around the lid, and add my gift tag and the baking instructions. Some years, when I am feeling rich, I add a wooden spoon.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Have fun!

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.