PASTA SOUP MIX

1/2 cup small shell macaroni or other small pasta
1/4 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup dried chopped mushrooms (optional)
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon minced dried onion
1 Tablespoon instant chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
Dash garlic powder

Mix all ingredients in a plastic bag or an airtight container; store, tightly sealed, until needed.

BASIC PASTA SOUP:

Combine contents of package with 3 cups water in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 40 minutes, or until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Makes 3 side dish servings.

TURKEY NOODLE SOUP MIX
(This is a great way to use leftover turkey.)

1 cup uncooked fine egg noodles
1 1/2 Tbs. chicken-flavored bouillon
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried whole thyme
1/8 tsp. celery seeds
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 bay leaf

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Store in an airtight container.

Attach this recipe to the jar:

Turkey Noodle Soup

1 package Turkey Noodle Soup Mix
8 cups water
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup minced onion
3 cups cooked diced turkey

Combine the Turkey Noodle Soup Mix and the water in a large stockpot. Add the carrots, celery, and onion and bring to a boil. Cover the soup and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the turkey and simmer an additional 5 minutes.

LIPTON ONION SOUP MIX

8 tsp. dry minced onion
1 tsp. onion powder
4 tsp. beef bouillon or 4 cubes
1/4 tsp. celery salt

Mix with 4 cups water for soup OR use dry with sour cream for dip.

Bean Soup Mix in a Jar

2 cups dry black beans
2 cups dry Great Northern beans (or any small white bean)
2 cups dry red kidney beans
2 cups dry pinto beans
2 cups dry green split peas

In four 1-pint canning jars, layer beans in order given, dividing evenly between jars. For seasoning packets, use four individual small sandwich bags, or four 6-inch squares of plastic wrap or foil.

Into EACH seasoning packet (you'll need FOUR times this amount TOTAL for all four jars of soup mix), place:

3 teaspoons beef (or vegetable) bouillon
3 tablespoons dried chives (chopped)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried savory
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf

To Prepare Soup:
3 hours before serving, rinse beans with cold, running water. Remove stones or shriveled beans. In a Dutch oven or stock- pot, bring beans and 9 cups water to boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans. Place beans, 5 cups of water, and seasoning packet contents into pot. Heat to boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours until beans are tender. Stir occasionally. Add one 16-oz. can stewed tomatoes with liquid (break up tomatoes). Heat to boiling. Reduce to low, and cook 15 minutes more. Discard bay leaf.

Each jar of soup mix will make approximately 6 - 8 generous servings.

Country Soup in a Jar

1/2 C. barley
1/2 C. dried split peas
1/2 C. uncooked rice
1/2 C. dry lentils
2 T. dried minced onion
2 T. dried parsley
2 t. salt
1/2 t. lemon pepper
2 T. beef bouillon granules
1/2 C. uncooked alphabet pasta
1 C. uncooked twist macaroni

In a wide mouth 1 quart jar, layer the barley, peas, rice and lentils. Then layer around the edges the onion, parsley, salt, lemon pepper, bouillon and the alphabet pasta. Fill the rest of the jar with the twist macaroni in a plastic bag.

Seal and attach a gift card. The gift card should read: Add contents of jar to 3 quarts of water, 2 stalks of chopped celery, 2 sliced carrots, 1 cup of shredded cabbage (optional) and 2 cups diced tomatoes. Over medium low heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, or until vegetables are tender.

Stir in macaroni during last 15 minutes of cooking.

Tortilla Soup Mix in a Jar Recipe

Ingredients for Jar:
1 cup converted long grain rice (Uncle Ben's)
2 to 2 1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips
1 (5-oz.) can chicken

Seasonings: Mix the following and place in a thin zipper sandwich bag:

2 tbsp. chicken bouillon granules
2 tsp. lemonade powder with sugar
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. dried cilantro leaves
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup dried minced onion

Size of Jar: Quart

Place ingredients in jar in this order:

Place rice in jar first.

Place seasoning packet into jar next. Gently flatten bag so it is visible from all sides of jar.

Fill jar with tortilla chips.

Put lid on jar.

Attach can of chicken to top of jar. (Tape can to top of jar using clear tape. Cut a larger than normal circle of fabric so it will cover the can as well as the top part of the jar.)

Decorate jar with fabric.

Attach recipe to jar.

Tortilla Soup:
Carefully empty tortilla chips from jar into a dish. Set aside. Remove seasoning packet. Set aside. Place rice in large pan. Add 10 cups water and 1 (10-oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies and seasonings from packet. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Add tortilla chips. Cover and simmer 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.

Makes 12 cups soup.