Gifts in Jars Recipes

Find a Jar

Many options exist for finding the right jar for your gifts in jars recipes. Look around the local thrift and antique stores. Garage sales can also offer hidden treasures. The old Mason jar is always a good standby and is usually found at your local store. Some people like to collect the jars and later think of things to put in them; others get an idea for a gift jar and then seek the proper container.

If you want to give a gift of preserves or jam then a jar is the only way to go. If you are thinking of oils or vinegars then a bottle could be an option as well.

Sterilize

Once you choose a jar, sterilize it. If you go with the Mason jar option, you won’t be able to sterilize the lid. However, they sell replacement lids. If you choose the rubber stopper kind of jar, you can drop the rubber ring into boiling water briefly, but it best to find a replacement if it has been used before.

The gift jar or bottle can be sterilized. One easy way is using your dishwasher. Most of the newer models have an option to sterilize. Put your bottles and jars into your dishwasher, choose the sterilize setting and wait until it is done. Another option is boiling water. Boil jars for several minutes, making sure the glass is completely submerged. If you are using a tall bottle or want to do a lot of jars at once, you can use your oven. Turn your oven up to 350 degrees, place the jars on a cookie sheet and put them into the oven for 15 minuets. They must be completely dry, before you do this. After 15 minutes, turn the oven off, open the door and let them cool completely before removing them from the oven. No matter which method you use, make sure that you use a clean dry cloth to handle them after they are sterilized.

Fill It

A gift jar isn’t a gift until you fill it. Flavored oils and vinegars are a delicious, easy and versatile. They can be used in dressings or to add more flavor to a recipe. Such gifts in jars recipes need to start with the best quality oil or vinegar you can find. Then use one of these methods:

• Warm Infusion: Heat the oil or vinegar gently over a low flame with the flavoring ingredient until the aroma is noticeable. Remove from heat and let cool. Then just pour it into the jar. If you like you can strain it, or leave the flavoring ingredient in the bottle for a more intense flavor.
• Steeping: Much like warm infusion, heat the oil or vinegar until it starts to get warm. Pour it into the jar, and then add the flavoring ingredient. After a few days of steeping take the old flavoring ingredient out and replace it with fresh ingredients.
• Puree: The puree method is great if you want to use vegetables to flavor your vinegar or oil. Use raw, blanched, or fully cooked vegetables fruits or herbs. Use a blender or food processor to puree the ingredient and oil or vinegar and then pour the puree into a pot and simmer it. The longer you simmer, the stronger the flavor. Strain and pour it into the jar.
• Cold infusion: Mix room temperature oil or vinegar and ground spices or herbs. Pour into the jar and let the mixture settle until the liquid is clear and the spices have settled to the bottom.

As far as preserves or jams go, the possibilities are endless. One very attractive idea is to take lemons and cut them almost into quarters, leaving about a quarter of an inch uncut, as if you where going to quarter them and decided not to. Rub kosher salt over the exposed lemon surface. Put them in the jar, pressing them as tightly as possible. Cover with lemon juice. In about three weeks, the lemons will be sweet and useful in Mediterranean recipes as well as a bright addition to the kitchen counter.

Wrapping Gifts in Jars Recipes

A bit of ribbon around the jar is usually enough to showcase your gift. Gift jars make a welcome addition to gift baskets and a great seasonal gift.