Join the Discussion "Enjoy these mixes you can give away as gifts." Kathy S

Related Resources • Mix Magic • Food Safety • My Easy Recipes

From Other Guides • Homemade Spice Mixes • Gifts from the Kitchen • Flavored Coffee Mixes • Flavored Syrups

Have you ever made your own mixes? There are many recipes available, from Hearty Bean Soup Mix to Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk to Dukka. Make a flavored coffee creamer or your own hot roll mix. With a little organization, some tightly sealed jars and labeling equipment you can have a pantry full of fabulous mixes in no time.

I have received quite a few messages from readers who are concerned about fat and sodium content in many recipes that call for condensed soups and seasoning mixes. Make your own mixes and you control the sodium and fat content in the foods you eat. On a low sodium diet? Just leave out or reduce the salt or salty products. Want to eat low fat? Substitute low fat ingredients for higher fat ones. As a bonus, you can customize each mix to your taste. And you'll save money too!

Homemade mixes are also one of the best Christmas gifts. I have given my sister-in-law mixes for soups and cookies and she loved them. There's nothing like a personalized gift, beautifully packaged along with recipe cards, to add warmth to the holidays. There will be more information about holiday gifts in the next few weeks at Busy Cooks, and each of these categories will keep growing. In the meantime, grab a pencil and some note paper and start making your own list of friends and family who would love to receive a gift of mixes from your kitchen.

If you want a specific mix recipe, please contact me and I'll include it.

• Baking Mixes
• Beverage Mixes
• Convenience Food Mixes
• Dip Mixes
• Sauce and Salad Dressing Mixes
• Spice and Herb Mixes
• Soup Mixes