The Easiest Homemade Gift: Friendship Soup Mix in a Mason Jar
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Let’s be honest, most gifts get used once (if that) and forgotten.
This isn’t one of those.
Friendship soup mix is practical, personal, and actually gets used. It takes about 10 minutes to assemble, looks great in a Mason jar, and turns into a full, hearty meal. That’s the kind of gift people remember.
Perfect for holidays, host gifts, or anyone who appreciates something homemade without the fluff.
What You’ll Need (To Make the Soup)
-1 ½ lbs ground beef
-1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
-1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
-2 cloves garlic
-3 quarts (12 cups) water or beef stock
-Salt & pepper to taste
How to Prepare the Soup
1. Remove pasta from the jar and set aside
2. In a large stockpot, combine soup mix (without pasta), water, cooked ground beef, garlic, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer
4. Simmer for 1 hour
5. Add pasta and cook until tender (about 10 minutes)
Dry Ingredients (For the Jar)
-1 cup dried split peas
-1 cup dried lentils
-½ cup pearl barley
-2 beef bouillon cubes
-¼ cup minced onion
-1 tsp basil
-1 tsp oregano
-1 tsp parsley
-1 tsp thyme
-¼ cup uncooked brown rice
-½ cup small pasta (ditalini works well)
How to Layer It (For Gifting)
Presentation matters! This is what turns it from “ingredients” into a gift.
Layer the ingredients in a Mason jar in this order:
1. ½ cup split peas
2. Brown rice
3. Minced onion
4. ½ cup lentils
5. Spices
6. ½ cup split peas
7. Beef bouillon cubes
8. Pearl barley
9. ½ cup lentils
10. Top with pasta
Seal it up, add a tag with cooking instructions, and you’re done.
Why This Works
-Shelf-stable and easy to store
-Budget-friendly but feels thoughtful
-Turns into a full meal, not just a snack
-Looks good without extra effort
It hits that rare sweet spot: useful and personal.
Make It Even Better (And More Giftable)
Pair your jar with a reusable lid from reCAP, like the POUR or FLIP lids.
-Easy to open and reseal
-Turns the jar into something reusable after the soup is gone
-Adds a practical upgrade instead of a throwaway lid
Because a good gift shouldn’t end up in the trash once it’s opened.
