Friendship Soup

This is a recipe for a soup mix you can put in a jar and give as a gift. It makes four quarts so it is also a good one to give if you are bringing a family a meal double if you want a big pot's worth)

Layer in jar:

1/2 C dry split peas
1/2 C dry lentils
1/2 C uncooked long grain white rice
1/3 C beef bouillon granules (16 cubes if you are just making the soup)
1/4 C pearl barley
1/4 C dried minced onion
2 t italian seasoning
1/2 C alphabet pasta or other small pasta, put in baggie and place on top

to make soup

brown 1 pound ground beef, drain
add:
dry ingredients (except pasta)
3 quarts water
28 oz can diced tomatoes

bring to a boil, cover and simmer 45 minutes
add pasta, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes until pasta and beans are tender

Blueberry-Raspberry Muffins

From the One Bite Won't Kill You cookbook by Ann Hodgman

*Make half of the recipe for a dozen muffins. They are large and hardy so it will be plenty, even if you are giving them away.

2 C flour
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
4 large eggs
1 16 oz container sour cream
1 1/4 (that's 10 T) sticks unsalted butter
2 C light brown sugar packed
2 C rolled oats
1 C fresh or frozen (don't thaw) blueberries
1 C fresh or frozen (don't thaw) raspberries
sugar for topping if you are weird

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Line 2 12 muffin tins with liners
melt butter and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve, let cool slightly
combine flour, soda, powder, and salt in a bowl
beat eggs and sour cream
beat brown sugar mixture in with egg mixture
stir in oats
fold in flour mixture
gently fold in berries

fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter
drop generous pinch of sugar on top of each muffin
bake for 25-28 minutes until the edges are medium brown and tops are firm
cool for 5 minutes in pans then finish cooling on racks