Select which dried beans you want to use in your mix. There are a variety of different types of bean soups that you can make for your soup mix. Beans that you could use include pink beans, black beans, baby lima beans, lentils, black-eyed peas, red kidney beans, pinto beans, and great northern beans. Make sure to use dried beans so that your mix can stay fresh.[1] X Research source You can use anywhere from three to five different types of beans to create your soup mix. Southwestern bean soup uses dried black beans, kidney beans, and great northern beans.[2] X Research source Beans are perfect for soup mix gifts because they do not need to be refrigerated. Layer your beans on the bottom of the jar. Layer the beans you've selected on the bottom of a mason jar, placing the most colorful beans on the very bottom of the jar. If you are using three variations of beans, use a 1/2 cup (113 grams) of each type of bean. If you are using four or more different types of beans, use 1/3 of a cup (75 grams) of each type of bean.[3] X Research source Use one quart (.95 liter) mason jars when creating your gift. Shake the jar lightly to settle the beans as you layer them. From the outside of the

jar, the beans should make colorful layers. Place a bay leaf and bouillon cube on top of the beans in each jar. A flavored bouillon cube and bay leaf will add flavor to the broth of the soup. A vegetable or beef bouillon cube will taste best with this recipe. In addition to this, you can also add other ingredients like salt, pepper, dried basil, or chili powder, depending on how you usually make your bean soup. When adding spices to your soup, add anywhere from 1/2 of a teaspoon (1.3 grams) to a full teaspoon (2.6 grams) of your dried spices. To make a basic bean soup, you could add 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 grams) of salt and a pinch of black pepper to your jar. To spice up your soup, add one teaspoon of ground cumin (2.6 grams) and 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 grams) of dried chili flakes to your jar. Attach a note with directions to the side of your jar. It's important that the gift recipient knows how to cook the soup once they receive it. Fold up a piece of paper that contains directions on how to cook your bean soup. To cook most bean soups, bring a pot with at least 6 cups (1.41 liters) of water to a boil and add the ingredients in the bean soup. Once the ingredients are added, set the heat to

low and let the beans cook for at least two hours. To liven up your broth, add 14 ounces (1.41 liters) of canned tomatoes to your soup. Layer dried rosemary, dried sage, and dried thyme on the bottom of a jar. Use 1/2 a teaspoon (1.13 grams) of each ingredient and add it to the bottom of your soup mix.[4] X Research source These powdered spices will add flavor to the soup. Do not use the fresh variations for these spices unless you plan on gifting your soup mix within a day. Use one quart (.95 liter) mason jars. If you do use fresh spices, make sure to keep your soup mix refrigerated. Add dried chopped onions, dried minced garlic, and bay leaf to the jar. Add one tsp (7.80 g) of dried chopped onions and dried minced garlic to your mason jar. These final ingredients will add additional complexity and flavor profiles to your chicken noodle soup. Make sure to use the dry spices and not fresh ones or else your soup mix will be perishable. Dump 2 cups (200 grams) of egg noodles on the top of the soup mix. Dump wide egg noodles on top of the other ingredients. You can also swap the egg noodles for vegetable noodles, elbows, or a different type of noodle. Thick egg noodles will help soak

up some of the broth better than thinner noodles. Put celery seed and a chicken bouillon cube over the spices. Add a 1/2 teaspoon (1.13 grams) of celery seeds and one or two chicken bouillon cubes to the mix. The chicken bouillon cube will transform your dull water into a broth. You can replace your chicken bouillon cube with beef or vegetable cubes to create beef or vegetable soup, respectively.[5] X Research source Unwrap the bullion cube so that your gift receiver can just dump the ingredients into a pot. Attach directions to the side of the gift. To make the chicken noodle soup, heat one tablespoon (5 mL) of oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add a diced carrot or another vegetable of your choice and cook it for five minutes. Once it's hot, add the ingredients from your mason jar and three cups (709.76 mL) of water to your pot. The soup should take about 10 minutes to cook fully.[6] X Research source Use ribbon and fabric to decorate the lid. Place the piece of linen over the lid of the jar, then fold down the sides. Wrap a ribbon to secure the cloth to the jar and you'll have created a custom mason jar. This will give it a unique style and will add to the aesthetics of the

gift.[7] X Research source Take inspiration from the time of year. Light orange and red are great colors for the autumn. Experiment with different textile designs to create a truly unique soup mix gift. Red and white ribbon is a great option if you celebrate Christmas. Apply custom made stickers or labels. A label can be an additional touch that adds character to your gift. Think of something related to the holiday or occasion. For functionality, type the cooking directions onto a piece of label paper and stick it to the side of your gift. You can also put the name of the soup so that the person receiving the gift knows what it is. Your label could say "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Holidays!" Paint the sides of the gift. You can use glass paint or alcohol ink to tint your mason jar another color. Being able to see through the glass is what makes soup mix gifts so interesting, so it's smart not to use a paint that will conceal the ingredients inside.[8] X Research source You may have to seal your paint with an acrylic sealer to keep it waterproof. Sterilize the mason jars before using them. Sterilizing your jar is an important step you have to take before making these gifts. To

sterilize your mason jar, submerge it under boiling water for 10 minutes. Wipe them down thoroughly with a paper towel or cotton cloth and seal the lid. Cleaning your jars will ensure that no foreign bacteria will be trapped in your soup gifts.