Friendship Soup

I love the mix-in-a-jar type gifts. They are practical, consumable, and usually taste good! Great gifts for that person who has everything and does at least a little cooking.

This recipe is so good that if I'm making one to give away, I make one for myself, too!

Friendship Soup

Layer in a quart jar the following order:
1/2 cup dry split peas
1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
1/4 cup pearl barley
1/2 cup lentils
1/4 cup minced onion
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 cup brown rice
3/4 cup pasta

Attach the following recipe to the jar.

To prepare:
Take pasta out of jar first.
In large pot brown 1 lb ground beef. 
Add 3 quart of water and 28 oz can of diced tomatoes.
Add all of jar ingredients except pasta. Simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Add noodles in the last 15 minutes.

Options:
If you don't like to use beef bouillon granules, omit them from the jar and change the water in the directions to beef broth.

I usually add a scrap of fabric to the jar lid before gifting it.