I'm getting ready to make a bunch of meals in a jar. I like to make a dozen of each recipe. There is a little math to do to make sure you have all the ingredients, so I thought it might be helpful to share what I do and how I do it.
What I'll be making: Chicken Noodle Soup, Zuppa Toscanna, Lasagna Potato Soup, Beef Strogonoff, and Burrito Bowls.
A reminder about the basics of how to make a meal in a jar.
How to make a Meal-in-a-Jar: Two Methods
Method 1:
Use a Food Saver to Seal the Jars
Step 1: In a clean, dry quart jar, layer ingredients. Shake the powder
down into the jar if needed.
Step 2: Place the lid on the jar. Don’t add the ring.
Step 3: Attach one end of the hose to the accessory
port and the other end to the jar sealer.
Place the jar sealer over the jar.
Step 4: Turn on your food saver and remove the oxygen
from the jar.
Step 5: Remove the jar sealer (it
is easier to unhook the hose from the jar sealer first), add label and ring, store
in a cool dry place.
Method
2: Use Oxygen Absorbers
Step 1:
In a clean,
dry quart jar, layer ingredients. Shake the powder down into the jar if needed.
Step 2: Wipe the top of the jar with a paper towel to
remove any powder.
Step 3: Top with a 300 cc oxygen absorber. Seal
tightly.
Step 4: The lid should seal within a few hours. Add label.
Store in a cool, dry place.
My Assembly Line
The Recipes
Chicken Noodle Soup
A classic chicken soup filled
with vegetables, chicken, and egg noodles.
Jar
Directions: Layer ingredients in a
quart-sized jar, shaking the dry powder ingredients into the bulkier items. Top
with an oxygen (300 cc) packet for longer-term storage add new canning lid and
hand-tighten the metal ring, OR seal with a food saver. Cover with a new canning lid and hand-tighten
the metal ring.
*All of the ingredients will fit in the jar,
if you are having trouble getting them to fit simply tap the bottom of the jar
on a hard surface until the contents settle.
Cooking Directions: Add contents of jar to 8 cup of rapidly
boiling water. Stir well. Simmer 10 -12 minutes until noodles are
soft.
Shopping List for 12 Jars of
Chicken Noodle Soup
|
For 1 Jar of
Chicken Noodle Soup
|
1 #10 Can Thrive freeze-dried Chopped Chicken
1 pantry can Thrive Chicken Bouillon
1 spice can Thrive Chef’s Choice Blend
1 spice can Thrive Salad Blend
1 #10 Can Thrive freeze-dried Celery (1/3 a can for a
dozen)
1 #10 Can Carrots (1/3 a can for a dozen)
1 #10 Can Thrive freeze-dried Onions (1/3 a can for a dozen)
3 #10 cans Thrive Egg Noodles
|
¾ cup Thrive
freeze dried Chopped Chicken
2
Tablespoons Thrive Chicken Bouillon
1 tsp Thrive
Chef’s Choice Blend
1 tsp Thrive
Salad Blend
¼ cup Thrive
freeze dried Celery
¼ cup Thrive
freeze dried Carrots
¼ cup Thrive freeze dried Onions
1 ½ -2
cups Thrive Egg Noodles, fill the jar up
|
Zuppa
Toscana
A spicy sausage, spinach and
potato soup with a creamy broth.
Jar
Directions: Layer ingredients in a
quart-sized jar, shaking the dry powder ingredients into the bulkier items. Top
with an oxygen (300 cc) packet for longer-term storage add new canning lid and
hand-tighten the metal ring, OR seal with a food saver. Cover with a new canning lid and hand-tighten
the metal ring.
*All of the ingredients will fit in the jar,
if you are having trouble getting them to fit simply tap the bottom of the jar
on a hard surface until the contents settle.
Cooking Directions: Add contents of jar to 8 cup of rapidly
boiling water. Stir well. Simmer 20 minutes until potatoes are
soft.
Shopping List for 12 Jars of
Zuppa Toscana
|
For 1 Jar of
Zuppa Toscana
|
1
#10 Can Thrive Potato Chunks
1#10 can Thrive freeze dried Sausage
1
#10 Can Thrive freeze dried Onion
(you’ll use ½ can)
1
#10 Can Thrive freeze-dried Kale
24 teaspoons red pepper flakes
9
teaspoon garlic powder
1
#10 Can Thrive Bacon TVP or add bacon when cooking
1 pantry can Thrive Veloute sauce mix
|
3/4
cup Thrive dehydrate Potato Chunks
1/2 cup Thrive freeze dried Sausage
½ cup Thrive freeze dried Onion
3/4
cup Thrive freeze dried Kale
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¼
cup Thrive Bacon TVP
¼ cup Thrive Veloute sauce mix
|
Lasagna
Soup
The traditional flavors of
lasagna with sausage, pasta, and tomato sauce in a hearty soup.
Jar
Directions: Layer ingredients in a
quart-sized jar, shaking the dry powder ingredients into the bulkier items. Top
with an oxygen (300 cc) packet for longer-term storage add new canning lid and
hand-tighten the metal ring, OR seal with a food saver. Cover with a new canning lid and hand-tighten
the metal ring.
*All of the ingredients will fit in the jar,
if you are having trouble getting them to fit simply tap the bottom of the jar
on a hard surface until the contents settle.
Cooking Directions: Add contents of jar to 8 cup of rapidly
boiling water add 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Stir well. Simmer 10 -12
minutes until noodles are soft. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Shopping List for 12 Jars of
Lasagna Soup
|
For 1 Jar of
Lasagna Soup
|
1 #10 can
of Thrive freeze dried Sausage
1 #10 can
of Thrive freeze dried Onion (you’ll use 1/3 of the can)
1 pantry
can Thrive Mixed Peppers
24 tsp garlic
powder
1 pantry
can Thrive Chicken Bouillon
1 pantry
can Thrive Tomato Sauce
1 pantry
can Thrive Tomato Powder
1 spice
can Thrive Chef’s Choice seasoning
3 #10 cans
Thrive Rainbow Farfel Pasta
|
3/4 cup Thrive
freeze dried Sausage
¼ cup Thrive
freeze dried Onion
3
Tablespoons Mixed Peppers
1-2 tsp
garlic powder
1
Tablespoon Chicken Bouillon
¼ cup
Thrive Tomato Sauce
¼ cup
Thrive Tomato Powder
1 tsp Thrive
Chef’s Choice Seasoning
2 cups Thrive
Rainbow Farfel Pasta
|
*In
this recipe the more noodles you can fit in the jar the better, be sure to tap
down the jars and add as many noodles as possible.
Potato
Soup
A creamy hearty potato soup
Jar
Directions: Layer ingredients in a
quart-sized jar, shaking the dry powder ingredients into the bulkier items. Top
with an oxygen (300 cc) packet for longer-term storage add new canning lid and
hand-tighten the metal ring, OR seal with a food saver. Cover with a new canning lid and hand-tighten
the metal ring.
*All of the ingredients will fit in the jar,
if you are having trouble getting them to fit simply tap the bottom of the jar
on a hard surface until the contents settle.
Cooking Directions: Add contents of jar to 8 cup of rapidly
boiling water. Stir well. Simmer 20 minutes until potatoes are
soft. For a thicker soup add 6 cups water (instead
of the 8 cups)
Shopping List for 12 Jars of
Potato Soup
|
For 1 Jar of
Potato Soup
|
2 pantry
cans Thrive Béchamel Powder
1 #10 can Sour Cream (you’ll have extra)
1 pantry
can freeze dried celery
1 pantry
can freeze dried onion
2 #10 cans
freeze dried potato dices
3 cups precooked
crumbled bacon
1 spice
can chives (use either freeze dried or dehydrated)
|
½ cup
Thrive Béchamel Powder
½ cup Sour
Cream
¼ cup
freeze dried celery
¼ cup
freeze dried onion
1 ½ cup
freeze dried potato dices
¼ cup
precooked crumbled bacon (this shortens the shelf life, leave it out if you
want a longer shelf life)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp
chives (use either freeze dried or dehydrated)
|
* Recipe Notes: In this recipe I use precooked crumbled bacon. I recommend using store bought precooked
bacon. I get mine at Sam’s Club. It looks like this. When I use it in a meal in a jar recipe I
figure that the jar meal will last as long as the bacon would have lasted on
the shelf. Most packages I’ve found have
a 1 year shelf life. So for my family I
reduce the regular 5 year shelf life of this recipe to just 1 year. We love bacon and I know we will eat this
soup up in under a year. If you are hoping
for a longer shelf life just leave the bacon out of the jar, you can always add
it when cooking.
You could
add Bacon TVP instead of the precooked bacon, I haven’t tried but it would give
you a longer shelf life then the bacon.
Beef
Stroganoff
Jar
Directions: Layer ingredients in a
quart-sized jar, shaking the dry powder ingredients into the bulkier items. Top
with an oxygen (300 cc) packet for longer-term storage add new canning lid and
hand-tighten the metal ring, OR seal with a food saver. Cover with a new canning lid and hand-tighten
the metal ring.
*All of the ingredients will fit in the jar,
if you are having trouble getting them to fit simply tap the bottom of the jar
on a hard surface until the contents settle.
Cooking
Directions: In
a large saucepan bring 5 ½ cups of water to a boil. Add contents of jar and let
simmer for 15-20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes to thicken.
Shopping List for 12 Jars of
Beef Stroganoff
|
For 1 Jar of
Beef Stroganoff
|
2
pantry cans Thrive Béchamel Sauce
1
pantry can Thrive Espagnole Gravy
1
# 10 can Thrive Sour Cream Powder (you’ll have extra)
1
pantry can Thrive Beef Bouillon
1
pantry can Thrive freeze dried Onions
1
#10 can Thrive freeze dried Roast Beef
Thrive
Egg Noodle Pasta
1
# 10 can Thrive Mushrooms (FD) optional
1
spice can Thrive Chef’s Choice Seasoning Blend
1
spice can Thrive Salad Seasoning
|
1/2
cup Thrive Béchamel Sauce
2
T. Thrive Espagnole Gravy
1/2
cup Thrive Sour Cream Powder
2
T. Thrive Beef Bouillon
¼
cup Thrive Onions (FD)
1
cup Thrive Cooked Roast Beef (FD)
2
1/2 cups Thrive Egg Noodle Pasta
1/3
cup Thrive Mushrooms (FD) optional, can use more.
1
tsp Thrive Chef’s Choice Seasoning Blend
1
Tablespoon Thrive Salad Seasoning
|
Burrito
Bowls
What’s a
Burrito Bowl? It a burrito you eat in a
bowl with no tortilla. You could always
use this as burrito filling, but it is delicious without the tortilla. Yields 5 1 cup servings
Jar
Directions: Layer ingredients in a
quart-sized jar, shaking the dry powder ingredients into the bulkier items. Top
with an oxygen (300 cc) packet for longer-term storage add new canning lid and
hand-tighten the metal ring, OR seal with a food saver. Cover with a new canning lid and hand-tighten
the metal ring.
*All of the ingredients will fit in the jar,
if you are having trouble getting them to fit simply tap the bottom of the jar
on a hard surface until the contents settle.
Cooking
Directions: Heat 3 Tbsp.
oil in a large sauce pan. Add contents
of jar and sauté for 30 seconds. Be careful don’t burn it. Add 5 cups water and simmer 5 min. Remove from
heat and cover for 10 minutes. Serve
with your favorite Mexican toppings. We
like; cheddar
cheese, freshly diced tomatoes diced green onions, sour cream and guacamole
Shopping List for 12 Jars of
Burrito Bowls
|
For 1 Jar of
Burrito Bowls
|
1
#10 can freeze dried chicken slices
1
pantry can freeze dried onions
1
#10 can instant rice (white or brown)
2
pantry cans Thrive tomato sauce powder
1
#10 can instant beans (black or pinto)
6
teaspoon of garlic powder
6
teaspoon of chili powder
12
teaspoon of cumin
1 pantry
can Thrive chicken bouillon
|
1 cup freeze dried chicken slices
1/4
cup freeze dried onions
1
cup instant rice (white or brown)
½ cup
Thrive tomato sauce powder
1
cup instant beans (black or pinto)
1/2
teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2
teaspoon of chili powder
1
teaspoon of cumin
1
Tablespoon chicken bouillon
|
