How about something that goes with the jam, like scones? You can make the ahead, cut into wedges (or use a circular cutter), freeze on a sheet, wrap and then bake shortly before presenting.

Carol

Thanks Carol. My mom suggested something similar. But I was thinking more along the lines of doing two jars of something. Maybe another jam or a conserve. I am not so sure that I trust my baking skills. But I am pretty confident with my canning.

I saw the raspberry/chocolate jam and am dying to try it. But I would need to buy 21 pints of raspberries so that would be almost $100 for the raspberries alone. Not sure I want to go that high.

Maybe the brandied cranberry conserve from Small Batch? Anyone try that? I would need 9 cups of cranberries for that one. A 12 ounce package is $3.00. And I would only need about three to get the nine cups. Not so sure about sending a gift with alcohol to school. But I know them all well enough to know that they probably wouldn't be offended.

I have been teaching classes on Gifts from the Kitchen the past 2 weeks .
I have LOTS of ideas and recipes.
How about a scone mix they can bake ? I made one up today at a class and then used as a doorprize. Just mix up and enclose the instructions I have at the bottom.
I also have an easy sweet cornbread mix recipe.

Blueberry Scone Mix

*These are delicious warm from the oven with butter and jam or lemon curd ; a perfect breakfast food. A jar of homemade blueberry jam would make a wonderful accompaniment to this, as well .

2 cups all purpose unbleached flour
1/2 cup Vanilla sugar
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp dried lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup dried blueberries

Stir together flour, sugar, dry milk, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt. Cut in shortening using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in dried berries. Stores at room temp. for up to 6 weeks, or freeze for up to 6 months.

GIFT TAG DIRECTIONS:

Place package contents in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 beaten egg and 1/4 cup water; stir just until moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and quickly knead gently for 12 to 15 strokes or until nearly smooth. Pat to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into desired shape and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with milk. Bake at 400F for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly and serve warm.

I also have an easy sweet cornbread mix recipe.

Please post that one Linda Lou. I'd really like to have that one for gifts. We find that many prefer gifts of items such as this and the scones that they can do themselves over something already made up. Some folks just don't like jams and such and some don't trust other people's canning.

Thanks.

Dave

PS: what is "vanilla sugar"?

Ccaggiano: I'm not a baker, or a parent for that matter. For what its worth, I think you have a great idea going, no matter what you end up sending those teachers. My mom has been an elementary school teacher for like 33 years, and I can tell you that she remembers gifts given her from each and every year. A few years back, she moved to a school in a much more affluent area. She gets lots of gifts that I'm sure cost those parents a bit. However, she still remembers the the homemade, heartfelt gifts from years gone by in a school whose parents didn't have 50 bucks so spend on a 3rd grade teacher. Good luck with whatever you come up with. Also, stuff with booze would be a no no in today's crazy schools, at least around here. Who knows what kind of hornet's nest that may stir up!

I can tell you from experience that the apple pie jam will be well received!

We've just gotten notification from our Superintendents Office that, at least in Massachusetts, it is a violation of the State Ethics Law for teachers to accept gifts from students. So I'm making a donation to our school foundation in the teachers names instead.

California Cornbread Mix in a Jar

This is a sweet, cake-like corn bread that is delicious with honey butter.

2 cups Bisquick baking mix
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder

In a large glass or ceramic bowl, stir all the ingredients together. Store in an airtight container/jar.

Attach to jar if giving as a gift:

California Corn Bread:

Serves 4 to 6

1 jar California Corn Bread Mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the cornbread mix in a large mixing bowl and add the eggs, milk and butter. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Poor into a greased 8-inch square baking pan and bake for 30 minutes.

Bird Seed Ornaments :
Birdseed ornaments
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water
3 T. corn syrup
Mix in 4 cups birdseed. Place in cookie molds on cookie sheets lined with parchment. Or, use metal cookie cutters. Let dry a few hours, remove the cookie cutters and finish drying. Takes about 8 hours or more to dry. Put a hole in them with a chopstick or something when you mold them.
****************************************************
We sell the books from the classes. They make a good gift, too.

Hope you enjoy the recipes.

Great! Thanks Linda Lou.

Dave

You are welcome ! Everyone seems to go crazy over the bird seed ornaments.

ccaggiano,

I agree that the raspberry chocolate jam is one to make when berries are in season! (And preferably at Pick-your-own prices. This summer I got young nieces who were visiting to help with the picking---definitely the ideal way to go for that one. ;-) )

Your thought to go with something cranberry makes sense to me given the time of year. (Cranberries were on sale here last week for only 1.99 a 3-cup bag; maybe you'll get a sale this week!)

I haven't tried the brandied conserve but I've made the Cranberry Pear Lemon jam from Small Batch---it rocks, and makes a lovely deep red-coloured jar for gifting. Decent pears are usually still available from California.

Another good option for this time of year might be some kind of orange or tangerine marmalade thing. But I don't have a specific suggestion for a good one, and people's tastes vary widely as to whether they like bitter or sweet marmalades.

Habanero gold is another possibility---make it mild (with just a hint of hab and mostly sweet peppers). It looks SO pretty. One package of dried apricots, a four-pack of sweet peppers and one or two hot peppers should do it. Use Carol's big batch "Hot 'n Sweet Confetti Jelly" version to save on pectin costs.

The other key to economical gift-giving is to give four-ounce jars---they are cute and the recipients like 'em just as much as half-pint jars. (OTOH, if you HAVE half-pint jars, you won't be saving by buying a new box of jars. ;-) )

Good luck and have fun. I agree with sage721 that your homemade gifts will be deeply appreciated.

Z, who gives pretty much EVERYONE homemade gifts these days

Over the past few years I have given preserves and home made breads to teachers and staff at the kids' school. Let me tell you, anything homemade tends to be a hit, but two things stand out as top hits:Pommegranate jelly and mini pumpkin bread loaves.

This year the third grade teacher had a problem with added sugars due to a recent operation on his esophagus I believe. The solution was a quart of homemade gala applesauce, unsweetened.

As a teacher, I can tell you that for me the homemade gifts actually mean so much more to me than any of the other gifts. The greatest gift you can receive is time. Unlike money, we all have just a certain amount, and there is no way to increase that! A gift card is nice and all, but a gift of homemade jams, jellies, cookies, etc. is so much nicer. You can't buy that in a store, and you know that the family took time out of their busy holiday preparation to make something for you.

It's awesome.

Speaking as a former teacher I can also say that while I very much appreciated all gifts, the consumables were the best.

Over thirty years you can accumulate a lot of mugs and tchotchkes.

Mixes in jars, preserves and syrups are wonderful as they don't need to be utilized immediately.

A pancake mix and a fruit syrup is a nice combination.

Carol