Looking for an idea to keep the kids busy AND have a finished useful gift they can make?? This potato soup mix is an easy homemade gift the kids can make, and it is delicious! It’s a great way to teach kids how to measure properly, and uses ingredients you probably already have on-hand in your pantry. Of course, you could just save this potato soup mix for yourself too — it’s a great time-saver to have it pre-made in jars! Since it’s made with potatoes (every Irishman’s favorite food), it would make a great St. Patrick’s Day gift for friends or family too!
To make your own potato soup mix in a jar, you will need: instant potato flakes, powdered milk, dried thyme, dried parsley, chicken (or vegetable) bouillon, onion flakes, and seasoning salt.
Gather up the measuring cups and spoon, a large mixing bowl, mason jar (if storing in jars), and funnel. Then invite your kids over to measure out all of the ingredients into the large mixing bowl. You may want to review with the kids how to properly measure, ie. leveling off the measuring cups with the flat edge of a butter knife. Emily thought this was so much fun!!
2 cups potato flakes
1 3/4 cups powdered milk
2 tablespoons chicken or vegetable bouillon
2 teaspoons onion flakes
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt
Once all of the ingredients are in the bowl, be sure to stir it up well so the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout. Kids love to stir, don’t they?? Next, funnel your batch of homemade potato soup mix into a quart-sized mason jar.
To make the soup, attach a label with instructions to add 1 cup of hot water to 1/2 cup of the mix and stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Easy peasy, and the soup is delicious!!
Have fun!!
Great idea, especially that so many go-to recipes in jars are for sweets. We’ll definitely be making this one.
Wow, that looks fun and easy for kids! Love it!
Can’t wait to try this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sorry but I don’t get it. Why use all that processed stuff? What’s wrong with real potatoes, milk from a jug, and so on? I mean, have you looked at the ingredient list for powdered milk, instant potatoes, and bouillon powder???? The added salt and sugar!!! Be healthy. Peel and boil up some nice potatoes, maybe with some grated onion and chopped celery, mash them in their own water. Pour into your jar equal amounts of milk and broth (chicken or vegetable), add one or two tablespoons of AP flour for each cup in the jar, screw the lid on tight, and shake, shake, shake. Pour the jar’s content into the saucepan with your vegetables, maybe add some favorite herbs, and stir to blend. Return to the heat and bring to a boil. It will thicken slightly while boiling. Add salt and pepper to taste. Look at all the chef has learned to do (peel, chop, stir, respect fire, etc.) and you have a healthy bowl of soup with minimum chemicals. Suggest grated Cheddar cheese as the garnish.
Interesting, Suzi — Like you, I would prefer soup made from scratch, but sometimes this is not possible, so this does provide a quick, convenient, and relatively healthy option that even very young children can make with very little help from grown ups.
I would like to point out that the potato flakes used have “dehydrated potatoes” listed as the only ingredient http://www.bobsredmill.com/potato-flakes.html and the powdered milk lists “organic skim milk” as its only ingredient as well http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/milk/nonfat-dry-milk/.
Personally, I find soup to need at least some salt, but you can certainly season it however you’d like. Keep in mind the salt/bullion is enough for an entire quart sized jar of mix. There is no added sugar in this recipe at all. I’m all for getting kids involved in the kitchen, and yes to learning to peel, chop, stir, measure!! 🙂
If you’re looking for made from scratch options, we have lots of soup recipes on our sister site Inner Child Food — along with storybooks to go with them! –> http://food.innerchildfun.com/2013/01/hearty-soup-recipes-roundup.html
This looks like a great “Gift in a Jar” for old folks, shut ins, or just a way to store easy, quick soup staples. I love this idea!!
At a young age, my son has already shown me his interest in cooking. This is just right for him to try since we are soup-lovers in the family. And it’s easy to prepare. You are right; most of the ingredients for this mix can be found in our kitchen. No hassle. My son would be excited to hear that I am going to let him prepare a soup in a jar. Thanks for the recipe!