We love giving gifts in jars or recipe kits for the holidays, and here's an especially charming idea from Sunset: quick bread in a milk bottle (or mason jar)!
Authors Charity Ferreira and Jil Peters layered the dry ingredients for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Quick Bread in glass bottles "from milk we bought in an independent food market, which is a good source for milk from small, local dairies." Alternatively, they suggest using quart-size canning jars. (We have also seen vintage milk bottles for sale at Etsy.) The lucky recipient just has to add wet ingredients – buttermilk, eggs, and butter – and bake.
Although one could use other quick bread mixes (such as a cinnamon bread, for instance), this particular recipe from Sunset looks especially nice with the layers of oats, chocolate chips, and nuts.
• Get the recipe & instructions: Quick bread in a bottle (Sunset)
Related: Last Minute Gift Idea: Beer Bread Mix
(Image: Sunset)
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If anyone knows a source for milk bottles like the one pictured beyond "buy them filled with milk at a store," I would love to know it! None of our local stores carry milk in those wonderful bottles.
Not sure where you're located, but this is a good source. I've asked around at a few dairies here in Wisconsin & they will sell the bottles separately as well - you may just want to do a search for 'Glass Milk Bottles' in your area. They're heavy, so shipping is what stings.
These are $7.50 for the empty bottle! I go to the farm (about 30 minutes outside of Pittsburgh), buy the milk in the bottle for $2. I don't drink milk, so I bake or give them to my friends to use up, then I take them back and use them for stuff like like this. A pain in the ass, but if you're buying a bunch, you're saving $5 a pop! And I'm cheap like that.
you can get much nicer jars check out this place.
http://www.freundcontainer.com/product.asp?pn=5505B23&cn=33&bhcd2=1291154809
beetlebug, that is quite a steal. Does the farm know you don't intend to return the bottles when they sell you the milk?
It's too bad the recipe is gone from the "related" link for beer bread! Anyone know of a good one?
@michelou This might be the recipe that disappeared: http://www.farmgirlfare.com/2005/11/beyond-easy-beer-bread.html
Great idea!
Traderspoint Creamery uses glass containers similar to these. They don't have a deposit on the bottles so I've been using them for different ideas.
I have a holiday party coming up and need stock of gifts so I'll use a dozen for gifting mulled whine. I'll probably attach a little spice packet so they can make one batch at home for themselves too.
Sorry, here is the link so you can find out where to buy this other than whole foods.
PS the yogurt is mighty tasty too!
www.tpforganics.com/
One very important chore I'm charged with completing before the holidays: I must drink two bottles of J.K. Scrumpy, so I can sterilize the empty bottles and pack up beer bread mix in them.
Each 22-ounce bottle holds one batch of dry mix. I label them with instructions and put them in a gift bag with a 12-ounce bottle of beer, so the recipient only needs to add butter and stir before putting it in the oven.
It's a great looking gift, and a great bread! I hope my family likes getting it as much as I would!
The Container store has these 1L bottles for $2.99.
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/jarsTerrines?productId=10013119&green=17246897181