Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar
Decorate the jar with a fabric lid and/or a bow tied around the neck. Be sure to attach the cooking instructions to the jar.

1/3 cup beef or chicken bouillon granules
1/4 cup dehydrated onion flakes 1/2 cup split peas
1/2 cup alphabet pasta (any small pasta is fine)
1/4 cup barley
1/2 cup lentils
1/3 cup non-instant white rice tricolor spiral pasta

Use a canning funnel or any funnel that has about a 2-inch neck. Be sure to use a wide-mouth, 1-quart canning jar.
Layer ingredients in the order given above and add enough tricolor spiral pasta to fill the jar.

Attach a tag with cooking instructions:

Friendship Soup
In large kettle, brown 1 pound ground beef, (stew beef or chicken) which has been cut into bite-size pieces, in a little olive or vegetable oil.
Remove the tricolor pasta from the jar and put aside.
Add the rest of the jar contents to the pot with 12 cups water. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer 45 minutes.
Add the tricolor pasta and simmer 15 minutes more. Serve with your favorite bread or rolls and a tossed salad. (Makes 8 servings.)