Winter Bean Soup Mix

Layer all ingredients in a 1-pint glass jar. Store tightly covered at room temperature up to 2 months.

On gift tag put recipe for Calico Bean Soup as follows:

8 cups water, Winter Bean Soup Mix, 2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup), 2 medium stalks celery, chopped (1 cup), 2 pounds smoked ham shanks.

1. Heat water and Winter Bean Soup Mix to boiling in 4-quart Dutch oven. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour.

2. Stir carrots and celery into bean mixture. Add ham shanks. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for about 2 hours or until beans are tender.

3. Skim fat if necessary. Remove ham shanks and remove ham from bone. Trim excess fat from ham. Cut ham into 1/2-inch pieces. Stir ham into soup. Heat until hot.