Mother’s Day Mason Jar Vases

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Nothing says “I love you” quite like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. This Mother’s Day, why not take it a little step further and create these beautiful, DIY hand-painted mason jar vases that you know she’ll love. Better yet, if you’ve got little ones of your own, get them involved too! Mix and match multiple colors or simply choose the ones that go wonderfully with her favorite flowers. Either way, these do-it-yourself vases are easy to make, plus, Mom will know that they were painted with love.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Mason jars
  • Chalk paint in your preferred colors
  • Sandpaper
  • White chalk
  • Clear acrylic spray
  • Paintbrush

1. Paint the outside of each mason jar with chalk paint and let dry for one hour before applying another coat.

2. After the jars have completely dried, use sand paper to take the paint off of the raised, designed areas of the jar.

3. Rub white chalk over jar to create a distressed look.

4. Seal jars by spraying thoroughly with clear acrylic spray and let dry for at least two hours.

5. Once dry, add your mom's favorite fresh flowers.

How to Make Baby Food

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Making your own baby food is easier than you might think! In doing so, you can be confident you’re giving your baby the best and healthiest ingredients available. All you need is fresh produce, a saucepan, and a blender or food processor to get started. Cook times and methods will differ slightly depending on the produce, but you can use this simple process to prepare most fruits, vegetables and legumes for your baby.Homemade carrot baby food in a jr

Prep

Wash or peel the produce you’d like to use for your puréed baby food. Baked apples, mashed sweet potatoes and cooked carrots are great first foods. Cut the food into small pieces.

Cook

Steam or bake the food until it’s very tender. We don’t recommend boiling your fruits and veggies as it reduces nutrient content. Foods must be cooked well. They are done when they can be pierced or mashed easily with a fork.

Purée

Process or mash the cooked food until it’s smooth. You want your baby to have food that is soft and velvety in texture. You may need to add water or milk to some foods to get the right consistency. Although water will slightly dilute the food’s nutritional value, the difference is not significant.

Strain

Spoon the food through a sieve to smooth the lumps and remove unprocessed parts of the produce (this step may not be required depending on the produce).

Portion

Spoon the purée into single-serving dishes or storage containers; serve the purée to your baby. Store it promptly for later use. We recommend using the “ice cube tray” method. The concept is simple: make large quantities of basic food purées using a standard blender or food processor then freeze it in single-serving ice cube trays. With this method, you only need to make baby food once, maybe twice, per week. Over time you build up a large variety of single serving baby food cubes in the freezer, which stay fresh for up to two months.    

Make Homemade Infused Oils

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Flavor-infused oils are an easy, affordable way to add subtle flavor to a variety of dishes. Use them to dress up salads, roasted vegetables, grilled chicken or fish. Add new depth to your soups or a dash of flavor to your mashed potatoes. Or simply use them as a dipping oil for chunks of Sprouts Artisan Bread. As you can see, the possibilities are endless! We recommend using canola oil because it’s inexpensive with a neutral flavor base. Olive oil has its own pungent flavor that tends to cover up the flavors of certain herbs. Although canola oil is called for in the recipes below, corn, peanut or expeller-pressed grapeseed will also work well. Infused Oils

Basil Oil

Blanch two cups of fresh basil in a large pot of boiling water. Submerge the basil leaves in the boiling water for about 10–15 seconds until they’re just wilted. Remove them and plunge them into the bowl of ice water. Drain the leaves and pat them dry with paper towels to remove as much water as possible. Place the basil in a blender along with one cup of oil. Blend on high speed until it is pureed. At this point, you can use the basil oil as is. Or if desired, you can strain it through a fine mesh-sieve.

Rosemary Oil

Cook one cup olive oil with 5–6 rosemary sprigs in a small saucepan over medium heat, for about five minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Transfer the sprigs to a bottle, then add the oil and seal. Refrigerate up to one month. (Tasty tip: Drizzle over a bowl of popcorn for a special gourmet flair!)

Chili Oil

Combine two cups of olive oil and four teaspoons of crushed red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat for about five minutes. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature, about two hours. Transfer the oil and pepper flakes to a 4-oz. bottle. Seal the lid and refrigerate.

Thyme Oil

Wash 1/2 cup fresh thyme and ensure that it is thoroughly dried. (Any water left in the herbs can promote microbial growth.) Lightly muddle the thyme to release more of the herb’s natural oils and strengthen the infusion. Combine the muddled thyme and one cup of olive oil in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until it steadily bubbles for at least five minutes. Turn off the heat and allow to cool. Pour into a clean bottle and refrigerate immediately.

Meyer Lemon Olive Oil

Warm one cup of olive oil and the peel from two Meyer lemons over very low heat for 20 minutes. Allow cooling for 30 minutes. Strain and pour into a clean bottle and refrigerate immediately.  

Ice Cream Float Bar

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Summer is in full swing and what better way to celebrate the season than with a DIY Ice Cream Float Bar? Kids will love the option of creating their own recipes and adults will enjoy the nostalgia of this diner delight. Keep cool with these tips on how to create the perfect ice cream float bar.ICE CREAM BAR FLOATWhile you can’t go wrong with traditional vanilla, mix things up by providing a variety of flavors like mint chocolate chip or strawberry. You can find a number of dairy-free ice creams that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Sneak in an extra serving of fruit by dicing up fruit popsicles as a colorful option. Save time by prepping your ice cream the night before, by pre-scooping and freezing on a cookie sheet. Keep your frozen treats cool by serving the containers on ice.

The Drinks

Along with good old root beer, be sure to offer a variety of sodas for guests to mix and match flavors. To keep things even more interesting, add cold brew coffee, flavored seltzer water, sparkling lemonade and even kombucha to the mix. Be sure to display some adorable patterned straws for an added touch of color.SODA, STRAE AND ICE CREAM

The Toppings

To make your ice cream float bar extra special, you’ll need more than just a cherry on top! Fresh fruit, crushed graham crackers or marshmallows are just a few of our favorite toppings. Stop by our Bulk Department to pick up just enough dried fruits, chocolate or gummi bears to make your guests’ floats even more unique.

CHERRIES, STRAWBERRIES, MARSHMELLOW, CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND COCONUT

The Pairings

Give guests inspiration by creating a chalkboard with different recipes for one-of-a-kind pairings. Don’t know where to start? Here are some recipes that we’re loving.
  • Mint Mocha – 2 scoops mint chocolate chip, cold brew, chocolate sauce drizzle
  • Strawberries & Cream – 2 scoops strawberry, 1 can cream soda, fresh strawberry garnish
  • S’mores – 2 scoops chocolate, 1 can root beer, whipped topping, graham cracker crumbs and mini chocolate chips
  • Strawberry Lemonade – 1 strawberry popsicle, sparkling lemonade, crushed mint leaves
  • Blueberry Kombucha – 2 scoops vanilla, 1 blueberry kombucha, fresh blueberries
POPSICLES, TALENTI ICE CREAM AND SPROUTS ICE CREAM

Homemade Peanut Butter

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Jar of peanut butterA day without a scoop of peanut butter just isn’t a day we want to have. We schmear it on apples, slather it on celery, and spread it on whole-wheat toast in the morning. We go through jars and jars of this household staple! It’s often misunderstood as an “unhealthy” food, but natural peanut butter is actually a good source of nutrition—in moderation, of course. Just a tablespoon or two will keep you feeling satisfied while also providing protein and folate. Not all peanut butter is created equal though. Some processed versions are sugar-laden while others may contain hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. While you can find plenty of natural varieties at Sprouts, we thought it would be helpful to have a homemade version too. This recipe will help you control the salt and sugar, and the roof of your mouth will never know the difference! Best of all, it only takes 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Raw, unsalted peanuts (we buy them from the Bulk Department)
  • 1 tsp. Honey or agave nectar
  • 1/4 cup (heaping) Coconut oil
  • 1 pinch of Sea salt

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until it forms a paste.  

Homemade Gifts in a Jar

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Cookies in a mason jarSome hosts are so easy to shop for: bottle of wine or scented candle. But if you’re trying to stay within a holiday budget or think of a creative gift idea for the person who “has everything”, these gifts are the perfect solution. Gifts in a jar are festive, heartfelt, easy and delicious. Not to mention, cost effective for you! Simply layer the ingredients in a jar, add a ribbon and tag, and you have a simple but stylish gift.

Soup Mixes

For an easy shortcut to homemade jar gifts, simply visit our Bulk Department and find your favorite soup mix. Pour the mix into a jar and be sure to include cooking instructions on a gift tag.

Baking Mixes

Give the gift of baking by attractively assembling all of the dry ingredients needed for cookies, muffins or brownies in tall glass jars. Use pretty ribbons to tie on the recipe, along with a wooden spoon or whisk for an extra special touch. Friends will be encouraged to easily bake their own treats that come from the heart, not a box!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup White sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups Semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Baking soda

Instructions:

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add 1 slightly beaten egg, 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir until well mixed. Drop by rounded spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes. Allow to cool, then enjoy!

Bulk Candy & Nuts

Our Bulk Department is a snack lover’s paradise. Fill a mason jar with an assortment of candy, dried fruit and/or nuts, tie it with some beautiful wired ribbon, and you’re on your way. For the avid hiker on my holiday list, I combined six of my favorite bulk ingredients to make a trail mix that’s full of energy, flavor and texture. You could certainly layer each ingredient separately for a more artistic presentation.

Ingredients:

  • Cashews
  • Almonds
  • Pistachios
  • Dark chocolate chips
  • Dried cranberries
  • Dried cherries
 

DIY Baked Goods in a Jar

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Give the gift of baking by attractively assembling all of the dry ingredients needed for cookies, breads or brownies in tall glass jars. Use pretty ribbons to tie on the recipe, along with a wooden spoon or cookie cutter for an extra special touch. Don’t forget to print out and attach the recipe cards to the jar mixes! Baked Goods Here are a few tasty suggestions to get you started.

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 3 1/2 cups Coconut flour
  • 2 tsp. Ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. Ground cloves
  • 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. Ground allspice
  • 1 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup Solid coconut oil, melted
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, melted coconut oil, brown sugar spices and vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, fold in coconut flour.
  3. Scoop cookie batter onto prepared baking sheet using a small ice cream scoop or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely before removing from the pan.

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup Softened butter
  • 1 1/2 cups Brown sugar
  • 3 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt
  • 1 cup Dried cranberries
  • 1 cup White chocolate morsels

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a medium pan with parchment paper.
  2. Soak cranberries in bowl with hot water for 3 minutes. Drain water from cranberries.
  3. Cream butter, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture with a wooden spoon or large rubber spatula. Carefully mix in cranberries and white chocolate morsels.
  4. Press mixture evenly into pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1 2/3 cups Flour
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Baking soda
  • 1 tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground cloves
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 cup Sprouts Canned Pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 1/2 cup Chocolate chips, optional

Instructions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices and baking powder. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin and water. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips if desired.
  2. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for 55–65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

Peppermint Brownies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 2/3 cup Cocoa powder
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Crushed peppermint sticks
  • 1 1/4 cups Flour
  • 1 pinch of Salt
  • 1 cup Butter
  • 1/4 cup Boiling water
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to overlap the edges.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and sugar; set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, add the cocoa powder and salt. Add the boiling water and stir with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is paste-like. Add sugar, vanilla and butter, mix using an electric mixer until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, slowly stir in the flour mixture, and mix until combined.
  4. Spoon the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish, batter consistency will be thick. Smooth top with a rubber spatula. Bake for 35 minutes or until the brownies are cooked through. Cool in the pan or a wire rack for 1 hour.
 

DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts

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Go ahead, wear your heart on your sleeve and embrace the sentimental feelings in the air. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share a bit of your heart with others. The best news? You don’t have to stick with the standard gifts that may come to mind. With these easy-to-make and thoughtful DIY ideas, you can brighten the day of a special someone, friend, family member or colleague. Hot Cocoa

Peppermint Infusion Hearts

What You’ll Need:

  • Crushed peppermint
  • Coffee filters
  • Baker’s thread
  • Construction paper
  • Hot chocolate

Directions:

Using a folded coffee filter, cut out a heart shape. After you have two heart shapes, stitch together around the edges until only a small opening remains. Place peppermint candies in a plastic bag and crush until the pieces are broken down. Put about a spoonful of crushed peppermint inside the small opening of the coffee filter and finish stitching until it’s closed. Attach a medium-length piece of baker’s thread to your peppermint-filled heart. Cut a small heart out of paper and add it at the other end of the thread to make a little “tag” like the ones that tea bags have. Present the gift with hot cocoa for a refreshing peppermint twist on a classic chocolatey treat.    

Homemade Lotion Bars

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 cup Beeswax
  • 1 cup Coconut Oil
  • 1/2 cup Shea butter
  • Silicon heart-shaped mold
  • 25 drops Lavender essential oil
  • At least 2 hours for refrigeration

Directions:

Start by warming beeswax in a double boiler until it becomes smooth. Add coconut oil and melt the two ingredients. Stir until smooth and add lavender essential oils. Let cool and place in silicon molds and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.              

“Simply Nuts for You” Mason Jar“

What You’ll Need:

  • Chalkboard spray paint
  • Painter’s tape
  • Chalk
  • Trail mix
  • Gift tag
  • Twine or ribbon

Directions:

Create a heart shape on the mason jar with painter’s tape. Using an open area, cover the mason jar with the chalkboard spray paint. Once it’s dry, carefully peel off the tape. Add a personalized touch by making a design with white chalk. Cut out a gift tag and create a small hole at the top. Thread twine through and loop around twice at the top of the mason jar. Pour in your special someone’s favorite trail mix.

Dry Rub Recipes

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All the grill masters in your life will love these flavorful DIY dry rub recipes and you’ll love how easy they are to make! Paired with a new set of grilling tools, these create a great gift. Dry rub recipes

All-Purpose Spice Rub Recipe

  • 2 Tbsp. Coffee beans, finely ground
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. Granulated garlic
  • 1 tsp. Black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Caribbean Rub

  • 3 Tbsp. Brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. Paprika
  • 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp. Coarse salt
  • 2 tsp. Ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. Allspice
  • 1 tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 tsp. Nutmeg
  • 3/4 tsp. Freshly ground black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Buffalo Spice Rub

  • 1/2 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. Chile powder
  • 1 Tbsp. Smoked paprika
  • 1 Tbsp. Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Cayenne, plus more for taste
  • 2 Tbsp. Garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp. Ground mustard
  • 2 Tbsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp. Freshly ground black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

DIY Father’s Day Gifts

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Father's Day Gift Basket Say thank you to all the doting dads and handsome heroes this Father’s day. After all, where would we be without dad jokes, practical advice and bear hugs?If the standard gifts are feeling a little tired, we have a few ideas to “tie” this Father’s Day together. Check out these fun gifts that he’s sure to love, including one by blogger, Julie, from Fort Worth Moms Blog! Julie shares her process in creating a one-of-a-kind gift for Dad. Keep reading to learn how to make your own unforgettable gift: I considered a basket of grilling items. After all, it is summer, and summer is grilling season. Sprouts has a huge selection of fresh produce, meats, spices for DIY dry rubs and craft beers, microbrews, etc. But goodness, y’all! I am weeks away from delivering our second baby. Everyone here needs to stay ready-to-jump-behind-the-wheel-at-any-moment sober (so no alcohol), and I refuse to step outside into the heat for any reason (so no outside cooking for us). I had to rethink my plan. Because a trip to Labor & Delivery is in our near future, I decided he needed a “We’re Having a Baby, Baby” basket. Read more of Julie’s full story!    
Rosemary Shaving Cream

Rosemary and Peppermint Shaving Balm

Your dad will feel pampered and refreshed after using this rosemary mint shaving balm—and will love knowing that it was made with love, by yours truly!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Shea butter • 1/4 cup Virgin coconut oil • 1/4 cup Jojoba or sweet almond oil • 10 drops Rosemary essential oil • 3-5 drops Peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

1. Place a small saucepan over low heat and mix shea butter and coconut oil, stirring until melted. Transfer mixture to a heat-resistant bowl and add in jojoba oil (or almond oil), then the essential oils and stir. 2. Chill mixture in the refrigerator until solid. Once solid, remove from refrigerator and whip mixture using a beater. Mix until light and fluffy. Store in an airtight container for up to one month. Note: This shaving lotion is soap-free and will not create a lather, but rather, a protective barrier between the razor and skin. Swish razor in water between strokes and enjoy!
Dads Dry Rub

Dad’s Day BBQ Rub

Here’s a super easy and thoughtful gift that you can gather from our Bulk Department! Let your inner artist out by layering spices to create a colorful complement to your summer barbecues.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Chile powder • 1 tsp. Black pepper • 1 1/2 tsp. Onion powder • 1 Tbsp. Thyme • 2 Tbsp. Sea salt • 1 tsp. Garlic salt

Instructions:

Layer spices multiple times into a small mason jar and seal. Decorate with a ribbon or twine.