Posted on 11/29/2012 5:44:42 PM PST by goodwithagun
I'm going to send Christmas cookies to two former students currently stationed in Afghanistan. It is their first Christmas from home. I've eliminated anything that is too soft or could melt. I've recently discovered I can't send them anything made from pork so the ham filled lard cookies with bacon icing is out (ba boom ching!). Any suggestions on packaging would also be appreciated.
On Election Day they were both not only state side but in town. Both Leathernecks voted at their usual precincts.
I posted this thread for information to bring Christmas cheer to my two favorite Marines. If you’re going to continue with negative BS please leave this thread. Otherwise, name a good shipping cookie and suggest packing material.
If you had time I would suggest German honey cookies.
Fresh out of the oven they are okay, but taste much better after six months aging in a tin, and peak at about one year. I have some that are five years old, and they are the “brandy” of cookies, in that you eat them slow and savor every bite.
They have no fats or oils in them, other than inside some chopped, blanched almonds.
German Honey Cookies
(full maturity at 6 months)
Heat 1 pint of honey to boil, then cool until
lukewarm.
Finely chop 3 ounces each of citron, candied
orange and candied lemon peel. Mix it with:
1 cup chopped blanched almonds
1 tsp grated lemon rind
3 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
3-1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
6 beaten eggs.
Mix 1 tbsp soda in 2 tbsp hot water, then add
it and the honey to the mix, then add:
1/4 cup orange juice.
Then stir in 5 cups bread flour, using a bread
mixer.
Permit the dough to rest for 12 hours or more.
Drop small amounts from a spoon onto greased
baking sheets. Bake in a 350F oven for 8-10
minutes.
For icing, mix 2 cups confectioners sugar with
3 tbsp or more boiling water and 1 tsp vanilla
extract. Brush on cooled cookies.
Fresh cookies are somewhat tame in character, and
the longer they age, up to a year, the better they
taste. It is best to store them in a large tin,
with layers of waxed paper in between.
Alternatively, the dough can be baked into a loaf
as a honey fruitcake, and can be eaten soon after
it has cooled.
I am keeping in with the thread topic. Thanks for ignoring me nephew. But hey he is used to that. You are asking for F ghanistan. Ship your self over. Barring that why don’t you ask for the approved item list to send to the troops? Call the Whitehouse helpline. Or PM Petreaus.
Do you seriously think that we (the USPS) are going to ask what ingredients are in your cookies? GO FOR IT! My son would have rolled on the floor laughing if he had gotten pork cookies. Mind you the military customs opened only one package the whole two deployments and it was a shipment straight from Hilshire Farms of all beef products.
This isn’t cookies, but when my daughter was deployed to Iraq, she was craving the Rum Cake that is a holiday favorite at our home. It improves with age, and the rum preserves it very well! And she had enough to share with her friends!
http://duncanhines.com/recipes/cakes/mary-whitlock/bacardi-rum-cake/
“I am keeping in with the thread topic.” No you aren’t.
“Thanks for ignoring me nephew.” No I didn’t. As for unnecessarily placing him in your post in an effort to make others feel bad, your tactic has failed. You should meet my mother-in-law. She could teach you a thing or two about passive aggressive technique.
“But hey he is used to that.” Maybe Uncle Bigheadfred should pay him more attention.
“You are asking for F ghanistan” I’ve asked for many things (a pony, an AR-15, diamond earrings) but never F ghanistan, or Afghanistan for that matter.
“Ship your self over.” I would but my baby girl is used to boob juice. “Barring that why don’t you ask for the approved item list to send to the troops? Call the Whitehouse helpline. Or PM “ I don’t need an approved list I already researched it through USPS. All I’m asking for here is advice on what type of cookies ship better than others. I don’t want my Marines to open up a box of crumbs.
Lol I don’t think that, but I also don’t want my Leathernecks in hot water!
I send snickerdoodles. They arrive perfectly every time, no matter the season. I have a fantastic recipe if you’d like it.
Ask them what kind of cookies do they like and send them.
I send snickerdoodles. They do great every time, any season.
LOL. My apologies. I didn't realize you were such a waste of time.
My mother and grandmother sent a box of cookies to my uncle (aboard ship) during WWII. By the time they arrived, they were nothing but delicious crumbs — but well appreciated, even so. In the 1940s, people packed cookies in popped popcorn. I’m sure that we have better materials today.
I’m going to bed. I’ll say a prayer for you. You must need that to insist that nursing a baby makes me a waste of a human. Good night and God bless.
The only way the usps will know is if you tell them. No one will check. When I was in Afghanistan brownies were always a big hit. Also oreo cookies are hard to come by and appreciated.
They have no idea what is in your frosting..This is PC being employed by the military so it sounds good. If the rescipe calls for bacon grease use it (but don’t tell ) em.
And they would know that lard was used....how????
My rum cake looks like any other bunt cake. I’ve always been told that most of the alcohol cooks off. I certainly hope not! But I didn’t include a note saying what was in it.
One year I sent over about 100 individual boxes of homemade candy: truffle, peanut brittle, chocolate covered cherries, and rum balls. I put rum in all of them, used a whole bottle of Captain Morgan.
When I sent cookies I made all the regular ones; oatmeal raisin, choc chip, sugar, magic bars, brownies, peanut butter, Italian almond biscotti, and Russian teacakes. I put them either in cookie tins or tupper ware and made sure the box was packed tightly so the tins couldn’t get jostled around. They arrive in perfect condition.
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