Every deployed military “adoption” through Soldiers Angels comes with a “stop mail date”. This is the last date to mail out a care package before the service member happily returns home from deployment. When I returned from my trip to Bosnia, Soldier P.’s stop mail date was only a week away. I didn’t have as much time as usual for baking and decorating. I skipped my traditional, time-intensive, decorated sugar cookies and baked sparkling Orange Gem Cookies instead. Bursting with citrus flavor, the Orange Gem Cookies and a pan of Creamsicle Bars were ideal for the “Orange You Glad You’re Going Home!” theme.
Do you know what the hardest part for me is about being a Soldiers Angel (aside from worries for the safety of our soldiers)? You might think that all the time and money spent creating and mailing the packages could be hard, but putting the package together is fun. You might think that sending out letters and boxes and frequently never hearing from your adopted troop is hard, but that’s just because the troops are busy doing their jobs. The hardest part for me is selecting a new troop to adopt when my current adoptee’s deployment ends.
Now that Soldier P. is headed home, I will log onto the Soldiers Angels list, and there are usually 200-300 individuals from the 6 branches of the military, waiting for an Angel. I have to choose just one. Usually, I look for those who have been waiting the longest. Sometimes, I get drawn in by something a troop has written in their message. Always, I come away wishing there were more Angel volunteers, so that all of the military could have the encouragement and support they need. If you have ever wondered how you, or a group you are part of (Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, place of worship, school, etc.) could get involved, I encourage you to take a look at SoldiersAngels.org to learn about the possibilities. Together we could make the Soldiers Angels moto come true. “May no soldier go unloved. May no soldier walk alone. May no soldier be forgotten. Until they all come home™.”
Part 1 Care Package Contents:
The theme for this care package is “Orange You Glad You Are Coming Home!” I filled the box with orange colored and/or flavored goodies. Keeping in mind that Soldier P. has a long trip ahead, some small snacks and games might be helpful. The box is lined with wrapping paper. I printed, then cut-out, the orange letters and smiley faces. The orange contents filled my Dollar Store basket easily. Actually, too easily. I have a bunch of things left over that wouldn’t fit in the box! I included crackers, Pringles, pretzels, boxes of hard candies, a stuffed goldfish, game books, drink mix, and a toothbrush.
Part 2 Circle Sugar Cookies:
Due to time constraints, I didn’t include decorated sugar cookies in this care package. Instead, I sent several dozen sparkling Orange Gem Cookies. These cookies have a soft interior and a crunchy sugar coating. Inside and out, Orange Gem Cookies are full of bright orange color and flavor. Desert safe ingredients and a long shelf life are bonuses. Highly munchable, Orange Gem Cookies are quick and easy to bake for any occasion. I think these cookies add some celebration sparkle to this “coming home from deployment” care package!
Part 3 Old Recipe:
I also included an uncut pan of Orange Creamsicle Bars with a few plastic knives. These bars combine creamy white chocolate with a citrusy orange pop. Orange Creamsicle Bars have the flavor of creamsicle popsicles in bar cookie form. This chewy bar cookie recipe is also desert safe.
Part 4 Other Recipe Ideas:
3-2-1 Mandarin Orange Cake (send the ingredients for orange microwave mug cakes)
I wish Soldier P. a safe journey home and thank him for so bravely serving our country.
You can read more about desert safe ingredients and find an index of all of the desert safe recipes on The Monday Box by clicking here.
Orange Gem Cookies
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Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup butter-flavored vegetable shortening Crisco
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 yolk
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons orange extract
- ½ cup chopped white chocolate or chopped white chocolate chips
- Orange large crystal decorating sugar about ½ -¾ cups
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, microwave vegetable shortening until melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat melted vegetable shortening and sugar until combined, about 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in the egg and egg yolk, water, and orange extract.
- Reduce speed of mixer and slowly add dry ingredients until just combined. Overmixing will produce a less tender cookie.
- Fold in the chopped white chocolate. (The chocolate should be chopped to the size of mini chips or smaller. Smaller chips produce less cracks in the cookies.)
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough. Roll into a ball. Roll the ball in orange decorating sugar.
- Place coated dough balls 1” apart on prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Tops of cookies will not darken. Bottom edges of cookies will have just begun to turn golden brown.
- Cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- These cookies are soft and cake-like. They will remain soft for at least 2 weeks if stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
Notes
Sue says
Wendy I love this idea. I would love to “borrow” your entire idea of box #22 for my two guys. I actually have a 3rrd but she is a private contractor now so it isn’t covered by Soldiers’ Angels. Their mail stop dates are all in February right around Valentines Day. Can i bake and freeze the gems ad bars now so that they are taken care of? I laughed when I read you had too much stuff left over. Gosh I swear that is almost every one of my boxes. And if it really must be included, I end up sending out a 2nd box to each.. My adoptees are like my kids. I love them all. Even if I don’t hear back from them. – Just like family, huh!
The Monday Box says
The ideas are here for the taking, Sue! I am delighted that you found some care package inspiration here. I see no reason why you couldn’t bake and freeze these cookies for a few weeks. That said, my personal preference is to make the dough, scoop into portions (you can even roll in colored sugar at this point), then freeze the dough balls on a baking sheet for at least two hours. Once they are frozen, you can store the dough balls in a large ziplock bag. When you are ready to send the care package, bake the frozen cookie balls. They can be baked straight out of the oven, but may need a few more minutes in the oven. That way, the work is done ahead of time, but the cookies are fresh baked when you send them. Not much of a flavor difference, but I am picky! 🙂
Sue says
Did you send 4 boxes? I am trying to figure out what i can get that will fit all in one box.
The Monday Box says
Hi Sue! I read that some Angels bring their box with them to the store to see what really does fit in. That would help me…but I’ve never done it. Often I send a second box or just leave the packaged cookies for another box. I really do need to sign up for several 1x boxes with no theme (other than the themes of Thanks and Smiles) to reduce my inventory of overflow goodies!!
saltandserenity says
Those Orange Gem cookies put a smile on my face. I am sure that Soldier P will remember you with great fondness for many years.
The Monday Box says
Smiles are what I am looking for, Cindy! Thank you! I truly hope that the care packages make deployment just a wee bit easier. 🙂
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Enjoy your new Red Plate and have a great weekend!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Miz Helen! I am delighted to be featured on Full Plate Thursday! Thank you for hosting. 🙂
frugal hausfrau says
Thank you for sharing the information on the Angels! The cookies look dreamy and I love that orange flavor!
Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Mollie! If even one reader decides to participate in an Angels program, I will be thrilled. There is such a need for vlunteers to support our military and the soldiers certainly deserve our thanks!
Miz Helen says
Hi Wendy,
You may never know how much you are appreciated by all the military mom’s out here who love you for the wonderful gifts of your cookies to their loved ones. I know that because I am one of those Mom’s and when you know that someone has cared enough to make homemade cookies and put them in a special box with other goodies for your loved one it helps in a big way to know that people care and recognize the sacrifice the whole family is making to protect our freedom and I Thank You !!
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Miz Helen
The Monday Box says
Dear Helen,
Thank you, for taking the time to share this note. I read it with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart. I send military care packages to say thank you to the incredibly brave men and women who sacrifice so much to protect our freedom. I send military care packages to the sons and daughters of incredibly brave moms and dads, because I too am a mom and I know how important it is to know that your child is appreciated and cared about.I hope my small action can help military families know their sacrifice is acknowledged and how very much they are appreciated. It is my honor to bake and create care packages for your loved ones, our nation’s heros.
Colleen says
What a great idea! These look amazing! Thanks for sharing on This Is How We Roll!
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Colleen! Thanks for stopping by from This is How We Roll. 🙂
The Monday Box says
I am delighted, AnnMarie, that you stopped by for cookies and found Soldiers’ Angels! I hope you will find that one of their volunteer opportunities calls to you. 🙂 I have found the people involved (through conversations on Facebook) to be an amazingly caring and compassionate group.
Leigh says
These cookies look amazing! Found you on Creative Muster.
The Monday Box says
Thanks for clicking over and commenting, Leigh! I hope you come back often. 🙂
Ashley says
I always love these posts so much Wendy! Having a husband who served for many many years, these posts always bring such a huge smile to my face! And I totally need to look into doing this myself – I love to bake and make care packages … I honestly don’t even know why it never occurred to me before (considering I read these posts of yours every month!)
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Ashley! Your constant encouragement with these military care package posts has meant so much to me. I consider you a “voice of experience” and your “smile of experience” means I am on track! It would be so much fun if you also decide to join Soldiers’ Angels!
Susan says
Ok, that is the first time a post has brought tears to my eyes! You truly are an angel and I am sure that Soldier P truly appreciated it. You have inspired me to click on your link and find out more about signing up to make another soldiers safe journey home a little bit brighter.
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Susan for the kind words. As a mom, I know you will understand this story. I never knew anything about the military until I started blogging about care packages. Even then, I didn’t really “get it”. Then, one December I was at the airport. It was filled with young soldiers (the same age or younger than my own kids) going home for Christmas. Suddenly, my mom heart ached for the moms whose children choose such a brave but dangerous path. The idea that any of those young people feel alone and forgotten….That’s why I send military care packages. 🙂
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Another wonderful post and terrific recipe Wendy! You are such a sweet and giving person. Thanks for all you do for our troops. I guess we just have to make time for something like this and it has to be important enough to dedicate our resources. I will keep this in mind as a worthwhile endeavor! So happy your adoptee is heading home. Have a great weekend!
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Tricia! You are really too sweet. 🙂 I agree with you completely, that our time is limited and it’s important to chose carefully the opportunities that fit our lives . Sometimes when we find a cause that is important to us, we can find time to participate. The trick is finding the something that is truly meaningful to us. Opportunities to make a difference are all around us. Soldiers Angels came into my life because of this blog. Once I started sending care packages and learned how much they were needed, everything else fell into place. I hope your weather is a whole bunch cooler than it is in St. Louis and you have a lovely weekend!
Linda Cottongim says
Hi Wendy,
I sent two care packages to my grandchildren and they loved them! Thank you for your advice on how long they would last. College mail services and student schedules can take a little longer than you might expect. I bagged the Orange Gems in a ziplock, inside a jack’lantern bag, some funny glasses, spider webs, Halloween cards from other family members and a few more personal smalls. Can’t wait to make Nov. boxes.
Linda
Indiana
Wendy Sondov says
Hi, Linda! I have a big smile on my face right now as I think about all of the happiness you packed into your Halloween boxes!! Lucky grandkids! I am delighted that Orange Gems were well received along with all of the other goodies. 🙂 Like you, I find that sending care packages brings joy to those who send them as well as those who receive them!