Share your favorite treats that can be shipped...

[kmr]

We're putting together a big care package for a military unit stationed in Iraq. The soldiers have said they love anything home-made, plus the usual (gatoraid, beef jerky, smoked oysters, etc).

I know biscotti, nut brittles and some other candies travel well. We have a vac-sealer to seal the goodies in. Do you have any other ideas for homemade treats that would keep well for a week or more during transit? Thanks!

[leanneabe]

There's a Spiced Nuts thread being discussed here... those would travel well. Choc. chip cookies will actually travel okay, too, especially if you're sealing them up (and even if they're broken, homemade cc cookies will get gobbled up).

Are you allowed to send rum cakes? Maybe not. Banana bread, vacuum sealed, would survive the trip. You may want to slice and then seal as opposed to sealing an entire loaf. Be careful not to squish the bread with too much vacuum, though.

What about cupcakes? You could freeze them, then seal, and send with a can of Betty Crocker frosting (I know, but it's better than nothing and it'll keep during transit). Freezing them first will keep them from getting squashed during the sealing.

It's not homemade, but in the vein of Operation Thin Mint, I'm loving Trader Joe's Peppermint Jo-Jos even more than Thin Mints!

[kmr]

Great ideas and thanks to all....along the savory lines, I ran across a recipe called "Texas Trash" which is sort of a chex mix on steriods...sounds perfect for young guys! Our kids are helping and some of these ideas would be really easy for the 8-12 year olds. Cupcakes sound like fun, too. Might have to "test" a batch of that cheese biscotti!

[foodiegrl]

For a variation on biscotti & shortbread, how about a savory snack like cheese straws or cheese biscotti? They could go well with that gatorade...
http://southernfood.about.com/od/cheesesnacks/r/bl31010f.htm
http://www.recipesource.com/munchies/...

[digkv]

That's a really great thing you are doing. I'm sorry I can't be of more help but all I can think of right now is shortbread. You can make pecan, pistachio, walnut, saffron, lavender, etc. Good luck.

[kmr]

Thanks...shortbread sounds good! I wonder how something like banana nut bread, orange/cranberry nut breat, etc would hold up? they get eatten quick around our outfit, so I don't know how long they'd keep. I know fruitcake keeps, but not everyone likes it....

[digkv]

I'm not all too sure if fruit type breads will last for a week. Maybe the vacuum seal would help. Of course, you could always top the finished product off with a liquor or alcohol like brandy which may act as a preservative or something. I'm not actually sure if that works though.