tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217154852012-01-29T13:39:47.236-05:00Porkchopnoreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-74377952759645309002008-02-05T07:27:00.000-05:002008-02-05T07:32:51.300-05:00

We'd like to say a big thanks to all those at Pohanka of Salisbury who generously and selflessly donated over $300 towards supplies and shipping for the latest batch of cookies.Also--a huge thanks to Iva, for allowing us to use her kitchen. And thanks to Joy, Fredd, Jared and Laura who help form the one hundred and forty-six dozen cookies that are being shipped out to the troops today.Thank you

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-41654198698112935192008-02-04T13:23:00.001-05:002008-02-04T13:24:37.804-05:00

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-23036376103526642202007-02-04T13:31:00.000-05:002008-02-04T13:34:48.323-05:00

We try to send a nice variety of familiar favorites to the troops, the following recipes are the most requested, as well as our secret, delicious recipes. Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodles, Molasses, Pecan Sandies and Oatmeal Rasin. Chocolate Chip Cookies2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt1 cup butter flavored Crisco3/4 cup granulated [white] sugar3/4 cup

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824520822393062006-01-30T15:07:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:08:40.830-05:00

Dear Sarah,I want to thank you for sending those cookies. I was stunned when I received the package, but even moreso when I opened it. I'll bet your hands were more sore than on my hardest day of training. I took them (after reserving a few for myself) down to the ROTC building for all of the Officers, NCO's and my fellow cadets to enjoy. A thank you note should be in the mail in the next day

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824498645722722006-01-19T15:07:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:08:18.646-05:00

This morning I decided to lug all the packages to our friendly local post office. They know me by name there and are normally quite helpful.It was a bit crowed this morning. Lots of little old ladies picking up their mail, people standing in line for two cent stamps and a few college students in line with questions about mailboxes. I trotted in and out, bringing in my packages and stacking them

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824405881798462006-01-18T15:04:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:30:39.556-05:00

This afternoon I slipped out of work to deliver the several boxes of cookies that are filling the backseat of my car to the post office.I dropped by one of the smaller post offices at 4:20. After standing in line for five minutes, I was told by the overweight and very unhappy man behind the counter that he would not process my order since I had eight packages. You know, because he closed at 4:30.

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824239599175002006-01-16T15:03:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:03:59.600-05:00

In short, I am exhausted.Actually, I am not ready to say "I wish to never see another cookie again!" I simply wish for a better back and shoes that wouldn't leave my feet swollen. (And yes, I was wearing sensible shoes. I did not feel the need to be someone's fantasy and bake a thousand cookies in my high heels and underwear.)All in all, I spent about 30+ hours gathering supplies and baking this

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824182161039072006-01-06T15:02:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:03:02.163-05:00

One thing I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am good at, is baking cookies. Massive amounts of cookies. We're talking well over a thousand at a time. Out of a non-commercial kitchen. For some strange reason, I enjoy handmixing huge vats of cookie dough and then obsessively forming thousands of perfectly rounded little cookie dough balls. (You may ask why I do not recruit younger sibling

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824114952071292005-12-28T15:01:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:01:54.953-05:00

For all my waxing eloquent on the changes I have made in my attitudes, I find it amusing that this morning as I was motoring to work, I realized I am slipping back into my discontent.Whenever I find myself chafing with unhappiness, I like to blame it on my job. Let's face it, we spend a good majority of our day working, shouldn't we enjoy it? Yes. But sometimes you don't have the luxery or option

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138824011970554152005-12-15T14:59:00.000-05:002006-02-01T15:00:43.526-05:00

And I am huddled in my cold little apartment, alone. Baking cookies for--troops I will never meet. A worthy cause, but doesn't make it any less lonely. Listening to Christmas music that is only further depressing me.The smell of cookies. The thoughts of Christmas. The independance. All things that are supposed to make me delieriousy happy. Yes. Well. I'm not.Someone should really take my phone

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138825457185782152005-07-06T15:22:00.000-04:002006-02-01T15:30:10.343-05:00

Sarah,I just recieved your cookies. Wow. I didn't know there could be that many cookies baked by one person. I applaud you for just making that many. Much less sending them to some whiny Marines, who you have never met. I loved the card. It had me laughing for an hour. Yes, it was hard to read at first. I'm glad I wasnt to read it outloud with anyone listening. I could've been taken for a

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138823829208599852005-05-21T14:55:00.000-04:002006-02-01T15:00:59.576-05:00

1. It would make you one step closer to being an idiot/genius on par with Porkchop.2. You will be up into the wee hours baking five hundred plus cookies.3. You will be baking cookies, joyfully, because it gives you something to do, using up all this energy.4. You will never be able to look at cookie dough the same.5. I will, however, have the headstart, since I have a destination for the

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138823676756615822005-02-14T14:52:00.000-05:002006-02-01T14:54:36.756-05:00

Today, is going to be one very long day.Prehaps, it is because I work with fourteen, count 'em, FOURTEEN not single women. Who, coincidentally, think today is the best day of the rest of their lives.Prehaps, it is because I had to stop at three, count 'em, t-h-r-e-e stores before being able to find the much needed Starbucks Doubleshots to get my morning off into a nice caffeinated

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138823528683915072005-02-03T14:49:00.000-05:002006-02-01T14:52:08.683-05:00

Last night, I had four children under the age of seven, making a quadruple batch of cookies and we had an absolute blast. So maybe it wasn't so much LABOR, as creative marketing.I love being the nice Auntie who lets them do whatever their hearts desire and then send them home, filled with caffeine and sugar to their mothers who quickly withdraw any sort of gratefulness they had extended for me

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138978570232405012005-02-03T09:55:00.000-05:002006-02-03T09:56:10.240-05:00

Q. I'm only allowed to send packaged cookes to troops. What makes you so special?Cookies for Troops is a unique project in that we do not make packages of cookies and send them enmasse through the goverment. We send them to individual soldiers and addresses. Packages that are sent through government mailings and anysoldier projects are subject to strict safety regulations. By sending the cookies

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138921715911400582005-02-02T18:05:00.000-05:002006-02-02T18:09:10.006-05:00

Q. Can I submit an address?Yes! That is exactly what this project is about. People thinking of those overseas and showing their support by giving me their address so I can bake them cookies. If you think about it, you get the easy end of the deal, all you have to do is give me their address. Please make sure you include a quick note of how you know this person or how you accquired their address.

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138920351512827222005-02-02T17:31:00.000-05:002006-02-02T17:59:39.053-05:00

Q. How can I help?You can come help me bake cookies! I am always more than grateful to have a extra set of arms to mix dough or even lots of little hands to form cookies. Even artistic ability to decorate boxes!Live to far to actually join me? You can bake some of your own, I'll send you addresses.If you hate to bake, but still want to help, you can donate funds for supplies, postage and packing

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138919488481909772005-02-02T17:26:00.000-05:002006-02-02T17:59:57.400-05:00

Q. Who do you send to?Cookies are sent to any troops whose addresses are given to me. Every box of cookies contains a handwritten card which connects the troops to their community, I'll say who gave me their address. I'll jot a funny story and a encouraging quote. I want the troops to know this isn't some random girl with a cookie baking fetish sending out oodles of cookies. This is the labors of

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138919160692017212005-02-02T16:35:00.000-05:002006-02-02T18:00:12.980-05:00

Q. What about packaging?Once the cookies are thoroughly cooled, each flavor is separately ziplocked bagged to ensure freshness and flavor retention. They are then packed in large cardboard shipping boxes that have been decorated by various children in the community. The bags of cookies are padded with day-old crumpled newspapers which are donated by various local businesses.

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915415769843462005-02-02T16:21:00.003-05:002006-02-02T18:03:58.696-05:00

Q. How did you start doing this?I started doing this when a few of my friends went overseas after 9/11. I started asking friends and neighbors if they knew any other troops who might appreciate cookies. Slowly, it has grown, I have added more addresses and I have learned to bake bigger batches of cookies. It has spread through word of mouth and the encouragement of the community, both locally and

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915305425913772005-02-02T16:21:00.002-05:002006-02-02T16:32:28.040-05:00

Q. Do you send cookies to just the troops overseas? What about the troops at home?No. I will send cookies to any troops, stationed at home or abroad, provided they have an address I can mail them to. Troops who are stationed at home deserve cookies just as much as those who are stationed overseas. Often they are preparing and training to go over, or just returned from overseas and need cookies

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915293507574222005-02-02T16:21:00.001-05:002006-02-02T18:02:38.356-05:00

Q. Do the cookies contain peanut products? What if a soldier has wheat allergies?Unfortunately, we have not been able to devlop a gluten-free/peanut free cookie at this time. However, I have been told that you cannot join the military if you have such a condition, so I have been relieved of the burden that my cookies could possibly endanger the health of a soldier.

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915277999183712005-02-02T16:21:00.000-05:002006-02-02T18:00:28.420-05:00

Q. Can I get cookies, even though I'm not a soldier?Absolutely. However, it will involve a little more effort on your part. If you desire freshly baked cookies, you are more than welcome to come bake with me. I can always use a extra set of cookie forming hands and dough-stirring arms. In fact, you can bring as MANY PEOPLE AS YOU WANT! Everyone who helps is allowed the priviledge of eating cookie

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915258284376922005-02-02T16:20:00.001-05:002006-02-02T18:01:51.046-05:00

Q. What kind of cookies do you send?I try to send cookies that ship well, store well and will still remind the troops of home. Unless I know that a paticular soldier has a preference, I will try to include some of every well-tested flavor I bake. Peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, molasses, pecan sandies and snickerdoodles. Recipies and other suggestions are welcome. Please remember

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915237298941152005-02-02T16:20:00.000-05:002006-02-02T18:01:30.370-05:00

Q. You just send cookies to military guys because you want them to fall in love with you, don't you?This is quite possibly one of the most frequent questions/accusations I am hear. I know your fully expecting me to proclaim my innocence and scream NO! NO! NO! I would never do such a thing! But truth triumphs entertainment so I shall say: YES! I am currently maintaining romantic relationships with

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915219544725502005-01-31T16:20:00.000-05:002006-02-02T16:20:19.553-05:00

Q. Why do you spend vast amounts of money on supplies and postage? Do you even get anything out of this?Absolutely. In fact, sometimes I think that my reasons for this project are a little selfish. The emails, letters, thank you cards and personal thanks I recieve from soldiers far outweigh any monitary amount I have invested in this project. Knowing that I have possibly brightened their days and

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138915034073592262005-01-31T16:16:00.000-05:002006-02-02T18:01:07.476-05:00

Q. I thought you weren't allowed to send homemade and/or unmechanically sealed cookies to troops. What makes you so special?Cookies for Troops is a unique project in that we do not make packages of cookies and send them enmasse through the goverment. We send them to individual soldiers and addresses. Packages that are sent through government mailings and anysoldier projects are subject to strict

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138823361689086512004-12-28T14:43:00.000-05:002006-02-01T14:49:21.690-05:00

You know those disgusting giant chocolate Christmas cards companies send? WHAT IS THE FREAKING POINT? Do people actually EAT them? They actually hold the platter-sized slab of chocolate to their lips, gnaw timidily, only to leave a few tooth marks and a lot of drool? Who on EARTH came up with the idea of such a thing? If people don't leave them in the box to turn to cocoa powder, they leave them

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138822991400622132004-12-22T14:40:00.000-05:002006-02-01T14:43:11.400-05:00

This morning, I received GORGEOUS flowers from someone in Ukraine. Apparently, someone I sent a box of cookies to.Actually, I have to confess, I haven't seen them yet, since I came home sick, but they did call me from work to describe in careful detail what they look like. Assuring me, that these, by far, are the best flowers I have ever received.Only problem being, I was so incredibly happy that

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21715485.post-1138822728079739132004-11-15T14:35:00.000-05:002006-02-01T14:38:48.080-05:00

My Saturday was spent creating well over five hundred cookies in various shapes, sizes and flavors to send overseas. I was assisted by two loving little elves (actually more like slave-labor demons aka little brothers) who carefully scooped and rolled over half of these baked creations.To liven up their hours of drudgery, in typical adolescent style, they thought it would be quite clever to form

Porkchopnoreply@blogger.com0