Holiday Hero: Care Package Ideas for your Deployed Servicemember

There are few things in this world that knocks the breath out of me more than the knowledge that I will one day have to survive a long period of time without hugging Matt.  It's a reality of this life that everyone who cares for someone in uniform has to come to terms with - and we all have our coping mechanisms.  Most just don't think about it.  Alas, I'm not a fan of denial, and I have always been one to over plan for the future - which, I believe, will be an advantage for us some day.  Thus, since Matt took command, I've spent times when I miss him perusing the internet in search of ideas shared by the experienced military spouses I've come to idolize.  I hide them away on my Army Strong Pinterest board, or amongst my dozens of Pages documents to turn to when times get tough.

For the most part, this is my only crutch to lean on.  I haven't exactly gotten much guidance on how to adapt to this crazy, roller-coaster world, and the fact that Matt and I aren't married eliminates the majority of potential mentorship via degrading looks and the eye roll.  So much for that whole "Army Family" concept?  No.  Actually, not no - but HELL NO.  Through the ups and downs of Matt's current position, we are both taking notes on how we can improve upon our roles in the future, and I have very solidly established my number one priority for the rest of time I spend in love with this soldier - I WILL impart everything I learn.  I WILL help those young wives, girlfriends, fiancees, moms, sisters, and whatever men happen to want assistance as well (despite how they never need help or directions, etc).

ESPECIALLY those who are experiencing their first holiday season away from their loved one.  ESPECIALLY when the majority of the internet rewards your google search with a "Click here to donate $20 for a cheaply packaged, half-assed effort at a holiday gift basket for a deployed soldier!"

Eh-eh.  Your servicemember deserves a personalized, lovingly wrapped, peppermint-scented bundle of holiday cheer.  So, I'm sharing the list I've been keeping under my wing for such a circumstance for myself in the future, established upon research, brainstorms, and personal experiences of holiday care packages to friends in the past.

 

 Holiday Care Package Ideas

DECORATIONS:
    Stocking - personalized (officers can provide stockings for people on their staff)
    Mini-tree w/ included lights (careful about the electricity - you CAN send batteries, just don’t list it on the items when you take it to the post office ;P)
    Yarn/Tape to make a “christmas tree” on the wall, and paper baubles
    Santa hats, reindeer antlers, etc
    A CD of holiday music
    For Officers/Leadership roles: small, cheap, wrapped gifts they can play dirty santa with their soldiers
    Holiday-Scented Candles

   
FOOD:
    Holiday Meal-In-A-Can (non perishables - Spam, Black-eyed peas, Green beans, Cranberry Sauce, Dried Mashed Potatoes, Hot Chocolate, etc.)
    Cake-in-a-jar (lots of recipes for these - make sure it’s air tight) - I think this works for Pie too
    Holiday Candy (of course) - I’ve seen a box that was themed “Blue Without You” with all kinds of blue colored candy
    Beef Jerky, all sorts of flavors. And more beef jerky. (Holiday-flavored beff jerky?)
    Gatorade/Powerade powder packets
    Homemade cookies/treats - in vaccuum seal baggies so they’re still fresh when they get there
    Coffee w/ Holiday-themed creamer (make sure it’s in an air-tight container)

ENTERTAINMENT:
    Water-proof playing cards (more resistant to sweat - gross, but necessary)
    DVDs, puzzles, board games, and books are often provided through Adopt-A-Soldier programs, but if your soldier has a favorite, send it! (Access to electronics like TVs and DVD players depend on your soldier’s location/MOS) -- I’ve heard complete seasons of light-hearted comedy TV series are a big hit for office-focused jobs

ALWAYS NEEDED:
    Duct tape - army green and digi camo are available in military outposts and at office depot, but fun stuff to decorate probably wouldn’t be frowned upon
    Chewing Gum
    Sun Block
    Sun glasses
    Baby Wipes - sometimes its the only shower they get
    Toothpaste, Mouthwash
    Eyedrops (to assist in getting sand out)
    Easy-access medical supplies (Tums, Motrin, Band-Aids, Sanitizer/Antibiotic Ointment, etc.)
    Five-hour energy or similar energy provisions
    Personal Fan and/or hand/feet warmers

DO NOT SEND:
    Alcohol (I’ve heard of people putting alcohol in travel hygiene bottles, but fact of the matter is, they get into TONS of trouble if they get caught drinking over there - so I don’t recommend it.)
    Porn (it’s illegal over there)
    Fireworks (they get plenty already, trust me)
    Big, expensive, shiny gifts - What Matt’s parents did when he was there for Christmas in 2010, is they ordered the gifts early, took pictures of what they got him, and sent him the pictures all wrapped up in a box to open on Skype Christmas morning.  If you want to send him something he needs or something small and cutesy, go for it, and keep the good gift for when he comes home.

FUN THEMES:
    25 days of Christmas - I’ve seen someone take a small door organizer and theme it by stuffing it with small gifts and labeling each pocket for the 25 Days of Christmas (or the 12 days - whatever)

PUT EVERYTHING in plastic baggies!!  Use Flat-Rate shipping boxes if you can!  Baked goods should go in Vaccuum seal baggies!
WARNINGS: Chocolate will probably melt, so make sure it’s in a baggy by itself if you use it. Soda also has the risk of exploding from extreme heat/cold, so stick to plastic bottles.
REMEMBER: Holidays aren’t just a number on the calendar.  Give your soldier the best Christmas you can over there, then have another one when he or she gets home.  One of the best parts of this life is that you can have as many holidays a year you want.  And if you have kids, how stoked will they be that they get to have Christmas twice??

And of course, to get it there on time: Check the post-it-by deadlines

Happy Holidays!!


SOURCES/OTHER IDEAS:
USAA
US Air Force
SpouseBuzz.com (military spouse network)
My Army Strong Pinterest Board - for other ideas on making lemonade out of the Military Life

Food Photo Games: Roasted Cauliflower Soup

CONFESSION: I haven’t blogged in seven months.  *hangs head in shame* The truth is, I sat down at least a dozen times trying to think up something warm and fuzzy to write about.  Alas, this summer was a hideous black cloud of rain.  Literally.  Fort Lewis is no tropical paradise.



Still, I’m perfectly aware that I’m probably one of the luckiest people on the planet.  I have wonderful, caring parents who are endlessly supportive, and a boyfriend who makes me laugh (mostly at him) and reminds me of the joy in every day.

I know, I know.  Finish your barfing noises and come back when you’re ready.

Good? Good.  So the above portions of spectacular support and love birthed this beautiful baby - a brand spankin’ new camera.  Which I had to play with.  Immediately.   Which means whatever is available to me must fall victim to the glass.

Since Matt has two states of being - (1) at work and (2) catatonic, and he wouldn't appreciate me posting a million photos of him zonked out, this means the only available victim is food.

I’ve had this recipe floating around from this blog I read, Two Peas and Their Pod.  The writer/cook/spectacular food photog swears up and down that people who don’t like cauliflower will even like this vegetarian soup she made - out of cauliflower.  I was skeptical.  But, I have been trying to give people the chance to pleasantly impress me.

And she did.

Guys.  This soup.  Whole.  Ee. Crap.  Creamy, warm, comforting, cheesy goodness.  Of course, Matt and I aren’t vegetarians.  And I’m pretty sure that at the very least, if I tried to convince Matt to go vegetarian with me, he might trade me in for a new car.  So I made some alterations.  But I’ll have you know that the original is hers.  And you can find the vegetarian version here (she actually measured mostly, which I don’t do.  It’s a hereditary problem.  We’re allergic to measuring utensils).  Mine is NOT vegetarian-friendly, and I used what I had on hand - translating to no fresh herbs.

MY version will embark very vaguely, with the wonderful low-light capabilities of my shiny new Nikon D600.  My flash is, of course, broken.  And our apartment complex doesn’t believe in things like windows and happiness, so the fact that the D600 can manage a 2000 ISO without submitting you to a horror of grain just makes me so happy I could go help myself to seconds.  I still claim no glories of having any variety of talent in the way of food photography. Some day, when the man I feed is actually home during daylight hours, and when we live somewhere with windows, I might put a little more effort into the sect.  Until then, hire me to take photos for you so I can buy a new flash (smiley face).

I started out with some on-super-sale steamer bags of cauliflower (four of them).  I tossed them onto a baking sheet (raw), sprinkled with olive oil (I really wish I’d had some PAM olive oil on hand - that would have been so much easier), thyme, rosemary, black pepper, and garlic powder.

I popped them in the oven at 400 for 25 minutes, checking on them halfway to make sure they were browning evenly.  Then I pulled them out to let them cool a touch.


Meanwhile, I cooked a half of a diced yellow onion with a LOT of minced garlic (I use the stuff in a jar) in a pretty healthy-sized pot (it needs to be big enough for all that cauliflower patiently waiting for your attention.  I’m guessing it was probably about a teaspoon and a half.  Once it was cooked through, I turned off the heat and threw in some more rosemary, thyme, and pepper.


Then I scooped up those gorgeous brown-edged roasted pieces of white mystery and tossed them in the pot, poured some low-sodium chicken broth over the top until about 3/4s of the flowers were covered.  Pop on a lid and tucker up the heat.  Then I sat easy until it boiled ferociously.  It didn’t take long for the cauli to be cooked through - fork easy.

If you have an immersion blender, I’m jealous.  I had to scoop them suckers (onions, garlic, cauliflower, and broth) into a blender in parts, blend it on low until smooth, and pour it back into the pot.


Then I let it sit pretty, pouring in chicken broth to thin it out a touch more as necessary, and letting the spices marry into the flowers and broth.  About a half hour before I was ready to die from starvation, I grated half a brick of white cheddar cheese (about a cup, shredded) and stirred it into the soup, saving some to garnish with later.  Then I tossed some sliced fungus onto the same baking sheet I used for the caulis with some chopped turkey bacon and roasted them at 400 for 10 minutes with some olive oil, garlic powder, and rosemary.


Let me tell somshing to jou! - Garnishing with a scoop of roasted mushrooms, a spoon of bacon, and a wee pile of white cheddar took a beautifully delicious soup to another level. 

Seriously, guys.  Go to the grocery store and buy some cauliflower (I never thought I’d say that).  I gotta admit, somewhere in the blending process, I was doubtful the pale creamy substance would be worth the effort.  But I’m definitely making this again.



After I buy an immersion blender...