My son is far away at school.  I can start sending him goodies next week, but I am going to be careful what I send and how I send it.  I have a bit of experience in sending goodies to far away places.  My husband has served in the army overseas, and he also went to college far away, so I learned by trial and error some tricks to getting the goods there as fresh and yummy as they can be.

One tip is to send bar cookies and brownies whole with a plastic knife to cut them with.This keeps the bars very moist and cuts down on breakage.  I have mailed cookies many ways. One of the best ways is in a coffee can with wadded up wax paper on the bottom and top. Place cookies in a zip seal bag with most of the air pushed out.  The problem here is not enough cookies!  Then I go back to the bar cookies whole!  One of the aluminum pans you can buy at the grocery store fits perfectly into one of those flat rate boxes from the post office. (This makes the cost of shipping more bearable.)  I then just place it in a zip seal bag covered in bubble wrap.  Put a plastic knife in, (and a card), and they’ll have a feast.

Fruit breads such as banana breads and plum breads also make the trip well.  Send them wrapped in two layers of foil and placed into a zip seal bag.  Also, LET YOUR BAKED GOODIES COOL THOROUGHLY!  This is a must. That steam will help the treat become moldy on the way and make it a mess for the receiver. I have heard of people who freeze things before shipping. This is really an unnecessary step.  Sometimes crystals if ice form on your foods, making moisture in the package while it is shipping, promoting mold. Just cool the goodie completely, and ship right away.  I have also used popcorn to pack food in.  Just make sure it is air-popped.  The oils from microwave popcorn will seep through the box, and ruin your entire gift! YUK!

I am sharing with you a bar cookie recipe and a bread recipe.  I have had them both around for
years.  They are tried and true in the mail, too!

Send your far-away pals some tasty tidbits from your oven. It really is not that difficult, and it does mean so much!

Candy Bar Bars

1 pkg yellow cake mix
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c melted butter
3 nut and caramel candy bars (approx 3 oz. ea.) chopped

Mix cake mix, brown sugar, eggs and butter.  Beat on
low for 2 minutes. Stir in chopped candy bar.  Spread
into 9×13 baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30
minutes.

So simple, and SO appreciated by your far away friend!

Plum Bread

2 small jars of plum baby food
1 3/4 c sugar
1 T red food coloring, optional
1/2 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
3/4 c canola oil or pure vegetable oil
3 eggs, well beaten
2 c flour
1 c nuts, optional

Mix “dry” ingredients together.  Then mix all of the other “wet”
ingredients together.  Add all at once to the “dry” ingredients.
Mix well.  Pour into prepared 9x5x3″ loaf pan. Bake in a 350
degree oven for 45 minutes.

Cool and enjoy!

Photo credit © Stephen Coburn | Dreamstime.com

Tags: bread, Cookies, food, mailing, package, shipping