Cranberry-Citrus Cookies and Care Packages

A while back, we did a post on ParentLife Online about mailing care packages overseas to active military troops.  It's one of those things I've meant to do for a long time and just never have. The next time I was at the post office, I went ahead and got a flat-rate box and promised myself I WAS going to follow through on something this time!

My thoughts went to a new friend of mine whose husband has been overseas the whole time I've known her - and most of her son's life. Her baby is two days younger than David, and I can't imagine spending most of that first year on my own. No help with night wakings. No "please take the baby so I can take a 10-minute bath." It's all her.

I never hear her complain, though, and she has been nothing but an encouragement to me as our parenting styles are similar. I wanted to bless her family and show our thanks by sending her husband a package. My friend insisted it go to his whole unit, since they don't all get packages. She is so kind!

I searched the Internet for cookies that would hold up to being mailed overseas during the dead of summer. No chocolate. Nothing soft. I finally found these Cranberry Cookies and modified them slightly. They are chewy, citrusy, and delightful; and from what I heard, the unit in Iraq thought they were pretty darn good, too!

Cranberry and Citrus Butter Cookies

Adapted from Blisstree.com
Makes about 6 dozen

1/2 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup milk
2 T lemon juice
1 T orange zest (dried or fresh)
1 large egg
3 cups AP or white whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
1 to 1-1/2 cups dried cranberries (sweetened is fine, and you can sub any dried fruit you like, although I don't think raisins would work very well)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer until fluffy and combined. On low speed, mix in lemon juice, orange zest, and egg.

Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add pecans and cranberries and fold to combine well.

Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges are brown. Let sit on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling racks.

To package for shipping, put cookies in gallon plastic bags. Pop popcorn and cool; then put it in additional plastic bags. Pad the bag of cookies with the bags of popcorn inside a box. Add letters, cards (kid-decorated are fun!), magazines, or toiletries items. Send off!

Added to Foodie Fridays at Designs by Gollum and Sweet Tooth Friday at Alli-N-Son. 

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