Who wants to help me plan what to make for "a party in a box" - more inside...

M

mariadnoca

Moderator
So, I sent mom a live decorated/lighted Christmas tree and it arrived yesterday. She was so thrilled she said she might have a party in her room, so we ended up with a plan that I'll make a bunch of homemade goodies and ship her a party in a box - she wasn't wholly up to sharing her homemade goodies till I told her I could make plenty and wouldn't that be nice for the other old folks there that don't have family to get homemade goodies from. That did the trick. So it's a plan! Really happy I can gift a party vs. buying stuff nobody really needs.

Now...hummm, what to make? They have parties there often, but homemade items of course are not on the menu, so I'd like to make things that might be special for them.

I'm thinking this might be fun to make/send.

Cut out sugar cookies are a must, but the menu ideas are wide open after that. Any favorites you'd add?

 
Fun! I'm thinking, nothing that will bother false teeth. Is there an egg nog in a sealed carton

that doesn't need refrigeration?

 
ROTFLMAO! I just read this to John and said "isn't that cute?"

And he said...."Yea, marijuana brownies". I'm still laughing....

 
My mind just went flying with ideas....

Most older people seem to still like fruitcake and I have a bar cookie that has all the flavors of fruitcake but SO much better and they are soft and chewy so I will find it and post that. Include some quick breads. For savory you can do rooster crackers and just go light on the heat and the ranch crackers (I use all kinds of seasonings and flavorings with the recipe other than just ranch), cheese soft breadsticks, cheese straws.

Maybe some things that were more popular in the past like hard tack candy, definitely chocolate covered marachino cherries and creme drop candies were always a must for my grandmother. Oh and soft King Leo peppermint sticks.

I package gifts in a larger than needed box and line it with colored tissue paper then fold the tissue paper over on top of it after I have packed it and sprinkle confetti and put one of the mylar balloons in before sealing it so that it says party the minute it is opened.

 
Fruit Bars

FRUIT BARS
I had been looking for a recipe for the fruit bars that are sold at Schuler's Bakery in Springfield, OH and tried several variations with no luck when I ran across a lady named Pat’s website and this looked closer than anything else I had seen or tried and VOILA – it’s just about dead on.
1 cup seedless raisins
1 cup candied mixed fruit
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup apple or other fruit juice
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Procedure
1 Combine raisins, fruit and nuts in bowl. Add fruit juice. Stir and set aside.
2 Stir together, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda and salt.
3 Cream shortening, sugar, vanilla and egg thoroughly.
4 Add dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in fruit mixture. Mix well.
5 Turn dough out onto floured surface and round up into ball. Divide ball in four.
6 Round up each piece, then with hands roll each into a cylinder about 13” long. Place on greased sheet (2 per sheet). Flatten each roll slightly (about ¾” thick)
7 Bake at 400º for 15 to 18 minutes. With sharp knife cut into 1” slices. Allow to cool before separating.
8 Store in container with tight fitting lid.
Yield: 4 dozen

 
A classic Monopoly game (and they can play for your homemade goodies) or other type of game board to

engage your Mom and her friends during the holidays.

 
REC: "Dream Bars" This was a favorite of my mother's in the 60's. Brown sugar, nuts and coconut

I haven't made them in a while but they are delicious in a retro way and I recall they keep pretty well.

DREAM BARS
(I think this was a boxtop recipe)

Mix together:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

Pack into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake 10 minutes at 350*

Beat:
2 eggs

Add:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup coconut

Spread mixture over cooked crust. Return to oven and bake 30 minutes, or until browned.

Cut into squares.

 
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