What ships the best to Afghanistan?

Saleena - posted on 01/26/2011

Another idea is to put cookies inside a pringles can (cleaned and dried of course), mrs dash spices, tuna salad Pre mixed kits (has meat, crackers everything), hand sanitizer, plastic utensils, salsa, beef jerky, nuts, granola or cereal bars!! Have fun creating a box!! Also we invested I'n a food saver ;) they have rolls to make your own size bags wish keeps things custom, they have jar containers too, but not as economical as the bags. Also maybe socks, a pillowcase that has family pics on one side, small laminated pics, card games, greeting cards some signed by family/friends & some not so he can mail them home. Stamps, tablet, ink pens. Ok sorry for such a long list, but we're getting ready for yet another deployment so I'm thinking of things to get ready myself!! Good luck, hope some of these ideas you can use ;-)

Jade - posted on 12/06/2010

My husband said he takes the cakes out of the jar and slices them. Like I said, I use one pint canning jars - the baked cake usually takes up almost the entire jar. I realized that I left a couple things out too, so here are better instructions:

You need:
* 6 one pint wide-mouth canning jars (they don't have to be wide-mouth, but the wide mouth makes it easier for the guys to get the cakes out of the jars - otherwise they can just eat them out of the jar)
* Cake mix, and whatever you need for it (usually oil, eggs and water)
* Cooking spray (e.g. Pam)
* Bamboo skewers
* A rimmed cookie sheet


* Preheat the oven as directed by the instructions on the cake mix.
* Make the cake batter per the instructions on the box.
* Coat the inside of the canning jars with cooking spray.
* Fill the jars to just below the one-cup mark. Wipe away any batter that dribbles down the inside of the jar or on the rim.
* Place the jars evenly spaced on the cookie sheet.
* Bake the cakes until a bamboo skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. The original instructions I had said to bake the cakes for 15 minutes less than the directions on the box stated, but I've found that I actually have to bake mine for a little longer than the directions say - that may just be my oven.
* While the jars are still hot, place the seals and rings on the jars; the seals and rings should be at room temperature or warmer. Make sure not to tighten the rings too much. Within 15 minutes the lids should seal themselves so the center button can no longer be depressed.

As far as shipping, I use lots of crumpled newspaper. I line the bottom of a large flat rate priority box with it, then put one jar in each corner and pack more newspaper between the jar and the sides of the box. I put containers of frosting in between the jars, one on each side. After packing in whatever other little odds and ends I might have, I stuff any open spaces with more newspaper, then seal the box. I've sent at least four boxes with four jar cakes in them, and I've never had one break. You can use bubble wrap if it makes you more comfortable but it's not really necessary.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Cindy - posted on 12/06/2010

Thanks to everyone for your great help! I am a bit confused by the cake in a jar thing, is there just one slice per jar...aren't you worried the jar will break in transit??

Nicole - posted on 12/04/2010

I sent lots of easy mac to my hubby last time... they had nothing where he was, they barely got MREs to em and all he had to "make food" was fire and his canteen cup, sooo easy mac and canned food was what he always got. Every time I've sent cookies I just put em in a ziplock bag and they get there just fine even after being helo dropped to him lol, but I pack my boxes so nothing inside moves. His second and third tours I sent lots of cakes in jars and he loved them... I use the small canning jars because thats what works best for me and is able to be shipped easiest and then each guy can just take a jar and have his own slice instead of needing to all eat off one big chunk of cake lol. But all the guys have always loved cake in a jar!! Especially because theyd get NOTHING sweet out there (MREs lol) so it was quite a treat to get cake! lol. And, if he has access to amenities like a microwave or something, I always thought those microwavable deserts that "cook" in the microwave, would be a good idea to send!!! I never did it, hubby has yet to stay somewhere where he has access to real stuff lol.but maybe you could try that!!!

I also had our daughter color the outside of all his packages lol.

Lori - posted on 12/04/2010

Jade, FABULOUS IDEA!

Jade - posted on 12/04/2010

At this point in the year, it's getting cool enough over there that it should be okay to send chocolate and such with no problems (just make sure you bag them separately just in case). Like the other ladies have said, the biggest thing with sending cookies and other baked goods is to make sure you pack them so they can't really shift.

One of the things I've sent that my husband loved was jar cakes. All you need is a box of your hubby's favorite cake mix and 1-pint canning jars (I used wide mouth jars, because they make it easier for the guys to get the cakes out). Mix the batter according to the directions on the box, fill the jars to just below the one cup mark, then bake til a bamboo skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Put the lids on while the jars are still hot, and they heat seal themselves. One cake mix makes six jar cakes, and I usually send a couple containers of frosting with them (don't frost the cakes before you send them). You can even sent plastic utensils so they can open the box and eat right away.

Alycia - posted on 12/02/2010

I used to send tv dinners to him. Not the frozen kind, but they have some in the same aisle as boxed dinners I think. You just put them in the microwave. I know they eat over there, but they don't get enough for all the work that they do and it's the same gross junk everyday. My hubby was eating 5-6 meals a day (they're only like $2/each too) and actually gained some weight over there.

I agree with Sandy. Ask what he wants. or even his least fave part. My husband started complaining about getting athletes foot in the showers over there even with shower shoes on, and losing weight from patrols and lack of decent food so my packages were about taking care of him, even from the other side of the world.

Sandy - posted on 12/02/2010

m&ms, mixed nuts, hot cocoa mix, fancy coffee and tea, Girl Scout cookies, seasonings, movies, books, wet wipes...

Most folks will trade items also, like movies, cookies, hot cocoa, coffee, books. Think about M*A*S*H* and what all they liked if really stumped. You should ask your husband what he wants. My husband emails me a want list every couple weeks. He's always complaining that the exchange there never has anything stocked.

Lori - posted on 12/02/2010

Just pack them tightly in a tupperware container. Make sure there isn't any space in the box so it can shift. Depending on where he is, they like Hand sanitizer, beef jerky, hot choc packets, instant coffee, styrofoam cups, hard candy, chapstick, hand warmers, etc.

Lori - posted on 12/01/2010

For baked goods- cookies, i like to pack them in a disposable tupperware container (great for them to reuse to make microwave ramen!). I line it with paper towels and put a paper towel between each layer of cookies. I also send my husband pans of cinnamon rolls, made in disposable pans. I double wrap with glad cling wrap, cut a cardboard circle to fit over the top and use a 3rd layer of cling wrap to secure it. Everything I have shipped arrives fresh and yummy, even if it takes 3-4 weeks to get there. My husband likes to get "quick foods," too, because they are on the other side of post from the DFAC and now that it is getting cold, he doesn't like to go all the way over there 3 times a day, plus the DFAC is one of the dangerous spots on his post. So... I pad his boxes with packages of ramen, peanut butter, dry cereal, etc. Whatever I can think of pretty much! HTH!

Lori

Candi - posted on 11/30/2010

I sent pages our kids colored or drew for him. I also sent chocolate with no problems (in the summer too), drink mixes, bags of mints, boston baked beans! No gummy bears or gummy worms. THose will melt! Mostly stuff you can't get at the PX. Good Luck

Martha - posted on 11/30/2010

non chocolate items are great...but i sent him chocolate and he said it was fine...snacks...energy bars...FOOOD candy...indiv. wrapped stuff too...or powders to make drinks?? like kool aid or the ready made stuff...hope that helps! :) ooo and pics of course...they get them through the computer but like print a couple wallet size and put clear tape or laminate on them..my hubby still has the ones i sent bc they get sweaty or wet so with tape they dont..oo i made a calendar with pics...:)