Secsteve, It sounds like you have the true, real meaning of Christmas giving, Kudos to you, KT friend.

YOU ARE DA BOMB!! Tells us and better yet...show us your goodie platters...you truly do have the spirit of Christmas in your heart!!

Secsteve, you are a good soul.

Gosh, you're gonna make me blush!

I started baking goodies ten years ago after my mother died in her honor. She always loved Christmas and I always received a nice package of homemade goodies whenever I was stationed overseas.

While living in Northern, VA (Springfield to be exact) I started the year she died and took baked goodies to the guards on duty at Ft Meyer, Ft Belvoir, Henderson Hall (Marine Corp), Bolling AFB as well as our neighbors. Since moving to DE, I continue making for our neighbors, the local police department, the gate guards at the base and the state police.

For me, it's a labor of love. I spent twenty years in the military, so I know what have duty on Christmas Eve is like and it ain't fun. I always enjoy watching the reaction when I give the tins (actually plastic coffee containers) to various troopers and guards. The neighbors get nice made up platters holiday wrapped.

It's gotten to be quite an event for the neighbors and each year they look forward to what I'll be delivering. One year I decided to do a few different type of cookies, which while appreciated, caused a couple of them to remark "Oh, there's not those apricot bars this year?". LOL. Don't need to hit me over the head! So now every year I do my Party Apricot Bars, Honey Date Nut Bars, Pumpkin Date Bread as standards. Last year I added Coconut Cranberry Bars and this year will be doing them again as well as Hermits. I might throw in Chocolate Crinkle Cookies or Honey Crunch Cookies. I've also done the traditional Gingerbread and Sugar Cookies.

I usually start the week before Christmas and more often then not, finish up just in time on the 23rd and even the 24th.

Steve, you are going to post the recipe for the Party Apricot Bars -- right?

Gosh, I hope so, they sound wonderful! I would like any of the recipes, the date nut ones sound good too.

What a nice thing to do, Steve. So, how many pounds of butter do you end up going thru? :)

You got me beat by several spots you use as drop offs. I take to the local bike shop, where they treat me well, and my neighbors and some of my friends.

All, even though I insist on no presents. :)

Moni

Thanks so much for the great reply am saving this thread to refer back to. I'm sure MOM is smiling each time you drop the cookies off. Thanks in advance for sharing your recipes

I'll look forward to seeing those recipes, also! Thanks in advance and God bless you for spreading so much joy!

Thank you Steve for your service to our country and your dedication!

You are all welcome and it was my pleasure. I will be posting the recipe for the Party Apricot Bars and Honey Date Nut bars shortly on this thread.

Awww Steve, what a wonderful, thoughtful thing to do!!!
You give the folks working on Christmas day something to look forward to.

You obviously work best under pressure......completing them the day before Christmas! How many dozen do you bake?

Bless you Steve.

I've posted the recipes as you all requested. See my posting For those that asked...

I would have posted them here, but thought it might be better on a separate thread.

jasdip, I'm not sure how many dozen I wind up making - just a whole bunch!

Enjoy.

Thanks so much Steve!
Yep, we saw them on the alternate post.