HAAHAHAH NOPE. I also did not purchase the University offered "care packaged" to help them get through finals. I used to send my grand father cookies once a month.

I did when they were in the armed forces. I couldn't afford the postage in this day and age. Be thankful you can!

Rusty

Yes, now that DS and family live so far away from us, I've been baking and sending goodies to them via UPS. It's very expensive, since I choose the fastest delivery they offer but I really miss seeing them and they enjoy my treats so much that it's worth every penny! There are also products that aren't available where they are so I send those too.

I send jam that I've made from berries in my garden to my son's family. They live 200 miles away. With the pandemic there is no traveling to visit. I send priority mail and it isn't cheap, but I don't care. I have to spend my money on something.

That's right Rose, better to spend it on them now than they get it without the love later!

Yes, I do. Usually some German chocolates and other treats. But when it was impossible for her to find stuff like toilet paper, paper towels, Lysol wipes and hand wipes in Spring (New York), I sent a big pandemic care package up there.

MILs beware! A bff sent her son cookies as she had since he left home and his new wife took GREAT offense.

What is nuts 'n' bolts?

kathyg, I would like to know what nuts and bolts is, too.

No, but my daughter sends her daughter (my oldest DGD) care packages in college for special occasions and before finals. She decorates the inside lid of the box and includes some of her favorite snacks and a few other goodies such as lip balm, soaps, scrunchies, etc. Here is one from a while back.

Kiddos are 6&8 but I did send 2 packages to my parents (they are divorced). I was planning on sending in time to get there right before Christmas but with the USPS delays I didn't ship until this past Monday.

I made good use of my new chamber vacuum sealer and sent my smoked breakfast sausage, smoked Canadian bacon (thank you annie for giving me this idea), as well as Italian meatballs w/ sauce, and lastly beef pot pies. Next year I need to plan better and include some bread.

Here is my recipe, can't remember where I got it, but my kids love it and my friends. It is really garlicky! It is a take on Chex Mix, but with a kick!

Nuts 'N' Bolts - Kathy G in MI

1 box Rice Chex 12 oz.

1 box Corn Chex 12 oz.

1 to 1 1/2 lb. Blanched or cocktail peanuts

(optional, pretzels, Cheerios, etc. I add Snyder's cheddar cheese pretzel pieces which I put in after baking, not enough room in my roaster)

Place into large (turkey size) roaster.

2 sticks melted butter

2 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

3 TBL. Worcestershire sauce Lea & Perin gluten free

Pour cereal and nuts into large roasting pan.

Melt butter, mix in garlic salt and Worcestershire, pour over dry ingredients.

Stir/mix.

Bake at 250° for 30 minutes, stir after 15 minutes.

That’s pretty much what we just call ‘Chex Mix’. I seem to remember years ago it may have been called ‘nuts and bolts’. In my recipe, I use much less cereal for a batch and use a seasoned salt rather than all garlic salt. I also use some mixed nuts and add extra cashews and almonds because we like them. Plus a few thin pretzel sticks broken in half. For whatever reason we didn’t make any this year for the first time in a long time. It’s addictive.

Yes, this mix is delicious and very addictive! Neighbor gave us a large bag and I sent most of it to DS and grands. Couldn't have it around the house! lol!

With my oldest DD away at university, we have (luckily) discovered flat rate shipping. Here, you can buy a flat rate box for $17.99 and fill it up to 5 kg. Maybe everyone else has always used this, but it was new to me.

So much fun to send things to them when they are away. I love nuts and bolts and, like stacey, I can't have it around the house or it's gone.

Are you leaving out the chips in the cookies b/c he can't have milk products? If so, I've discovered that there are a couple of brands that are milk free. My youngest follows a vegan diet.

My mother made this snack for us all the time. I never knew the name. Thanks for the recipe.

I didn't send homemade treats this year, but I did send some commercially sourced products that were ridiculously expensive.

Even though the individual ideas were expensive for what they were, they were well within my budget for gifts for those recipients, so I was happy to find something consumable and different.

Nuts 'n' Bolts sounds delicious. I think I may try making a smaller batch. All of this shipping reminds me of my first summer away from home. I decided to bake my parents a cake for their anniversary and mail it to them. I made a cake with custard cream filling. That's right --custard--unrefrigerated for days--in July. Fortunately my parents knew to not eat it. Young and stupid, but my heart was in the right place.

Daisychain, yes, I am leaving them out because of the milk, but he likes them like that too. In fact, my son in law wants some without the chips and he has no allergy!