"troops" news and stories

In between hunting nightmares and the busyness that comes with being the food man of f-bombs, The Telegraph reports that Gordon Ramsay has given his support to a new cookbook for the UK troops in Afghanistan. He wrote the forward to the book, and in typical Ramsay fashion, that includes: "Producing variety in such a f***ing dangerous environment is undoubtedly daunting." He wasn't able to launch the book himself, but sent protégé Angela Hartnett for the event in the UK on Thursday.

Ten Man ORP Recipe Ideas isn't the sort of culinary masterpiece that will make the military men foam at the mouth and grumble over their ration packs. Instead, it contains a myriad of recipe ideas about how to make the most of what they have -- milk powder, processed cheese -- to make meals like Italian Meatballs Served with Pasta and Garlic, Choc Fruit Mousse, and Pleasant Porridge Delight.

I would hope that there's some sort of deal in place to get these books to the chefs in charge, because methinks there aren't culinary bookstands on every corner in Aghanistan. There's also no word on whether this book will make it out to the rest of the troops stationed there.

Thousands of cookies are baked every week and send to US troops overseas. Jeanette Cram runs the nonprofit group Treat the Troops as a way to organize the mailing efforts(with toiletries and other essentials, in addition to the cookies) and there are other groups, too, like America Supports You, which is run by the Department of Defense. The idea behind these programs is not to make a military statement, but to send a taste of home to sons and daughters.  

Yesterday's New York Times had a great article about people who participate in these programs, sending packages and letters. Due to an increased number of individuals, groups and corporations that are participating, the time it takes for a package to reach a soldier is down from a month to just under two weeks. If that sounds like a long time, just remember that even a slightly stale cookie tastes better than no cookies at all.

For more information on how to write to the soldiers, if you're so inclined, you can contact either of the two groups mentioned above. According to Cram, chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin and snickerdoodles are the most popular flavors.

 

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Some troops may have a craving for a taste of home, but others won't rest until they really bring their favorites out to the base. Canadian troops deployed to Afghanistan are asking the iconic Canadian coffee and donut chain, Tim Hortons, to set up shop in the massive Kandahar Air Base. The soldiers maintain that because the US troops currently at the base are enjoying Burger King and Subway franchises, that Tim Hortons should do the same, as it just "wouldn't be a Canadian base without a Tim Hortons."

In the past, the company has refused requests to set up a full store, stating that their strict quality controls could not be monitored in a location so far away. The company faithfully participates in programs which provide coffee and "goodie bags" for the soldiers, as well as having set up shop on military bases across Canada. A company spokesperson says that they will consider sending a smaller coffee cart or trailer to represent the brand on the base.

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Homesickness often shows itself in cravings for certain foods. For many soldiers from Vermont currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the craving was for jerky. Not just any jerky, but venison jerky. So, doing their best to oblige their hometown troops, law enforcement officers and game wardens in Bennington County, Vermont, started collecting venison. They looked for illegal hunting kills and fresh roadkills to use for their dried treats. In the end, they came up with 170 pounds of venison that was turned into jerky by a Bennington grocery owner. Ironically, the local Elks Club footed the bill for curing and shipping the meat.

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