Every year I decide to take on the task of baking for the troops. I have been doing it this year too. I bake cakes and cookies and mail them downrange and deliver them all over the base I live by. I live in Germany. My husband works for the army now. I grew up as a military brat, married a soldier who retired after 22 years and now you guessed he is still working for the army. It is the only way I know how to live. Now as I was saying I started baking cakes and sending care packages over to our men and woman. It is easy to do from here as I can send it through the military mail system and it is free. The problem is this year I am not employed and it is making me cut back. Now don’t think I am asking for money, because I am not. If you would send me cake mix or foil or cookie mix I will do all the work and include your name on the box. Fact is I will still be sending the boxes just not as many. Everyone thinks of the soldiers that are downrange, but let me just say that there are many men and women that are supporting the efforts on the bases here in Germany, and other countries that are far away from their homes and loved ones and will not be traveling home for the holidays. At Thanksgiving we had 17 people here for dinner. It was a ball. I must say that the hardest thing going for me is that this last year I had a gastric bypass and though I can’t eat as much I still love to cook for others. Help me if you can to finish out this holiday season with a bang. Thanks Lynn.

I agree, RR is a terrible cook. WHy couldn't it be Tyler Florance, someone with talent like that? That EVOO and Yummo are equally terrible.

Somehow I just don't feel like partying this holiday Oprah.

My partner and I had a party with over 140 people at our house on Sat. 12/8. It was a BLAST! We had it catered from a local bbq place and hired a bartender that used to work at Bacara Resort and Spa. It was absolutely wonderful!!! We also had a toy collection for Toys for Tots for the Long Beach, CA police department. We ended up with over 5 HUGE boxes of toys (including even a bicycle) and lots of stuffed animals. That was the best part! Seeing all of those toys that will go to children less fortunate. We were able to fill their van 1/2 full when they came to pick them up.
This was our 4th year doing this and we seem to have more and more contribute each year! I can't wait for next year!
We have to start planning it 6 months in advance just to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.
Take care and Happy Holidays to all!!!
Shawn/Bill

Yoptchako - Go to your local Dollar Store. Some are better than others. Almost all of my wine, Champaign, martini glasses are from these various stores and I would dare anyone who doesn't do the same thing to guess they were only a buck ea.

In fact last night I bought a set of gorgeous martini glasses a part of a Martini Package I'm putting together for a friend! I have sat at dinner parties with high ranking politicians where the hostess used the same glasses I own. A dirty little secret!!;)

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

In response to "paulybrusk" : As for Rachael Ray's recipes being "unhealthy"... some of us appreciate the hard-to-now-find recipe that contains neither bean sprouts nor tofu, some of us actually want real food on occasion, fat grams and all. Secondly, there are also some of us out here who don't have the luxury of being able to "linger" over meal preperation. With the demands of career and family, good food fast is deeply appreciated. Since I'm a busy mom, not a supermodel, I love Rachael's down-to-earth attitude and helpful, hearty recipes that I can prepare quickly for my family . Thank you Rachael, AND Oprah, very much.

Speaking as a devoted FoodNetwork fan (I love Tyler Florence..we're doing his Moroccan chicken with apricot couscous and olive spread etc. for Christmas Day this year, because it is SO delicious and the house smells amazing while it's cooking..and also making Giada de Laurentis's turkey ravioli.) Sorry you don't appreciate Rachael Ray as so many other people in America do....people of all ages. She has always been exuberant and boisterous, and is possibly an A.DD. personality.....however, she's also wonderful with live aaudiences,and especially with kids, and adult newcomers to efficient cooking....for example, ME, at my advanced age of 65. She is a much better cook than you give her credit for, and in my house we have enjoyed every one of her recipes that I've tried. However, there's no law that says you have to like her or buy any of her cookbooks or even watch any of the many shows she does on Food Network, let alone the hour talk show format she's in now on mainstream TV. For those you buy what you say about her, let me just add that when Food Network did a special Iron Chef Americ achallenge pairing her with the great Iron Chef Mario Batali, and Giada de Laurentis with my favorite Iron Chef Bobby Flay; one of the judges told Rachael Ray she may just think of herself as a COOK, but to him, she was a real chef. And talented, at that. Another way of judging her. It's blatantly unfair to label her just because Oprah encouraged her to go mainstream, forheaven's sake. Which Oprah guest is going to be trashed next, I wonder?