Team Your Place Gourmet Gets Press!

Woo-Hoo! Team Your Place Gourmet got some press! An article appeared in the Arizona Republic this week. Check it out HERE.

Introducing Team Daleske!

I'm Steph from Mostly Useless Drivel and I'm honored to be hosting CPT Christopher Daleske! Let me tell you a little bit about our soldier....

Christopher calls Hilton Head Island South Carolina home but also claims Summit, NJ...a small town in Union County. He attended High school at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA and was a member of the regimental band on a music scholarship during High School. He then continued on to Jr College and was comissioned as a 2nd LT in the Army through Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne PA in 2001, transferred to Clemson University in South Carolina in 2001-2004. He joined TKE, a social fraternity, and graduated with a BA in Political Science and a BA in History (he's talented and a genius!). He was initially stationed at Fort Bragg, NC with the 18th Fires BDE, and then transferred to the 18th Airborne Corps for the current deployment.
Christopher married his college sweetheart in July of 2007, and was deployed just seven short months later, in Feb 2008. He expects to come home in the Spring of 2009. His beautiful young wife is living with her parents until he comes home, and he plans on moving them to Virginia and working for the military in some capactiy upon his redeployment.
Christopher loves to travel and is so fanatical about college football that he stays up 'til 6 AM watching the games in Iraq! He's very active, loves sports and the ocean, and after being around the dusty brown of Iraq for so long, misses the snow, rain and everything beautifully green.
Christopher is the unofficial Morale Officer to the men and women around him. He shares everything he gets from home to lighten the mood and morale for his friends and fellow soldiers over there. He even stores up any party related items he recieves from home for impromtu birthday celebrations for those around him.
Most importantly, he thanks God every single day for keeping his friends, family, countrymen and women safe and for all that they do. How about a HUGE thanks to Christopher for all that he does to keep all of us safe!

Let's all pray for the safety and health of CPT Daleske, and all of our soldiers serving in the armed forces. And those of you who are so inclined, well let's bake our little hearts out and shower him with the love and gratitude he deserves!

If you would like to join Team Deleske, just send me an email at queenb5080@yahoo.com and I'll get you his address ASAP! Be sure your name is on it somewhere, so I can give you a little shout out, and if you have a webpage of your own, include the URL.



Meet our amazing team......

Dalia Concepcion
Jennifer Abrams
Carol Curro of Katonah, NY
Jenny Fisk
Ali
Randy & Val Monday
Beth Ann
Renee Meaux
Katie Jones
Lisa stein
Annie
Dolores Ferraro
Anj
Tracey Kelly
Abbie Jackson of Birmingham, AL
Lan Pham
Sarah Witgen
Tracy Johnson
Heather
Stacey Jensen
Monica Harvell
Julie Schaeffer
Lorna Cohen
Kassie Green
Pamela Houchins
Sue Kelly

Team Spatulas & Corkscrews

Hi! My name is Donna from Team Spatulas & Corkscrews and I'm recruiting volunteers!

Last month was my first time sending cookies overseas to soldiers in Iraq. I never did that before because unlike most of you, I didn't personally know one soldier in the armed forces! I was also scared I'd screw things up and the box would end up in limbo somewhere. Well, it didn't and the troops were thrilled. And you know what? I felt really good about it too! I was thrilled to be part of a bigger, worthwhile cause.

Now, it's my turn to get excited excited because I'm hosting a team of my own -Team Spatulas & Corkscrews! Since I didn't have a soldier, Susan found one for me! I don't know too much about my guy, I don't even have a photo, but what I do know is that he needs our support and gratitude for serving his country. His name is Michael Jones and he's a Chaplain with the 10th Mountain Division (they are famous!) stationed out of Fort Drum, New York. He is now in Iraq, stationed at Camp Victory, and obviously, as a chaplain will have access to MANY soldiers to share all these care packages with. So, now I'm the one asking for help! As the host for Team Spatulas & Corkscrews, I'm sending out the call...would you be willing to send a package of love and cookies, brownies, candy, etc to Chaplain Michael Jones? I need 25 bakers to fill out my team. That shouldn't be too hard to do right?

Believe it or not, Operation Baking Gals has grown to over 500 bakers in just 3 short months! Wouldn't you just love to be one of them?

We'll send all our boxes at the same time, so Chaplain Michael gets them in one enormous delivery! Won't he be surprised? They should be shipped out during the week of September 27th - October 6th. When I did this this last month, I was shocked that the price of a HUGE box of goodies only cost me $8.00! That's all the way to Iraq! You can even ask for a free Military Flat Rate box from the PO to keep the cost down. (Your mileage may vary.)

So, whadaya think? Can you see it in your heart to send a box of love and cookies to a bunch of homesick soldiers? If so, just send me an email at cruisingkitty@hotmail.com and I'll add you to Team Spatulas & Corkscrews! Leave your name and url if you have a blog too. When I receive your email, I'll get back to you with all the info you need to send Chaplain Michael 25 boxes of goodies the week of September 27th - October 6th!

Check out my blog Spatulas & Corkscrews for some important shipping info, like what to put in the box, etc, and we'll get you all hooked up. ENLIST NOW! And don't forget to tell your friends and your friends friends. You get the picture!

Team Spatulas & Corkscrews Bakers

Donna (ME!) @ spatulas & corkscrews
Erika @ stampin' mama
MacDuff @ jon and macduff
Molly
Lianne from IL
Tara @ smells like home
Torrey
Lisa
Christine @ blenders galore
Debbie
Susanna @ card of the week
Sheri @ cooking mom
Tracy @ stampingly creative art
Martha
Lisa from NY
Virginia from MO
Christi @ blessings on paper
Penny
Gale
Sandy @ eat real
Suzanne
Gabi @ the feast within
Katie from CA
Karyl from TX
Kim @ 3rd generation cake lady
Tammy
Teresa @ diddle daddle designs
Ellen @ sweet dumpling
Tracey @ trouble with trixie

Team 10th Mountain

Hi! I'm Fran from Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie. A few months ago, I had been talking with online friends about troops overseas, and wouldn't we love to be able to find a soldier and send him/her a goodie box, just as a show of support and thanks. Just a little morale boost and a taste of home. But we weren't sure how we would find the soldiers, not knowing any personally. Just days later, I saw a post on the Daring Bakers website from Susan. Is that fate, or what?! I immediately signed on and sent my package to the USS Abraham Lincoln. This month, for Round 3, it's my turn to be a host.

So, could YOU help me bake this time? Our soldier is Richard Martin and he is a member of the 10th Mountain Division- Army Light Infantry based out of Fort Drum NY. I have been told he has LOTS of soldiers he will be sharing with. I have been told these heroes could really use a morale boost - and an unexpected shipment of goodies could really be the ticket. Will it bring them home? No it won't. But it will remind them of it...and that's a really positive thing in such a negative place. Capt. Ballard (our Round One soldier) told Susan in an email that "I just hope these ladies know that they are doing a good thing. Even if it is 'just' baking cookies...". These guys are protecting our rights, our liberty, our freedom. The least we can do in return is share a few homemade cookies with them. If you are up for helping me support this group of soldiers stationed in Iraq, please send an email to Fran@ZimmUSA.com.

When I receive your email, I will respond with all the info you will need to ship to our guy Richard in Iraq.We will all ship our boxes at the same time - Beginning the week of Sept. 27th. If you get a free special APO Military Flat Rate box from the Post Office, the shipping should be very low for 1 large box. (Approx $12.95 or less). Please join the effort to support our troops!

Our team to date (9/23) includes:

Melissa - Lost Nation, Iowa http://www.sweetcakesonline.net/

Courtney L

Mary - San Francisco, CA http://alpineberry.blogspot.com/

Ingrid - Winter Springs, FL http://baseballbakingandbooks.blogspot.com/

Greg - New York, NY http://www.oatmealcookieguy.com/

Linda - San Diego, CA

Sandy - Jasper FL

Patty Z - Westlake OH

Joanne M - Westlake OH

Heather - Brooklyn, NY http://sherrytrifle-lovelycats.blogspot.com/
Pam - Longview TX http://www.macscakes.zoomshare.com/

Janet A - Chicago IL

Tonia O

Jaime P

Nayeli H

Martha S

Mary - http://www.shazaminthekitchen.blogspot.com/

Dolores - http://culinarycuriosity.blogspot.com/

Marca D

Susan

Jen C

and myself- Fran Z- http://applespeachespumpkinpie.blogspot.com/

Team Superfluous

Hello! This is Sabrina from Team Superfluous! I am so excited to be hosting this round. It was great to be a part of the last round and now here we are again. My blog is a great mish-mash of all sorts of things, sometimes food, sometimes laughs, but always a little superfluous.

I don't know a whole lot about this soldier, but does that really matter, let's send out some love anyway!
What i have been told by Ms. Susan our fearless leader is, "SFC Israel Reichard is a good guy and he LOVES the Snickerdoodles you ladies mailed last time. If you can put something together (specifically Snickerdoodles) and mail to him, I know it would be a huge morale booster.
He's an 'adopted' West Virginian from my cousin Jason's last deployment. He's a great guy
with no real family back in the states. If you ladies could send him some
love, I know he'd forever grateful."

So how about it? Let's team up and make this soldier's day! Email me at sabrinarobideau (at) hotmail (dot) com if you want to join the team or if you have any questions. I will send you the information you need, including the address of our soldier. Please add your name, your website (if you have one) and the URL so I can post it on my blog.

Last round I made some swell Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from a Dorie Greenspan recipe, and I think I might be using more of her infamous recipes... This is going to be fun!!!!

Meet the Team:
Jennifer Grimes
Theresa Evans-Wooten
Randy and Val Monday
Carrie
Christine Brisby
Barbara Lohen
Morgan Cartusciello
Tia Lyn
Dolores Ferrero
Elizabeth de Saint -Aignan
Kim Onstott
Amanda Jayla-Onstott
Nanette Taho
Mary K

Team Adrienne's House - Updated

Welcome to Adrienne's House sit down, relax, put your feet up. Heck put your feet on the furniture, we don't mind around here.

Our soldier this time around is Sgt. Mark Martin of Chatsworth Georgia. He is a father of 3 stationed in Iraq at Camp Victory inside Baghdad on his THIRD TOUR of duty! He is quoted in "The View From the Right" regarding the back-to-back deployments of troops as saying "We are so stretched that constantly, if we are not training back home, we are here."

Camp Victory is the primary component of the Victory Base Complex which occupies the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport. It has several living support areas; Freedom Village,[2] and Dodge Cities North and South, along with building 51F, which is commonly known as "Area 51". There are also two smaller living areas reserved for government contractors, as well as a third for employees of an Iraqi contracting company.

But what it doesn't have is fresh baked cookies and muffins!

Personally, I think I will be making some Tollhouse chocolate chips and some good ol Rice Krispie Treats. Wouldn't you like to join me in some baking fun? Please email me at Avanhouten@sbcglobal.net to join this team.

Meet the team!
Stacey Doniger
Danielle http://daniellekathleen.blogspot.com
Robin http://mrsrodeba.blogspot.com
Nikki
Lindsey
S Beener http://pookieandtheboys.blogspot.com
Beth http://www.kitchenwithbrina.blogspot.com
Brenda Watwood http://www.webbiesworld.blogspot.com
Adrienne http://adrienneshouse.blogspot.com

Team Your Place Gourmet

September brings round 3 of Operation Baking Gals and I am hosting a team of my own. Team Your Place Gourmet's soldier is my friend Robyn's son, Nick. Nick is a 20 year old LCpl in the Marine Corps, deployed to Afghanistan. He is an infantryman in 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment serving at Forward Operating Base Bala Baluk in Western Afghanistan. Nick and his unit deployed to Afghanistan on April 7, 2008 and will remain there through the month of November. They are headquartered at Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.

This is how it works: Ship anytime the week of September 27th - October 6th and use the USPS for your package that will be going to a camp in Afghanistan. What can you bake? That's up to you! Just keep in mind that it will take about one week to get to Nick and will be subjected to temperatures over 100 degrees and lots of jostling around along the way.

If you or any of your baking friends want to join my team, please post a quick comment here and email me at chefkim (AT) yourplacegourmet (DOT) com and I'll send you more info and Nick's address.

Thank you for participating!
-Kim
Your Place Gourmet - Personal Chef Service

Here's Team Your Place Gourmet so far:
Jen Barber of Goodyear, AZ
Brent Evans of Charlotte, NC & Personal Chefs Network
Brenda Bernardi of Goodyear, AZ
Rosa Santiago de Boyd of Goodyear, AZ
Rose Carameli of Lorain, OH
Marianne Qoyawayma of Scottsdale, AZ
Amanda Jagla-Onstott of Hercules, CA
Michelle Roles of Avondale, AZ & Michelle Roles Photography
Jennifer Wolfe of Surprise, AZ
Debbie Burgess of Lancaster, SC & The Hungry Fox PCS
Mike & Robyn Harris of Avondale, AZ
Amy Menousek of Goodyear, AZ
Linnea Cummings of Anchorage, AK & Alaska Dinner Factory
Ann Hanson of Goodyear, AZ
Traci Grisham of Litchfield Park, AZ
Heather of Brooklyn, NY & Sherry Trifle
Cat of The Cat's Pajamas
Anna of Mediocre Chocolate
Amanda Petker of Clermont, FL & The Waterside Novice Baker
Rachel Feinberg of New York, NY & Sweet Tarte
Jennifer Herman of Waddell, AZ
Kimberly Jones of Goodyear, AZ
Ginger Harmon of Goodyear, AZ
Charlene Onstott of Phoenix, AZ
Willa Epperson of Surprise, AZ
Lisa Lanza of Southington, CT
Our team is full! Don't let that stop you! Please send an email to bakinggals@gmail.com and put "Any Soldier" in the subject line.
Check out the article in the AZ Republic!

Team We'll Eat Everything!

Hi Folks! I'm Lauren of I'll Eat You and I'm happy to be a host this time around for Operation Baking GALS. Team We'll Eat Everything is baking for Mark, a very special soldier and member of the Army National Guard. Mark is a single father from Philadelphia stationed in Iraq. He recently lost his fiancée and mother to his two daughters, Shanira, 3 and Dayonna, 2. This is Marks's second deployment, having served 3 years in Afghanistan before having children. When not serving our country in the gulf, Mark serves our youth as a teacher in a Philadelphia public high school. Mark's sister is my co-worker, and is taking care of her neices while their father is in Iraq. Shanira and Dayonna are very excited that I will be sending their daddy some cookies, and we have decided that they will help me bake! I'm looking for few people out there to join me and the girls to send some love over to their dad and his friends. Email me at illeatyoublog@gmail.com and I'll put you on the team! I'll contact you later in the month with the address for shipping, which should take place from 9/27-10/6. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Members of Team We'll Eat Everything!

Lauren of I'll Eat You (host, duh)

Joan of San Francisco, CA (hi mom!)

Abby of Philadelphia , PA

Tanya of Take The Cannoli

Carmella and Carlo of The Food Duo

Michelle of Culinography

Tami of Whisked Away

Alicia from Salem, OR

Jennifer of Jennifer's Haus

Pam of Cookies with Boys

Dawn

Katia of Tiny Truffles

Teanna of Spork and Foon
Janet of All I Want is Chocolate
Natalie of Crafty Natalie

Kim

Dianne of Dianne's Dishes

Lynsey of Lynsey Lou's

Team Pass the Sushi - Bring on the Cookies!

Hi! I'm Kita from my brand spanking new blog (which works in everything but Internet Explorer at the moment >.<) Pass the Sushi. This is my second round of Operation Baking GALS and I am super excited! I am looking for bakers to get their spatulas in hand and join me for this round of baking!

I am 22 and since the attack on New York 7 years ago many of my friends have been over seas. Many come home tired, some come home standing tall and proud with a new discovery of self worth, and some I have never heard from again. Many of my friends are still signing up; wanting more and more to do what they can.I have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve this country from day to day, so for them, lets get to baking!!!

Our mission, if we choose to accept it, is going to be a little tricky. We don't know much, but I'll fill you in on what I've got. Our soldier is Michael Harrison and his fellow companions of the 10th Mountain Division. They have been at work for quite some time now and could really use some snacks! More than just yummy treats, they could really use the morale boost!

If you would like to be on Team Pass the Sushi for Michael and his peers please email me at kita (at) passthesushi (dot) com. Please include your name, name of your blog and web site URL so that I can post it!

Last time I made cranberry orange muffins, chocolate chip cookies, and double chocolate cookies! If you need any help with ideas let me know! Thanks!!!

Team Pass the Sushi!

Shanna from Tennessee
Kelly of www.thesecretlifeofducks.blogspot.com
Meredith from Wilmington, DE
Linda from Wilmington, DE (Meredith and Linda are a mother daughter team!)
Elisa from Newark, DE
Patricia from Austin, TX
Emily C
Stacy W
Karen
Angela S
Annie
Lisa L of http://lunchbucketbento.blogspot.com/
Paris M
Julie K
Tanya G
Lori B
Rachel of http://runinthesnow.blogspot.com/
And Me! Kita from Newark, DE passthesushi.com

Join Team Lauer!

Hello out there! My name is Jennifer Lauer, sister to Susan (Susie Homemaker) Whetzel. I'm looking for a few good bakers to help me bake for a friend of mine. My soldier's name is Cpt. Jackie Buzzard. He is a great husband and a father to a teenage son. When he's not serving his country in the reserves, he works in federal law enforcement with my husband. His wife is a good friend of mine, as well. This is Jackie's second tour overseas and is due to come home in November. So, I am asking all of you to make the last couple of months of a long tour more bearable for him, because as we all know, the last leg of any trip is always the hardest. I know that he and his men would love some homemade goodies, from some caring folks. These guys are tired and anxious to come home, so lets give them a taste of it now! So, if you want to join my team, you can email me at jlauer17222@comcast.net or just leave me a comment saying "Sign me up!" and I will send you his mailing info later in the month in time for shipping. Shipping by the way is the week of Sept. 29th. So, thank you all in advance for your help!

The Bakers of Team Lauer:

Erin Morey
Susan Swearengin
Michelle Dargen of http://myyeartogetskinny.blogspot.com/
Anna Scheminger of Maybe Just a Little Bite
Donna Stafford
Nikki St.Germain
Carrie Montanez
Katie of goodthingscatered.blogspot.com

Kris Smylie of http://thesmylielife.blogspot.com/

Jan Connell

Patty Stanley

Kelsey Morris of http://kelseykakes.blogspot.com/

Sasha Arnett
Elizabeth de Saint-Aignan

Cheryl Spoehr
Dolores Ferrero
Randy and Val Monday

Fran Smith

Team Baking For Our Troops

Hi, everyone, my name is Lyndsay. My mom, Pam, and I baked cookies for the last round and enjoyed it so much we had to do it again! And this time, we are excited to be team leaders! We are new to the blogging world, so our blog so far is just what we baked last month and photos of it all! (Baking4Troops.blogspot.com)



Our Soldier's name is Zachary Thomas Sain, and he is currently stationed in Iraq. He is the nephew of one of my mom's tennis friends. This round of home-baked goodies could not come at a better time for him because homesickness is getting pretty rough. It has been tough to hang on to a little piece of home, and his contact with loved ones last month cost him a 4-figure phone bill to prove it!!! Now, let me tell you a little bit about him.



He is 19 years old and graduated from high school in Champion, Ohio in 2006. He has three siblings back home (Amanda 17, Jeremy 14, and Bailey 12) and his mother, Jacquetta. He is an animal lover and has a golden retriever named Sampson. Zach loves listening to the "oldies" as well as new music. He is into cars and rebuilt a 1977 Jeep with his dad, Joe, before he passed away. Zach loves to go muddin' in his Jeep and also enjoys target shooting. He is even a member of the American Motorcycle Association. As for the future, he hopes to return home from service and continue serving his community as a police officer.



If you would like to join our team, please email me at eLLe1015@gmail.com , and I will give you his address!


Our Team:

Lyndsay & Pam - Youngstown, OH
Barb - Kremmling, CO (My Aunt!)
Marisa - Brooklyn, NY
Francine - Harvey, IL
Shanna - Chicago, IL
Patti - Maspeth, Queens, NY
Sara - Los Angeles, CA
Brittney - Selinsgrove, PA (or as she is referring to it as the middle of nowhere, literally) :-)
Kelly - CT
Kara - Falls Church, VA
Ashley - OK
Paige - Rock Hill, NY
Jeanne - Danville, IL
Elise - Newington, CT
Sharon - Southern CA
Suzanne - Goodyear, AZ
Lori - Alabama
Lori - Connecticut
Kristina - Portland, OR
Joanne - New York, NY
Rose - North Attleboro, MA

Round Three Starts Here!

More than TEN Hosts are heading up Round THREE of Operation Baking GALS! What does that mean to a baker?? Well, that means you choose!
The hosts will be posting Bios of their soldiers here on the site as well as their own sites and they are recruiting YOU to do some heartfelt baking! Please stay tuned to the GALS Site for info as we get it.

Here is the INFO you came for!!

Round Three Shipping Dates: September 27-October 6

When do you ship? Anytime during that timeframe. We want to bombard these troops with baked goods!!
Where do you ship? Your Host will send you an email letting you know the address.
What can you bake? Anything you want! These soldiers aren't picky! Most GALS tend to ship anywhere from 3 to 6 dozen cookies, though some have made 20-30 DOZEN by getting their friends involved in the effort! How many YOU choose to end is up to YOU. No amount is too small, it is the thought that really counts. Typical shipping in a Flat Rate Large Box for APO (available at your Post Office) runs $10.95 and you can pack it FULL for that cost. Smaller boxes are also available as well. Please refer to Cat's Post for more detailed info on what to ship, how to ship, how to package and more!
Who's YOUR Host? That's up to you! PLEASE send a host an email with the Subject Line - "I want on your team" and she will get back to you. So that others may see that you have enlisted to that team, your Host will be posting your name on the BIO of the soldier...that way we can keep track of who's shipping where! We want all of the soldiers to get lots of packages! If you haven't already emailed bakinggals@gmail.com to join the Official Roster, please do so in addition to emailing your host...we want to know just how many bakers we really have!!
What if you can't choose a soldier? NO PROBLEM!! Just send an email to bakinggals@gmail.com with the Subject Line - ANY SOLDIER and we will assign you to a host to round out the group. Again, we want to be as equal as we can be!
How will you get thanked? That's an important question..and it's one that makes Operation Baking GALS so unique! Not only does everyone know WHO they are baking for...Everyone gets THANKED! Your Host will be posting a thanks to each of her bakers on her own site after the ship dates have passed, sometime around September 1st.

Questions? That's what we are here for!! Just ask 'em!!