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thedrifter
07-02-09, 06:41 AM
Posted on Wed, Jul. 01, 2009
Mom’s cookies send welcome message to troops
MARY G. PEPITONE

Linda Relitz’s 27-year-old son Joshua Perry is a sergeant in the Marine Corps and lives by the Marine motto, Semper Fidelis, or “always faithful.” Semper Fidelis is Relitz’s mantra, too, as she sends food and care packages to her son and other American troops overseas.

More than six years ago, Relitz started a not-for-profit organization whose primary goal is to support U.S. soldiers overseas. With the help of her husband, Jeff Relitz, her grown daughter, Jennifer Perry, and a group of volunteers, the organization has supported nearly 200,000 soldiers.

Residence: Blue Springs

Occupation: Founder, U.S. Troop Support Foundation

Special cooking interest: Making foods that can be shipped to troops overseas

What does the Fourth of July mean to you? I come from a military family. My father fought in World War II and Korea, my brother and I served during Vietnam. My son, Joshua, joined the Marines after 9-11 and has been deployed to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. I just drove out to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, his home base. (He expects to be sent overseas again next summer.) I want to take the commercialism out of the holiday and really celebrate the freedoms we enjoy in America. We all need to realize how great our country is, but that freedom comes with sacrifice. That’s why I do what I do. I want our troops to know we support them and appreciate their sacrifices.

Is that why you started the foundation? When Joshua was first deployed, providing snacks, foods, socks and hygiene products for him and his unit was a way for me to stay close and know I was supporting him and his fellow Marines. Word spread quickly, and the names of troops on our list grew. Today, we have an active list of more than 8,000 soldiers that we send care packages to. Once a child, relative or friend is serving overseas, the conflict becomes personal.

A lot of troops call you “Mama Linda.” Have you always been the “mom on the block” or “room mother” to whom folks would turn? I guess I’ve always been one of a number of “booster” moms who would always be baking something for some event. That’s how I came up with this cookie recipe. I was making cookies and ran out of chocolate chips, so I added whatever else I had in the cupboard. To this day, we call them “variety chip” cookies. Joshua enjoys when I make these cookies and ship them to him when he is on deployment. I also like to cook for my son when he returns home — he really enjoys steaks on the grill and my macaroni and cheese.

Why do you think food is such a crowd pleaser in the care-and-share packages shipped overseas to American troops? It is a taste of home. When these kids are in combat, they need the basics and don’t take them for granted. If you know someone who is fighting overseas, send a package or a letter. The investment is so small, but the appreciation from the troops is so great. I don’t think I am doing anything special, I just think this is what a mother does. We just go above and beyond the call of duty for our kids.

Variety Chip Cookies


Makes about 5 dozen

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup walnuts, finely ground (optional)

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

1/2 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream margarine, shortening and sugars with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined. In a separate bowl, sift together flour and baking soda. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into creamed mixture until a soft cookie dough is formed. Stir in by hand optional nuts, chocolate, peanut butter and butterscotch chips.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoon onto baking sheet. Bake 9 minutes for soft cookies, 11 minutes for crispy cookies. Using a spatula, place cookies on wire racks and allow to cool completely.

Place in air-tight containers after cooled. If shipping overseas, wrap container of cookies in bubble wrap (to minimize breakage) and mail immediately.

Per cookie: 104 calories (50 percent from fat), 6 grams fat (2 grams saturated), 7 milligrams cholesterol, 12 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams protein, 46 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber.

Food for the troops


Food items that U.S. troops overseas appreciate include: meat jerky; canned fruit; soup and chili (with pop-top lids); processed cheese such as Velveeta; tuna and chicken pouches; mixed nuts; fruit roll-ups; dried fruits; trail mixes; sunflower seeds in shells; homemade cookies; brownies; and candy, including gum, gummy bears, hard candies and Skittles. For more information about Linda Relitz’s work, visit www.ustroop support.com.


| Mary G. Pepitone is a freelance writer who lives in Leawood. She also writes a nationally syndicated home column. E-mail her at pepi@kc.rr.com to nominate a cook.

Ellie