Santas From Around The World: Guam- Operation Christmas Drop (Advent 2020, Day 22)

Today's Santa doesn't wear red. Instead, he wears camo and green fatigues. 

 Our featured Santa also doesn't fly in a sleigh lead by 8 tiny reindeer. Instead, he flies in a C-130!

Technically, this day's Santa isn't really an individual but more of a Force. The U.S. Air Force to be exact. But to the people of Guam's Kapingamarangi atoll, they are as much a traditional Santa if not more than the jolly fat man.

Operation Christmas Drop began in 1952. A routine training mission right before Christmas became a holiday tradition when the islanders ran out of their huts to wave at the passing plane. The air crew noticed and quickly, they foraged around with enough supplies to fill a small crate. They attached a parachute and the first ever Christmas by cargo took place.

The tiny island is often besieged by typhoons. At the time of the first drop, it was without electricity. So the supplies offered were considered a major blessing. Now nearly 70 years later, the entire island of Guam takes part; donating valuable items such as fishing nets, canned goods, rice, building materials and clothing for the islanders. Each container is filled with about 400lbs of supplies. And for the kiddies of Kapingamarangi, toys, candy and school supplies are loaded into each box. 

It is said that for the natives, part of the fun is scouting for locations where the supplies feel as cargo drops aren't an exact science. Sadly a few cratesfall into the Pacific. But that often means a later surprise as items will wash ashore well into March and April.

The drop is the U.S. military's oldest continuing full mission. Other nearby units have gotten into the given spirit with donations and supply runs. Even the air forces of Japan and Australia have participated. Though the nation of Micronesia has decided to opt out of this year's drop due to COVID-19, the United States has promised to continue on with mission #69- just with some added safety precautions.

Operation Christmas Drop has become such a widespread tradition, a Netflix movie of the same name was recently produced. Debuting in November, the fictionalized account stars 17 Again's Kat Graham and The Hunger Games' Alexander Ludwig. From what I can tell, it appears that Netflix is attempting to encroach into Hallmark holiday movie territory...

For today's Advent gift, I bet you thought I couldn't find a cookie recipe from Guam. Well, you lose! Today's recipe is a traditional Guam treat that has undergone some slight variation due to U.S. occupation of the region since World War II. 

Enjoy!

GUYURIA - CHAMORRO JAWBREAKER COOKIES

PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR

 

SERVINGS: 4 CUPS

INGREDIENTS

COOKIE DOUGH

• 2 cups white flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 13 1/2 fl. oz coconut milk

SYRUP

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water

TOPPING (OPTIONAL)

• 1 tbsp sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

MAKING THE DOUGH

• Start with about 1 1/2 cup flour and mix with the salt and sugar
  
  
• Cube the butter, then add to the flour mixture.
• Pour in the coconut milk and begin mixing together.
• You want to get the dough to a pizza dough consistency, If your dough looks like this, it's too soft.
• Begin kneading more flour in until you get a firm dough like this. I ended up using close to 2 cups of flour total.
• Let the dough rest in the fridge while you heat up oil in a cast iron skillet or pot to 350F.
• roll the dough into little balls. It helps to have a little coating of flour on your hands while rolling so the dough doesn't stick.
• To mold the cookie, take a ball of dough, and place on the back of a fork, roll the dough off the force starting and the base of the fork. If you screw up don't worry just re-mold and try again, you'll get the hang of it!
• Heat oil- In batches, begin adding the cookies to the pan to begin frying.
• fry until golden brown, should take about 7-10 minutes per batch.
• With a straining spoon remove the cookies from the oil and let sit on paper towels.
• During the last batch of cookies, bring your sugar and water for the syrup to a boil. once boiling, continue boil this down for about 5 minutes. Let cool.
• During the last batch of cookies, bring your sugar and water for the syrup to a boil. once boiling, continue boil this down for about 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Toss until evenly coated. You'll probably need to add another 1/8 cup and toss, and repeat until it's evenly spread.
• Add some sugar, or even cinnamon sugar on top and toss. Place on some wax paper and let sit for about 10 minutes.
• Enjoy!