Foodie PenPal Reveal Day!

By now you might be aware that the 31st of every month is reveal day for the Foodie PenPal program hosted by Lindsay of The Lean Green Bean that I joined back in May.

This is my third month participating and I'm still in love....for these reasons (among many):
1) Who doesn't love to get packages? 
2) Who doesn't love to get packages of food? 
3) You get to meet people from all over the country.
4) You get to experience food from all over the country.
5) You get introduced to some really neat new blogs! 

I will probably continue to sing it's praises on the 31st of every month, but seriously you should join.  I already know you love food since you're reading this and that is all that is required of you. And...putting a package together.  But it's a package of food so it ties right back into your love for food!  Perfect right?

If you want more details, head on over to Lindsay's blog and check it out!

 

 This month I was paired with Sabrina from Studio City, CA.  She put together a great little package that was accidentally missing her handwritten card so forgive me if I misinterpret!

 

These little guys were delicious!  Thin, crispy, almost a bit wafer like?  I can't wait to pair them with some delicious cheese.

Love this stuff.  I used it quite a while ago for the "sauce" on {this} pizza.  I might just have to revisit the recipe now...and maybe take some better pictures...those things are horrendous.

Kaston's eyes bulged when he saw these.  He loves honey sticks.  I'm not sure what flavors they were...but he devoured them at the Newport Folk Festival this weekend.  He loves this program just as much as I do.

Alright, I'm so intrigued by this!  Is this a common thing?  Have you guys seen/heard of this stuff?  I assume there would have been an explanation in Sabrina's card but I'm just not sure what to do with it!  Do I make it and use it on it's own?  Do I use it in other things?  Can I use it in a Hawaiian cake?  I should probably do some research.

Mmm tea.  I love tea.  I haven't tried this one yet.  But I figured I would wait to share a cup with my momma (who is arriving in several hours!) since she also loves tea.  I would be willing to bet that it's fabulous. 

More tea...Mmmm.  I've tried the one on the left and really enjoyed it.  And I'm saving the one on the right for...you guessed it...Autumn.  I plan to curl up to watch a movie with a nice steamy cup of spiced tea after a brisk fall day spent at the pumpkin patch....Is anyone else dreaming of fall?

So, I kind of forgot to mention to Sabrina that I don't eat meat.  At the beginning of the month when you exchange addresses with your PenPal you're also supposed to include any diets that you follow or any allergies that you have...well...I forgot to mention this one.  Oops.  But I was able to gift it to a friend and I'm sure he loved it.  Who wouldn't?

And there you have it!  I should give a big thank you to Sabrina for taking the time to put together this package as well as Lindsay for putting together this program!

Don't forget to visit www.theleangreenbean.com to learn more about the program and sign yourself up for next month!

Last up...if you want to see what I sent my PenPal this month head on over to Emmy's blog idratherwalk.com!

Foodie PenPal Reveal -- June

It's finally here!  Today is the June Foodie PenPal reveal hosted by Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean.  I gave you a little bit of information about the program on last month's reveal day, so if you want to know more about it click {here} or head on over to Lindsay's site and check it out!

This month I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my foodie penpal lives right here in Boston!  Her name is Rachel and she runs a blog called Palate for Life.  Go take a peek and make sure to check out her "What I Ate Wednesday" posts!  They're my favorite.

After a trip to Ozark, my package finally arrived in Boston!  As you can see, Kaston was just as excited about it as I was.  I had to continually slap his hands out of the way so I could snap a few photos.

Rachel works at Whole Foods here in Boston so her package was stuffed full of Whole Foods goodies!  I was pretty excited to see what she included since I mostly do my shopping at Trader Joes.  Always nice to see what's on the other side...

It didn't take Kaston long to sample everything in the box...

First thing I pulled out of the box...Coffee....and Dark Chocolate?  Yes, please.  This is everything I love wrapped into a little bar.  XOXO.

These cookies were also delicious!  I actually don't remember the last time I consumed a store bought cookie but I was thoroughly impressed with these!  Granted you can't go wrong with peanut butter chocolate.

We all know how much I love Mexican flavors.  So to see these three things hiding in the bottom of the box was a lovely surprise.  The salsa is yummy, the queso is extra yummy, and the guacamole is waiting to be made.

I still haven't tried these (due to the overwhelming amount of bars leftover from the tour) BUT I will be getting to them soon.

A new Whole Foods bag!  I actually have the big one just like this so the little guy fit in perfectly with my collection!

And then the card.  This was possibly my favorite part.  Seriously, how adorable is this??

Now it's time for a big THANK YOU to Rachel!  I truly enjoyed receiving your package this month and I can't wait to get together sometime for a little Boston Foodie PenPal reunion!

If you are interested in signing up for the Foodie PenPal program click {here} for the July registration form!  You'll love it!  I promise!

Also if you want to see what I sent my Foodie PenPal this month head on over to Bridget's blog Running Crumbs!

Foodie PenPal Reveal

Last month my mother insisted that I sign up for this little thing called Foodie PenPals.  I was a little weary at first, but it took about 15 seconds of her explaining to get me signed up.

So, let me explain...

Every month a ton (800+) of foodies join in the exchange of local and homemade food items with other foodies across the country.  On the 5th every month, Lindsay from The Lean Green Bean, sends out a list matching all of those foodies up with one person to send a package to and one person to receive a package from.  With me still?

Then you get in contact with both of your PenPals for the month, exchange food likes/dislikes, allergies, diets and so on.  After that you start creating a $15 package of local or homemade goodies for your PenPal all the while someone is creating one for you!  Doesn't this sound amazing already?

By the 15th of the month all packages are sent and then you get to impatiently wait until your package arrives!

To get a few more details and sign yourself up, click {here}!

This month I was paired with two lovely bloggers.  Jaime from Jaime's Journeys and Lisa from Feed You With a Kiss.  And they were the best pair a new Foodie PenPal could ask for.  Both of them have incredibly adorable blogs that you need to check out.  So go click on the links.

First I received Jaime's package...

It's here!  It's here!

The anticipation...

Jaime put together such a great package stocked full of local goodies!  And the purple piece of paper explained what and where everything was from.

First up we have two of my favorite things.  Coffee and Tea.  I absolutely destroyed the coffee in a mere couple of days.  There is a no doubt in my mind why they call it dark chocolate decadence.  Yum.  I've been trying to savor the tea and keep it around for a bit longer but it's just as delicious and probably won't survive too much longer.

Oh....holy chocolate.  Jaime knew the way to my heart.  As well as all of the men in the apartment, who stood hovering over me begging to take a bite.

Delicious local honey!  I've been using it in vinaigrette dressings and various baking projects.

This stuff is awesome!  Apparently it's from two guys who live in Jaime's town and have a local grilling show on TV once a week.  So legit.  I've been using it on EVERYTHING.

I haven't made this yet and I definitely need to.  Maybe I'll do that today...I don't need to prepare for the tour right?

This might have happened before I could finish snapping pictures of the package....Mmmmmm.


Okay so not only did I receive one package this month but I received TWO.  The PenPal that I sent a package to, also sent me a package because she is just that wonderful.  I was totally shocked to see it sitting on my doorstep and was convinced that it was just a mix up and that I would have to send it back.  BUT it wasn't!  Thank you so much Lisa!  And by the way...if you want to see what I sent her click {here}!

So many delicious Seattle sweets and goodies!  And unfortunately not all of it is shown because...some of it was gone by the time I could take a picture....

I can't wait to keep in touch with these ladies as well as meet my new PenPals for June.  Thanks Lindsay for starting such a great program!