June Foodie Pen Pals Reveal!

This month is the third time I've participated in the Foodie Pen Pal program started by Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean.  This month I sent my package to Krysty over at Little Runner Girl.  I put together a package of east coast things with some Boston favorites and some NY favorites (of course, there was Brooklyn Salsa in there!) Krysty - I hope you liked what I sent!

I received a package from Taryn from Central/Upstate NY. LOVED IT.  First off, she sent me the nicest email because she sent the package 1 day late.  Don't worry Taryn, I procrastinate a lot - 1 day is nothing!

So lets get the rundown...  Taryn sent me:
2 Larabars (Cherry Pie and Apple Pie flavored)
Local Pancake Mix
Dinosaur BBQ sauce
Justin's PB Cups
and Cheribundi Tart Cherry juice.

Last weekend, we had a friend come stay with us, so I made pancakes for breakfast.  The cool thing about the mix is that it it already has milk mixed in, so you don't need to have any.  That's great for us, because Cameron and I have a problem of letting milk go bad/not buying milk frequently enough because we really don't use it often.  Also, on that note, does anyone else find that Trader Joe's milk goes bad very quickly??  Back to the pancakes... they were great!!  Very yummy batter and very easy to make (which is always a plus for me!) We still have about half of the package left, so I'm looking forward to another batch soon.  Another benefit was that I was actually able to cook them decently... usually I burn a couple pancakes or undercook a couple before I figure it out.

The pancakes cooking - they look good!!!

Cameron and I split the PB cups and I drank the cherry juice when I wasn't feeling well one day.  It burned my throat initially, but I feel like that always helps and in the long run, I think it made me feel a little better.

We used the BBQ sauce earlier this week to make one of the least healthy things possible: Tater Tachos.  A couple of our friends were in New Orleans and posted a picture of tater tachos on facebook, and I fell in love at first sight.  Tater tachos are tater tots with nacho toppings on them. So Cameron and I were walking around Trader Joes the other day trying to figue out what to eat for dinner.  I'd had a really long day and wanted some comfort food, which is usually junky food.  We decided to try out tater tachos.  We made tater tots with BBQ sauce, jalapenos and shredded cheese.  They were delicious!  The BBQ sauce was a nice alternative to salsa which I don't love cooked.  It also gave it a little variety and a burst of flavor.  Great BBQ sauce.  There is a Dinosaur BBQ in NYC, but I haven't been to it... this might push me to make more of an effort!

Tater tachos!  Must be eaten in the original cooking dish

I have not eaten the Larabars yet - I have a sensitivity to certain protein bars, and Taryn sent these because she does too and can eat these.  I'm still a little nervous, but I eye them every day, so I'm going to try them soon.

This was a really great package!  Thanks so much Taryn - I really enjoyed it!

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And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re interested in participating for July, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by July 4th as pairings will be emailed on July 5th!

*If you're from somewhere besides the US, Canada or Europe and want to participate, send me an email and I'll see if we get enough interest this month!
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MAY FOODIE PEN PALS REVEAL!

So this is month 2 of me doing the Foodie Pen Pals program.  This month was very challenging for me.  I'm a big fan of Brooklyn Salsa, so I like to send that to my Pen Pal... but this month, my Pen Pal was from Brooklyn!!  Anyway, Julie, I hope you enjoyed the package I did put together.  I was trying to re-define local and bought some things I found in the Union Square Fresh Market.

On to my package.  I received a package from Cindy over at Cindy's Recipes and Writings.  After I read a little of her blog, I was pumped because she can cook!
Cindy sent me a very big box of food.  I ripped into it (I'm like a kid sometimes) and immediately saw Kettle Backyard BBQ chips... MY FAVORITE!  Except, I was mistaken - these were the Buffalo Bleu ones (it's weird that they make the packages the same color since they are similar flavors).  I'm on a huge buffalo wing kick - it's like Cindy knew that and shopped just for me.  Needless to say, those chips were gone very quickly.
Cindy also sent me homemade peanut butter brownies, spicy peanuts, hot tamales (the candy), and cheese N peanutbutter crackers.  I think she figured out I love peanut butter and spicy foods.
I have to say that I used to work with students in a residential setting and one of my students LOVED Cheese N Peanutbutter crackers (former co-workers... any guesses who? I'll give you a hint... Jelly and beef was his favorite meal... washed down with a glass of chocolate milk orange juice.) So as you can see, that particular student, whom I adored, did not make many foods look appetizing.  However, these crackers are really a great snack!
I loved the nice touch with the homemade brownies (which were very yummy), along with a couple personal recipes that I cannot wait to try!

Opening the package! 

I really enjoy doing Foodie Pen Pals because it is so interesting to see how people interpret your 2 sentences of preferences.  It is also interesting because I feel like I learn a lot about the person sending me food.  Everyone is so different and I love getting a package that reflects their personality and my tastes!

Thanks Cindy!  I loved the package and the recipes - it made it very personal and it felt like I got to know you :)

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And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re interested in participating for June, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by June 4th as pairings will be emailed on June 5th!

*If you're from somewhere besides the US, Canada or Europe and want to participate, send me an email and I'll see if we get enough interest this month!
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April Foodie Pen Pal REVEAL

In an effort to further expand my horizons, I came across Lindsay's great blog: The Lean Green Bean. Lindsay has created a program called Foodie Pen Pals where she matches people up randomly.

You get assigned someone to send a package of food to and someone else is assigned to send a package to you.  I'm terrible at the post office, but if I have a deadline, maybe I can do it.  Guess what... April 13, I was able to get my Foodie Pen Pals package in the mail.  To read all about what I sent Katie, check out her awesome blog: GooberNutsLife! I really enjoyed reading Katie's blog and to see how similar we are despite a big age difference and an entire country between us.
On April 16, the day after the deadline, I got back to my apartment building and I had a handwrapped package sent to me!  I have to say, it was really fun getting something from an actual person. It was kind of like being 12 again at summer camp and your parents send you the greatest stuff ever because you're a three hour drive away.
Kelly Anne from Texas sent me a great package!

The package had several packages of chia seeds, Texas salsa, Texas pecan coffee, Clif SHOT BLOKS, and some yummy granola.
Chia Seeds: I knew very little about chia seeds.  I've read a couple of random articles about them, but basically chia seeds are this fantastic source of all things healthy.  And you can incorporate them into anything.  Kelly's letter suggested adding them to banana bread, which I would like to do... but I keep eating bananas before they are ready for the bread!  We tried them in pizza dough and also in a smoothie.  It's great because they really don't add any taste, but they pack a punch in terms of nutrients - Protien, Omega-3, antioxidants etc.  I have a couple of packets left, so I'm excited to use them in other meals too.
Texas Salsa: I LOVE salsa!  I think Cameron and I ate the salsa within hours.
Texas Pecan Coffee: OK, so Kelly Anne doesn't know this, but I actually never drink coffee.  I very rarely drink anything with caffeine in it actually - maybe a soda here and there or a cup of tea, but I'm not a coffee drinker.  Fortunately, I am marrying a coffee drinker who enjoyed the coffee very much.
Clif SHOT BLOKS: These are really great for me when I'm hungry right before I exercise.  Sometimes I stay at work later than I should and I get hungry again before I am going to the gym.  This is a great solution to hunger without bringing extra running cramps or delaying my run.
Granola: The granola was very yummy!  I normally add granola to yogurt (although not as much as I used to because yogurt costs a lot in NYC) but I just ate this.  YUM!

Thanks so much Kelly Anne - I loved the package and your detailed note to me.  I hope you enjoy the package you got from your Foodie Pen Pal.

I've already signed up for May and I'm excited to go buy and put together another package!

---------------------------------------

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re interested in participating for May, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by May 4th as pairings will be emailed on May 5th!

*If you're from somewhere besides the US, Canada or Europe and want to participate, send me an email and I'll see if we get enough interest this month!
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