Foodie Pen Pals - June 2013

Oh, summer. I love you. And, it's time again for Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day! This month, I sent a package to Kristen of Pudgie Pies and received a package from Christina G.

Christina's package was very cool. I got a whole bunch of snack-y stuff!

She sent me edamame crackers, dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, green tea mints, dried mango (kind of like mango jerky - yum!), chocolate coconut water, a huge dark chocolate bar, cinnamon gum, fruit leather (yay!), and some snack bars, including SOYJOY, which I've wanted to try for a while!

If you are interested in learning more about Foodie Pen Pals, visit Lindsay's blog, The Lean Green Bean.

Always,
BeccaBot

Foodie Pen Pals - May 2013

It's good to be doing Foodie Pen Pals again after taking April off.  This month, I sent a package to Eva of The Optimist Kitchen and received one from Michelle of The Quarter-Life Chronicles.

Eva eats Paleo, which I knew a little about but not much.  After some research, I found out that the Paleolithic diet cuts out grains, dairy, and refined sugar, among other groups.  I focuses on fish, grass-fed or wild game meats, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and nuts.  Basically, people on the Paleo diet eat as hunter-gatherers would have.  I found a recipe for Paleo chocolate chip cookies at Paleo Plan that was very good, and I tried to pick some of my favorite things that qualify as Paleo for the box.

Paleo cookies, seed and fruit mix, KIND bars, nut butters, and chocolate Silk

I got some amazing stuff from Michelle - I loved this box! Also, she happened to be driving through Indy on her way up north, so I got my package HAND-DELIVERED!!! How cool is that?

Michelle brought me Nana Pat's "Citrus Cardamom" jam and "Cottonmouth Fruity" mustard from Oak Hollow Cottage, some goodie from Trader Joe's (eggplant garlic spread and two enormous chocolate bars), and home-made (my favorite!) bourbon bacon brownies. (Try saying that five times fast!)

Raisins and Pecans, are you kidding me? I'm in love. With this chocolate bar.

This was a really, really great month for Foodie Pen Pals. I learned something totally new and got some awesome, delicious treats! And I actually got to meet one of my FPPs. As always, if you're interested in joining Foodie Pen Pals, go to Lindsay's blog The Lean Green Bean.

Always,
BeccaBot

Foodie Pen Pals - March 2013

It's that time again!  I love Foodie Pen Pals.  This month, I received a package from another first-timer, Sarah of Sarah Eats Austin.  She did a fantastic job!  I also sent a package to Aimee of JustUs4Carters.

I sent some of the usual: homemade chocolate chip cookies, Mom-made triple berry jam, Amish microwave popcorn, and something from Hunter's Honey Farm (honey teriyaki sauce).  I also sent some rosemary olive oil, my favorite flavor of Pocky (almond crush), and a pair of hand made earrings.

I loved Sarah's package!  I'm a big fan of Texas and things that come from Texas, so this was really fun to get.  She sent two homemade jams - grapefruit and strawberry - and one local fig jam.  She also sent two bottles of local fruit tea.  Growing up with a tea-loving Southern mom, this was a special treat!

Thank you, Sarah and Aimee, for another great month of Foodie Pen Pals!  If you want to know more about FPP, just visit Lindsay's blog at The Lean Green Bean.

Always,
BeccaBot

Foodie Pen Pals - February 2013

 
This was literally the best Foodie Pen Pals package I have ever received!  Ruby A. knocked it out of the park for her first time with FPP!  I sent a package this month to Melissa from The Valentine RD.  Her blog is very cool, and I would totally recommend checking it out.

I sent Melissa chocolate chip cookies (what else?), watermelon blossom honey from Hunter's Honey Farm in Martinsville, Amish microwave popcorn, and a jar of my mom's triple berry jam.  Also, Melissa mentioned that Valentine's day was her birthday, so I included a pair of handmade earrings!

Ruby sent me an insane amount of things this month!  I got roasted seaweed snacks (pretty excited to try these!), an organic chai chocolate bar, chocolate almond milk (yay!), some handmade and gourmet chocolate, mango snacks (my favorite fruit!), organic peppered beef jerky, fancy French sea salt, a tea sampler, natural flavorings for baking (!!!), and HOMEMADE gluten free, oat choco chip dried blueberry, cherry walnut cookies! Yes! So yummy!  And, she sent it all in a cool, eco-friendly reusable bag!

 

I you want to know more about foodie pen pals, or are interested in joining, visit Lindsay's blog at www.theleangreenbean.com.

Always,

BeccaBot

Foodie Pen Pals - January 2013

I was so happy to get back to Foodie Pen Pals after a month off.  This month was really great!  I received a package from Kiersten of twenty-six for a twenty-something and sent a package to Jessica M.

I sent Jessica homemade chocolate chip cookies, Amish microwave popcorn, Indiana maple syrup, homemade strawberry jam, and honey barbecue sauce from Hunter's Honey Farm.

I got an awesome, Maine-themed package from Kiersten!  Along with a box full of chocolate (love!), she sent me adorable lobster pasta, maple honey caramel sauce from Stonewall Kitchen, and HOMEMADE blueberry peach jam!  She made the jam with blueberry she picked in her own back yard!  How cool is that?!  I loved this package.  Thank you so much Kiersten!

As always, you can find information about joining Foodie Pen Pals at www.theleangreenbean.com!

Always,
BeccaBot

Foodie Pen Pals - December 2012

Last week, I received an email from Lindsay of The Lean Green Bean, who runs Foodie Pen Pals.  She told us that this month, we won't be paired up to exchange food.  Instead, she asked that we help feed the victims of Hurricane Sandy by donating what we would have spent on FPP to New York Cares.  Sadly, there are still hurricane victims without basic necessities like food and shelter.  There is so much left to rebuild and so many left to help.  If you have a few extra dollars, please consider donating.  Every little bit helps.

For more information, visit www.theleangreenbean.com.

Always,
BeccaBot

Foodie Pen Pals - November 2012

I'm gonna say it again - I love Foodie Pen Pals.  This month, I sent a box to Diana, author of dianapantz (a great vegan/healthy lifestyle blog) and The 3-Day A Week Vegan.  This was the first time I've been paired with a vegan, so I had to make a few adjustments to what I normally send.  It was really fun finding new things to send!  I received a fantastic package from Katie of If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked A Cake.

For Diana's package, I made vegan chocolate chip cookies using my regular recipe, but with vegan chocolate chips, vegetable shortening instead of butter, and cornstarch+water instead of eggs.  I also sent my mom's homemade raspberry preserves, Buckwheat honey from Hunter's Honey Farm, Amish microwave popcorn (no butter), gluten-free peanut brittle from Frittle Candy, and a Chai tea sampler from Teapots n Treasures, a cute little shop right off of the Circle in downtown Indy.

From Katie, I received two boxes of black tea (my favorite): chai spice and orange spice, Dutch Cocoa Somersaults, which are a delicious sunflower seed snack, and HOMEMADE chocolate chip cookies!!!!  As you know, I love getting homemade food from FPPs, so this was obviously my favorite.  They are so good (I'm totally not sharing!).

Fantastic box - fantastic FPPs - fantastic Thanksgiving month!

Always,
BeccaBot