Foodie Penpal

Hey Everyone,

October was the second time I participated in Foodie Penpal! I'm totally late on this write up cuz I got distracted with being made Race Director of the Surf City Cyclocross Series last minute and had a race to put on in less than 6 weeks! (it went well btw:-)

My foodie penpal was Dani in New Jersey (I hope she's ok from the storm!), and I received this wonderful box from her:

The smells coming from the spices and chocolate, oh my they were amazing! Yum! I especially can't wait to try the mulling spices, oh and the local honey! How fun is that!

And most wonderful of all were these:

I wonder what type they are? Anyone know??? I love apples and to receive these beauties that are so different from what we have around here is so exciting. Dani suggested I hollow them out then bake with the cinnamon, definitely will do!

*UPDATE: Dani is fine but has been without power for 7 days and her home town has been destroyed, my heart breaks for her. If you are so inclined, please donate to the American Red Cross to help those on the east coast recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
Oh and the apples are Arkansas Blacks!


Being part of Foodie Penpal has been so fun but this will be my last time. Shipping is just too costly as I keep getting people on the east coast, which was fabulous and am so for it, but it cost me $18 to ship my box of goodies through usps and that's just wrong (and not really in my budget). So I'm thinking if anyone wants to start a "Local" foodie penpal, I'll set it up and handle it, just let me know!

Foodie Penpal

Last month was my first time trying out Foodie PenPal, basically instead of sending a letter, you send a box of yummy goodies to a random participant. It's actually pretty awesome.

My send to person was Hayley of New York. I asked her about her food interests and she responded sweet & spicy with a gluten free dietary restriction, perfect for me to send some Mexican love. I shipped off a box filled with piloncillo, rosa de castilla, jalapeno jelly (by me), some homemade gluten free oat balls, a jar of coconut oil and a cute mini pumpkin.

My from person was Julie of Sugarfoot Eats. She sent me this wonderful box:

It had a super cute kitchen towel with cupcake prints and a handy wooden purse spoon & chopstick set, great idea Julie, thanks! For food, she included Stadium Mustard which I can't wait to try and some amazing 'Nuts on Clark" Honey Butter Toffee from her trip to Chicago! She also had a trip to Austin where she went to the actual Stubb's restaurant and sent me this chicken marinade! I've had their yummy pork marinade but can't wait to marinate (this weekend) some chicken, especially cuz it's tomato free!!!

And last, but certainly not least, she sent me a magnet from her tour of the actual house from A Christmas Story! How fun is that!

I'm really liking this foodie penpals thing so I'm already looking forward to this month's exchange and am on the lookout for some yummy treats, if you have any recommendations, let me know! (I'm thinking a bottle of cajeta for sure!)