Foodie Pen Pals #1

So, I fail at life! I have been going through a lot personally for the last two weeks, and I completely forgot to post my foodie PenPal reveal. So sorry! Here goes!

I was so excited to participate in my very first Foodie PenPals exchange. Thank you so much to Lindsay at the LeanGreenBean for organizing and setting up this super fun project. I don't know how she does it each month, but she is a superhero in my book.

Each month Lindsay pairs up people from around the country to be penpals. We get an email where we find out our matches for the month, and then we are off and running. In order for everyone to meet and get to know as many people as possible, we send and receive boxes from different people each month. Instead of sending a box to the same person you receive a box from, you get a box from a different person. For more information on the Foodie PenPals Project, check out Lindsay's page here.

I met two amazing people this month! I sent out a box to Analisa, in Texas. It was filled with lots of great New York themed stuff, some of my favorites and some things she had mentioned as favorites of hers too. We even chatted a bit throughout the weeks about her desire to start her own blog. She even wrote a guest post for me! Check it out!

I received my box from Andrea. Andrea lives in Houston, Texas. I have always wanted to go to Houston! I have heard it has a great community of artists that I would love to explore. Andrea just started her own blog a few weeks back. Check her out at Southern Birdie Blog.

Now, I have been feeling pretty crappy with this pulled muscle in my back, but seeing this on my doorstep this morning made my whole day! Andrea wrote a very sweet letter telling me all about the things she chose for the box. She wanted it to reflect Houston and I think she did a great job.

Right after I took all these pictures I ran downstairs to try our one of the Prickly Pears! I had ever had one before. If you haven't you should really try it. They so good! They are sweet, but not too sweet, watery, and fleshy. Like a cross between a starfruit and a watermelon. Yum!

She also sent a few Jalepenos! I love peppers but usually am not brave enough to try Jalepenos. I recently read an article that said the peppers hold all of their spicy flavor in the seeds and ribs, so if you cut those out you are left with a much less spicy pepper. I am definitely going to be adding this to our fajitas tonight!

 

She also sent a bag of Texas grown Pecans, (and even included the correct pronunciation--ha!) I have always pee-can, but she corrected that! Apparently it is pronounced peh-cahn, at least in Texas! I think I am going to use some of these in my next batch of No-Bake Energy Balls. 

Andrea also got some homemade honey from a friend of her grandparents who has a bee farm. If you remember from my post last week about the Susses County Fair, I scour the craft sections at fairs for honey sticks! So you can only imagine my joy at finding a whole jar of fresh honey in my box! Not only is it delicious, it still has part of a honey comb in it! I had some honey in my tea, but I really can't wait to spread that honey comb on some toast.

She also sent a box of her favorite tea. I am a major tea lover, and this Detox tea is a new favorite! I added a little bit of the fresh honey she sent too! Pure Heaven!

To round out her Houston themed box, Andrea also sent me a Houston publication, 002Houston. I can't wait to read it and find out what's hip in Houston! Check out that chair on the front cover. I want one!!

I also found this adorable little reusable bag from the Houston Zoo, and a postcard depicting a scene from Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies, a book I have been meaning to read for awhile.

So many thank-yous go out to Andrea! She did a great job picking out fun things for me! I hope you all had a great time exchanging Foodie PenPal boxes this month too! I can't wait for next month!