I was SO excited to get to participate in my first blog swap this month! I always had a penpal growing up and loved the back and forth exchange of letters and packages. Imagine my excitement when I learned that there was a swap for those in the blog community involving food! If you’re interested in learning more about the Foodie Penpals Program just click on the picture above and it will take you to more info!
And now I’d like to share my first foodie penpal package with you! 😀
A little less than a month ago I recieved an email pairing me with who I would be sending food to, and who I would be recieving food from. I was so excited to hear I’d be receiving food from Kait, of Kait’s Inside Dish. Kait is so sweet and runs an awesome blog about being a college student, and a vegan, in Boston. She loves eating out at great restaurants and we both share a love of Red Lentil. I’m incredibly jealous she lives next to a Trader Joes, as the closest one to me is three hours away. She said she’d stop by TJ’s to find things for my package, and when this big box came in the mail I could barely take a picture before ripping into the packaging.
On top was a really sweet letter from her explaining why she picked every thing she did and two awesome recipes! For the written part of the swap I requested she send me her favorite vegan recipe, or a vegan recipe for shepherd’s pie. She sent me both! I can’t wait to make both the shepherd’s pie and the veggie lasagna.
The first food thing I pulled out of the box was TJ’s milk chocolate covered potato chips. I’m so intrigued as to what these will taste like! I know I’m going to love them, I love chips and I love chocolate so together the combo has got to be awesome. I’ll be bringing them with me to Josh’s this weekend so we can both try them and I’ll make sure to share what we think of them once we dig in.
Kait sent one of her favorite snacks, Trader Joe’s oriental rice crackers. I can see why she loves them! They’re a little sweet, a little salty, and a little spicy. I’ve already made a dent on this bag! ;p
I love Larabars and was so excited to see two bars in the box in flavors I have never tried before. That cashew cookie is calling my name today!
Full disclosure, I gasped when I saw this in the box. I picked up a jar of Trader Joe’s cocoa almond spread in New Haven and have been devouring it since. I just ran out of it yesterday and am so excited I don’t have to give up my latest food obsession yet. 😀
The last thing I pulled out of the box is one of my favorites. Pumpkin butter! I love pumpkin in every possible form and am so excited to try the butter variety. If its anything like apple butter I know I’m going to love it.
A snapshot of all the goodies together. It was the best package I could have asked for, it was full of Trader Joe’s love and all of my favorite kinds of food. Thank you so incredibly much Kati! You made my first package swap awesome!
If this seems like a cool thing you’d like to participate in next month make sure to check out Foodie Penpals and sign up. Its so much fun!
Question of the Day: Have you ever had a Penpal?
Great box! So glad you’ve joined the program. Obviously you can see that it’s a TON of fun! I would most wanna try those choc covered potato chips. YUM! Ben and Jerry’s has an ice cream flavor called Late Night Snack that uses those – have you had it?
I had a pen pal in second grade, from Alaska! It was through school but we lost touch after the school year ended since our teachers were handling the letter mailing.
Oh my goodness that Ben and Jerry’s sounds amazing!! I’m definitely going to have to check it out. And that is so cool you had a pen pal from Alaska! It must be like a different world up there!
I am glad you got such an amazing box because you were one fantastic foodie pen pal!! I want to try that pumpkin butter. I have never had it but keep hearing good things 🙂 Thanks again for all my delicious goodies 🙂
I’m really excited to try pumpkin butter! It sounds like its going to be amazing! 😀 And thank you so much, I’m so glad you like everything! It was so much fun shopping for you! 😀
that cocoa almond spread sounds amazing!!!!
It is so good but so incredibly dangerous. I need to start portioning out my snacking size! ;p
i got some stuff from trader joe in my penpal box too and it makes me wish SO HARD i had at some point lived near one! i hope you enjoy all your treats!
I know!! I hope one day I do, I love TJ’s so much! I hope you loved your package and that you enjoy everything!
Wow I’ve never heard of Pumpkin butter, how is it? The cocoa almond looks good too!
I haven’t tried it yet but I’m really excited to, I’m super intrigued! And the cocoa almond is amazing!
Trader Joe’s is the bomb.com. Unfortunately I live like an eon away, so those trips are every few months or so. Pumpkin butter is absolutely fantastic on pancakes and toasts!
Ohh I cannot wait to try pumpkin butter on pancakes and toast. That sounds delicious! And yeah, I love TJ’s, I wish it was closer to me!