A very tardy February Foodie Penpal reveal (sorry Helen!)

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Posted on March 13, 2014

I hang my head in shame for the tardiness of this post. I want to blame it on the dog. But I don’t have one, and it would take even longer to acquire one so I could assign blame elsewhere. Sadly, the fault lies with me and a bit of ill-timed travel. I hope to make it all right now though as I wish to lavish Helen, my most recent Foodie Penpal, with high praise for the package she sent me last month. IF you are reading this right now and are wondering what this is about, please click here if you are located in the USA, or here if you are in Europe.

I was delighted to receive this parcel from Helen, my February Foodie Penpal. I feel like I’m already good friends with Helen, as I had the privilege of being her Foodie Penpal last year. So this was like getting a special gift from a friend.

The package

As you can see, it was chock-full of goodies, and I couldn’t wait to delve in and investigate all my new goodies.

The first thing I came to were these Sweet Potato Crisps.

Sweet Potato Crisps

These did not last long, I can tell you! They were really, really good. Probably the best sweet potato crisps I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot!)

Then came the most unusual bottle of plum sesame seeds.

Plum Sesame Seeds

I’m sure I’ve not even scratched the surface with these, but I’ve tried them on a couple of things, and they really add such depth of flavour. I never would have thought to buy these, but this will be a staple in this house from now on.

I also got some Japanese 7 spice.

Japanese 7 Spice

I tasted this, but haven’t used it yet. It’s ever so slightly different than it’s Chinese twin, and I think it’s going to be a nice addition to my spice rack.

As I work from home, I often am looking for a quick cup of . . something. I often don’t know what I want, but Helen sent the perfect solution.

Soup Packets

These are little packets to make up soup with the simple addition of hot water. I’ve had two already – they are quick and easy, and really hit the spot.

In an effort to get me to convert to Vegen, Helen sent me some vegan chocolate.

Chocolate

Although it was never anything I’d reach for at the store, I have to say it was very, very nice chocolate. I might not convert to become a vegan this week, but I wouldn’t mind more of this chocolate.

And tea . . .

Apple and Cinnamon Tea

I’m sorry, but you really can’t go wrong in sending ANY kind of tea. But this was different. It’s apple and cinnamon, which is really lovely for chilly evenings, but also refreshing enough for a bright, sunny day (and I’ve had both over the last two weeks).

Helen also sent me some Tamarind.

Tamarind

I’ve been in love the idea of Tamarind ever since I saw the movie “The Tamarind Seed” with Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif (Ok – so the movie’s 40 years old – don’t judge me). I’ve tasted things with tamarind in, but have never cooked with it. So now I’m going through all my recipe books to find the best recipe for this. I can’t wait to use it! I think I’ll pretend to be Julie Andrews while I’m making it . . .

And now – probably my best item of the pack. (Future) home grown chillis.

Chilli pot

Growing chilli plants are SO my thing, and I just haven’t been out to get my chilli seeds yet. How did Helen know? I can tell you that these seeds have already been released from their little foil packet and are nestled in the little cup, sitting on my kitchen window ledge, where every real foodie starts all their chilli plants!

So, albeit very late, I thank you, Helen! You did such a good job. It was a delightful package, and I loved everything you sent. Well done!

January 2014 Foodie Penpal reveal

October Foodie Penpal

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Posted on October 30, 2013

BOO!

Okay, okay . . . I know Halloween is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I happen to love it. I have so many fond memories of going Trick-or-Treating with my brothers in the freezing cold or pouring rain, but coming home with bags and bags of candy. Looking back, most of it was really cheap-o candy that you’d normally never buy, but still – the thrill was there.

My sender for October was Kim. I was very impressed when I got an email from Kim saying that the package was on it’s way, and it was only the middle of the month! When I got it and opened it, I wasn’t even thinking about Halloween that was still almost two weeks away.

Boy – was I in for a treat (and not a trick!)

Once I got through the postal packaging, I was greeted with this, and I could tell this was going to be a good one.

The complete package

It was completely wrapped like a wonderful pressie under the tree at Christmas, but it was a Halloween themed wrapping paper, with a little note taped to the outside.

The Dare

Who could resist that?

So I dared, and opened up the box, wondering if a black cat was going to come leaping out at me. . . But as much as I like cats, what I found was even better!

The box

and it was full of cobwebs!

The Cobwebs

and spiders! EEEEEEEEK!

The Spider

Every item was wrapped individually in either black or orange paper, just to keep the Halloween theme up. I got a lovely card inside the package, and I could hardly wait to delve in and unwrap everything like an excited 3 year old!

One of the first things I came to was a bottle of Vampire hot tomato relish.

Vampire Tomato Salsa

Let me tell you what this is good on. EVERYTHING! It’s not burn-your-mouth-out hot – it’s just full of flavour and zing. You could have it on most things – it is delicious.

Then I grabbed this box of cheese thingies

The Cheese bits

Now you know by just looking at them that they’re going to be good. The kind of good that when you put them in your mouth, your eyes roll back in your head a bit. They are delightful.

Then I picked up the bag of gold. . . er . . . I mean honeycomb!

Whole lot of Honeycomb

To my knowledge, we do not have this readily available in the USA where I grew up. So I find this particular sweet very appealing. I like it’s simplicity. I guess it kind of reminds me of Cotton Candy (Candy Floss), which IS readily available in the US. In any case, I love it and my dentist loves Kim for sending it, as it will keep her in business!

The next thing I reached for was this Chili making kit.

The Chili-making kit

Chili is one of our favourite household dinners, especially in the cooler weather, so this could not have come at a better time. I have seen these little kits in the shops, but have never had the nerve to try them. I have this one ear-marked for next Wednesday night. I can’t wait!

Next, I came to this very large, very smoked garlic.

Smoked Garlic

Probably out of all the things in the box, this was one of my favourites because I have sent smoked garlic bulbs very similar to this in the past, but never had the nerve to try it myself. Now I get to! Maybe I’ll squish some in to the chili next week!

After that, I grabbed this ghostly character.

Ghostly Gingerbread

It was a lovely piece of gingerbread – still a bit soft and bendy, and the perfect gingerbread cookie – even if it was a bit scary!

Now came the surprise of the package.

Cheese and Onion Chocolate!

This is a chocolate bar with little bits of cheese and onion crisps in it. Now before you turn your nose up at this and decide it sounds dreadful (which it does), you MUST try it. It is a case of the sweet chocolate being the perfect compliment to the salty crisps. This shouldn’t work together, but it does. I recommend every tries this once. Or maybe even twice.

And finally, I fished out these three little treats.

Little Treats!

These are the perfect little pick-me-ups during my work day when I just need a little something sweet to wake me up a bit.

Kim, you did a fantastic job and should be commended on the amount of thought and effort that clearly went into this package. It was a delight to have from the very first layer to the last little item in the box. It was the most appropriate Halloween package, and I thank you. Well done!

September Foodie Penpal

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Posted on September 30, 2013

What a fantastic month September was. Hard to believe it’s almost over and we’re nearing the time where I start to panic to ensure all my holiday shopping has been done. But it was a bumper month for my Foodie Penpal activity. If you are interested in joining this group (and it’s really big fun), get in touch with Carol Anne – she’ll sort you out!

My foodie package came from Greece this month. Lovely Evangelia sent me a huge package of goodies. And it arrived here about a week after the spreadsheet was sent out, so I think she must have gone out right away and selected everything so it would get here in time. So thoughtful . . . .

The whole package

I got the most delicious crackers – they are rich and buttery, and no matter if I pile lots of good things on them, or just eat them plain, they are fantastic. I especially like the packaging where the writing is all in Greek (of course) with the occasional English word stuck in there.

Basil and Tomato Crackers

Although I didn’t mention it to Evangelia, one of my favourite flavours is cinnamon, so you can imagine my delighted surprise when I found she had included this round tub of little cinnamon candies. They are small, but they pack a fabulous punch.

Cinnamon pastilles

I then got to the nougat, which is a household favourite here. This one, in particular, is really tasty, and I’ve had to hide it so there would be some left for me.

Nougat

And she sent chocolate! But not just any chocolate – the best bitter sweet chocolate ever. It was so good, so rich, and now so gone! But it was very good.

Bitter Sweet Chocolate

This sesame bar with honey has always been a favourite of mine. It makes me think I’m eating something healthy! And that’s always a very good thing.

Sesame Honey bar

This is a bag of what I can only describe as pretzel-like biscuits covered in cinnamon and sugar. I’ve never tasted anything like them, but I’m wondering now if I can figure out how to make them. They were SOOOOO good.

Cinnamon Sugar ‘pretzel’

Then, being American, gum is always welcome! I like that I have real Greek gum. I like that I can offer it around and people are impressed that I import my gum! Makes me feel very important! Ha! It’s very nice gum!

Chewing gum

But finally – and probably my favourite part – the Greek Trachanas. I think I like this the best because Evangelia sent a couple of recipes as well. I made up one batch already, and it was delicious, and I can’t wait to experiment with the rest.