I was so excited when this package arrived earlier in September!
I have to admit. It’s really easy for me to get into a rut with eating and cooking. With a busy schedule and household, we tend to fall back onto the same 4-5 lunch and 4-5 dinner options and rotate through these. Not so exciting, right? That’s why I love the idea behind Foodie Pen Pals. You get paired up with someone who sends you a package of delicious goodies (within a $15 spending limit). It’s a great way to try new things.
This month, I was paired with Janna from Try It You Might Like It. I swear, Janna was the best Foodie Pen Pal ever. When I opened the package, I was so touched by the attention and care that she put into the package. I know that pen pals are supposed to ask their match what they like and don’t like and about any food allergies but Janna went beyond that, reading my blog and checking out my Pinterest boards to see what I liked. And then filled my package with exactly those things and included a handwritten note explaining why she chose each item (plus a yummy recipe).
Want to know what she included?
Quinoa flour and shredded coconut because she saw that I love quinoa and have been experimenting more with coconut…
And dark chocolate mints from Trader Joe’s because, well, I mentioned a love of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
She also include some snacks for my kids which was super sweet.
But the best part was this batch of amazing Maple Sugar Cookies that Janna made. She claimed that they were an experiment but I thought they were great. I hate when cookies are super sweet and these just had a touch of sweetness from maple syrup. I may have hidden these from my husband and kids. I cannot confirm or deny anything. Janna recently posted the Maple Sugar Cookie recipe on her blog.
Wanna join Foodie Pen Pals? Here’s an explanation of the program:
- On the 5th of the month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
- You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
- The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
- You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!
- Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you can choose to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
- Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian residents & UK residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa.
Check out all the details about the Foodie Pen Pals program.
Thank you so much Janna!!
Have you tried anything new lately?
What a fabulous box. Those cookies look adorable, and sound fantastic! Have a great Monday xo
Jessie recently posted..New Smoothie + Foodie Penpal
Thanks Jessie! The cookies were really great.
I do believe you had a fabulous Foodie Pen Pal this month! Jealous! Quinoa tortilla’s sound yummy!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Smuttynose Half Marathon Recap
I’ve been dying to make the quinoa tortillas but haven’t had a chance yet. Will let you know how they turn out.
ok ok ok I have to finally try this I think? 15.00 seems so paltry
I FEAR ID GO AUSTIN CRAZY buying treats for my person.
Miz recently posted..Brita kids water bottles: Tornado guest post.
It’s pretty fun to put together a package. I was worried too about not being able to include much in my package since everything is so ridiculously expensive in NYC. But that’s also been part of the fun
I think I’m finally going to join this month – I’m to tired of passing on it and being super jealous every time the big reveal comesm along!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } recently posted..Birthday wishes and ice cream dreams
You totally should do it next month. The nice thing is that you aren’t locked in month-to-month. Just be sure to sign up before 9pm EST on Oct. 4th!!
This sounds like so much fun! Jana was so sweet and thoughtful to be picking up on what you write on your blog and pin. I happened to see her cookie recipe, will see if I have the stuff on habd to try it.
Carli recently posted..Trying Your Supplements Before You Buy: Bulu Box #Giveaway
Super sweet right? And the homemade cookies really made my day. I hope you have all the ingredients!!
Great box of goodies!!! You definitely had a sweet Foodie PenPal!
Maureen @ Organically Mo recently posted..October #Unprocessed 2012
I was extremely grateful for such a great pen pal
what a great box of goodies you got! Def scored a great pen pal! Making me hungry.
Heather recently posted..Gold Bond Friction Defense Giveaway
haha. Those goodies didn’t last in our house for very long.
You sound just like me–I get stuck in a rut with the same meals over and over! This is a great way to shake out of it. Love all your great goodies! I may be inspirited to join up.
misszippy recently posted..Lance Armstrong is coming to town
It was fun to join up. I don’t think that I could do it every month – just logistically managing buying the goodies and mailing – but it’s fun to jump on every once in a while. Now that I have fun things like quinoa flour in the house, I’m more apt to try to find interesting ways to use it.
OK, OK, I have to just say that I don’t know Janna – but I am going to get to know her – because anyone that thoughtful is awesome.
ilene recently posted..How to Be Kick Ass on The Fly
Right??!? I mean, the thoughtfulness really was amazing and such a pleasant gift.
Ahh, this really makes me want to finally do Foodie Penpal but this month is terrible for me with work stuff. November is the month!
Those maple cookies look amazing!
Carly D. @ CarlyBananas recently posted..Weekly Workout Roundup and Plan for the Week
Sign up for November!! PS congrats on the Nats clinching the division
Thank you! I accept that congrats like I had something to do with it LOL
Carly D. @ CarlyBananas recently posted..Tasty Tuesday: Banana Chocolate Chip Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Wow, that may be one of the coolest ideas I’ve ever heard. I may need to get on that, or at least recommend it to people.
As for trying something new: I don’t know how “new” it is, but over the last two years I’ve been slowly eliminating meat (land animals, anyway) from my diet with the intention of doing away with it entirely in 2013. Not sure if I’ll ever be able to give up fish, but I feel good about the direction in which I’m heading.
Thanks for the tip!
Jonathan Aluzas recently posted..Fitness Realities: The Myth of Motivation
It’s a really great idea and super fun. It a fun way to connect with people in the blogosphere. That’s great that you’ve been starting to move towards eliminating meat. I’ve been vegetarian and everything in between but I too am starting to move towards less meat. I can’t give up fish either!
the maple leaf cookies are the most adorable thing ever.
as I make chili mac AGAIN tonight…oy.
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed recently posted..Stand Naked in Ikea, and Take Your Punishment
Super cute with the little eyes, no? But chili mac? Talk to me more about this.
Those cookies are adorable! Looks like you got a great box this month
Thanks for sharing…
The cookies were super cute and had really nice marbled frosting (don’t think that the photo captured that very well).
You did get a great pen pal! I think I’m going to have to try those cookies. I love maple!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted..Weekend in Pictures
The maple was great because it wasn’t super sweet. I don’t like when cookies are overbearingly sweet unless, of course, it has to do with chocolate. That’s a completely different story.
I have to start doing these again! I took a hiatus when I found out I was pregnant and not feeling great…then with moving and pregnancy, I totally forgot to sign back up.
Jenna seems amazing – the handwritten note and explanation is my favorite part!!!!
Can’t wait to see what you try with the quinoa flour =)
Michele @ Nycrunningmama recently posted..Running Post-Partum: How Soon is Too Soon?
I know. I hadn’t done it in a while and thought it would be fun to get back into it. I so loved the handwritten note – so much thought and care. She sent a receipt for quinoa tortillas but I haven’t tried those yet. I made some quinoa pancakes today which were a messy but delicious mess. I think that I have to play with the recipe some more. It’s kind of fun to experiment!
We have been rotating the same meals every week for years! We’ve recently tried some newer recipes, but those take time. This looks like a great idea! And, I LOVE mint chocolate chip ice cream! I mean, all.time.favorite.ever! My husband hates it. We have a running joke because years ago he accused me of being selfish when I came home with only mint chocolate chip (long story). Enjoy the package!
Michelle recently posted..Building My Business – Business Cards
haha! I would totally only bring home mint chocolate chip ice cream too! Ed isn’t a fan of it either. But what can I do if that’s the *only* flavor in the store?
wow, what fun! I’ve never heard of this, but this is a really cool idea!
Kristin recently posted..Confessions of a book abuser
It is a really fun idea and a great way to try new things and meet other people. Kind of reminds me of getting care packages in college.
wow! that was a great box! gives me inspiration on what i can send in my boxes
Crista recently posted..Foodie Penpals
I think that’s my favorite part of reading all the recaps – is getting inspiration for the next round!
The Bob’s Red Mill Quinoa flour is great. I used that to make some chocolate cupcakes. They were a hit!
Joh recently posted..Foodie Pen Pal Reveal – September
Oh! I’ll have to try making cupcakes with it. I can’t wait to experiment some more with it!
gah! quinoa flour! so jealous!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..September Foodie Penpals Reveal Day
You have some recipes for me to try out with the quinoa flour??
I love to get packages in the mail and ones with food and cute cookies…even better!!
Kristen recently posted..Sisters With Pride
Love packages. But the thing is that now with kids, the kids love receiving packages even more. Sometimes I fight with Jasper over the packages
This looks totally fun! I’m going to seriously think about it. Love what you got in the mail. What a huge pick me up!
Missy | The Literal Mom recently posted..Might I Present My New Look?
It’s a really fun program and you should sign up! If you want to do October, you have to sign up before 9pm EST on October 4th. Or you can sign up for the next month. I love receiving mail and packages so this definitely made my day!
I hear you about getting in a food rut. In my case, it’s because it seems so silly to go through all the trouble of cooking for just me. I participated in FPP for the first time, and I’ve got to do a better job of knowing what to send. (I accidentally sent a couple of things that my penpal can’t have because she’s pregnant.) Janna’s given me ideas on how to do this better next time. And I’m so looking at the recipe for those cookies!
missmylin recently posted..September Foodie Penpal
Cooking for one can definitely be hard but I also find that it gives me a bit of freedom to experiment with something since I don’t have to subject other people to it. LOL.
That DOES sound like the best penpal ever. I think I’d be the worst penpal ever…mostly because I’m not a foodie at.all. Whenever I go to a restaurant that my foodie friends like, I sit there thinking about how I like the cheaper Trader Joe’s version of the food better! Maybe if there was a thrifty penpal club I’d do well…I could get a TON of stuff for $15!
Becky @ RunFunDone recently posted..The Scott Pierson Trail
I think that’s one of the fun (and challenging) parts about the program – trying to buy cool and fun stuff for under $15 and not just buy one thing. I think you’d be great!
I also have an extreme love affair with mint choc chip ice cream! That whole package looks amazing!! I will be all about this when it opens up to include Australia!!
Jess recently posted..September lessons
Yes, mint chocolate chip ice cream is really one of the best things ever
I hope that this comes to you in Australia!
Mint chocolate chip is my favorite ice cream flavor! I always have some in my freezer. =)
Stephanie recently posted..Foodie Penpals September 2012
It’d be dangerous if I always had some in my freezer. I think that would be all I would eat!
WOWOWOWOW that’s a good box. I’d be a happy penpal. Those TJ’s candies are always so tempting, right by the register! I do get the dark chocolate-caramel sometimes
I was such a happy penpal. I want to give her a hug or something. OMG I never had those TJ’s candies before and they are so yummy! Might have to go buy more
OMG this is awesome! Love the idea.
Stuff like this makes me a little sad though, that I’m all the way in Malaysia and can never come out and play. Sigh.
Alison recently posted..Digging Deep
I have never heard of this but LOVE the idea, I am going to check it out now!
Andi recently posted..Traveler Tuesday – Andi Perullo of My Beautiful Adventures
Isn’t it a fun idea?? It’s really great way to try new things and plus, you receive a package in the mail. Definitely check it out. Lindsay does a great job running the program. Thanks for visiting!