"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" ~ Seneca

Monday, October 1, 2012

Guest Post-September Foodie Pen Pal Reveal

And lucky readers- get 2 Foodie Reveal posts today!!

I sent my September box of goodies to Lauren in Vancouver.
She doesn't blog, so I asked her to send a post

Take it away Lauren......................

 Hello Mel’s blog! I’m Lauren, from Victoria BC. I was Mel’s foodie pen pal for September and I am super stoked on the box she sent me. There was a minor kerfuffle when my box was arriving, I was checking the package tracking because I was this excited for it

















well, probably more. But, the day it should have arrived, I went out. While I was out it got delivered, and the internet confirmed this. But to who?! I was sad and confused....
But I called my building manager and he had it! So all was well, but I was at work... However, guess what was waiting for me when I arrived home!!!!





I opened it right away and found wonders!



Mel got me such a wonderful mix of things! The ones that got gone right away were the wonderful pumpkin spice cookies, which I also now have the recipe for (world domination is imminent)! They are moist and have a lovely little bit of spice. Amazingly, there were more cookies!


















These are a gluten-free, vegan chocolate orange cookies. I am not gluten-free or vegan, but mentioned I like trying products and recipes for altered diets. They are pretty tasty, though I suggest having them with a nice glass of vanilla almond milk, as they are a tiny bit dry. They are all separately packaged, which is super awesome because I am in University and need snacks for school. Speaking of snacks,



There are delicious crispbread crackers and sweet potato chips! I adore non-regular potato chips, and we have so many good local cheeses on the island, I’m gonna have to get some to snack on with these crackers. Maybe even with a delicious cup of...







Blueberry tea! I love love love tea, and there is currently a dearth of fruit teas in my cupboard. But for dinner rather than tea there is


Quinoa! Specifically southwest black bean quinoa. Two of my favorite things, spicy bean dishes and quinoa. So much protein for my vegetarian body. I haven’t cooked it yet, but I am excited.
Last, but definitely not least, is this soap




it smells like heaven and makes me yearn for some way to communicate smell over the internet for all the blog readers to experience this.
Well thanks for giving me a soapbox to rave about the excellent box you sent me. 

Lauren T
ps. I don’t have a blog, but if anyone wants to follow me on twitter, my handle is @lotuslolo

Foodie Pen Pal September Reveal

Well hello there.  I know it's October, but it was requested we don't reveal until today-so it would be during the week rather than on the weekend.

This month, I received my Foodie Pen Pal Box from Dr. Ayla in the Vancouver area.  And what a cornucopia of goodies she sent.  We were blessed with  loads of goodies from her very own garden.

An apple, with a handmade cozy to protect it.
Homemade pickled watermelon rind and crabapple & rhubarb butter.  Both are absolutely delicious. 




more scrumptious garden goodies- potatoes and rosemary in their own personalized potato sack and some garlic


sun gold tomatoes fresh off the vine- delicious.

Who doesn't like chocolate? How about chocolate shortbread cookies with cacao nibs?  I might try to recreate these with our Hawaiian cacao.
I just opened these up yesterday.  And while not a huge fan of figs- unless they are in fig newtons, these are Good.  Loaded with figs, olives and seed- I'm sure these would go great with some hummus.

Ooh- look a pretty pink box all wrapped up revealed upon opening these lovely chocolates from the Granville Market.  I've sampled the strawberry heart.  Not sure if I'm willing to share these. 
and a lovely handwritten note describing everything. 

thank you Dr. Ayla for the wonderful food!  XOXO

To learn more about the Foodie Pen Pal program- visit Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean