Foodie Friday with a guest blogger and some goodies!

Hello, hello!

image from http://www.melissashoe.com

Holy cow, what a week!

Oh, and clearly, I survived the dentist yesterday.

Barely.

I had to have a root canal. Not my idea of a good time.

BUT! My tooth no longer hurts!!

And, it really wasn’t as awful as I had expected it to be.

But, I digress.

Not only is today Friday, it’s Foodie Friday!

What the heck is Foodie Friday?

I’m glad you asked!

Every month, Lindsay over at http://www.theleangreenbean.com/ does Foodie Pen Pals.

Lindsay’s been running Foodie Pen Pals for 2 years now and helping people to meet through food!

The best part?  You don’t have to be a blogger to participate!

Basically, you sign up each month and then you get randomly paired with 2 pen pals.

One you send stuff TO and one you receive stuff FROM.

So, you’ve just made two new friends!

And, if they’re bloggers, you get to check out a cool new blog you may not have known was out there!

And, if they’re readers, and YOU’RE a blogger, maybe you just got a new reader who will share your blog friends!

And, everyone gets FOOD!

It’s completely a win-win situation, no matter how you look at it.

So, I was paired with both a reader AND a blogger for August.

My pen pal to send stuff to was Icie, a reader from Mount Vernon, WA.

That’s a looooong way from Florida!

(and, honestly, I thought there was only one Mount Vernon – you know, George Washington’s place? Huh. Learn something new every day!)

Anywho, I packed up some stuff and sent it traveling across the states to my new pal and here’s what she had to say about that.

Everyone, meet Icie – my guest blogger today!

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For the month of August, I received a very thoughtful foodie box all the way from Florida.  Enclosed was a big jar of peach preserves from the J.W. Renfroe Pecan Company in Pensacola, Florida. My husband is addicted to this juice sweetened (not granulated sugar added) spread. We add the preserves to our Greek yogurt to enhance its delicious flavor.

The other incredible item I received was Kinloch Pecan Oil. I had no idea how healthy pecan oil is compared to other oil types. So far, I have made pecan viniagrette and a pecan pesto with pasta dish – both, completely amazing! If you have never tried pecan oil – try it! Next on my list is pecan hummus.

To top everything off, Jennifer sent me homemade Blueberry-Pecan Scones, with a personalized recipe card. I felt so spoiled; it has been wonderful to be a part of the Foodie Penpal adventure!

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Thanks, Icie!  I really had so much fun putting that box together for her!

I felt like a little kid who had just picked up the perfect gift for her friend and couldn’t wait to see the reaction when she opened it.

Okay, the truth’s out – I’m just a big little kid.

Now, let’s talk about the goodies I received from my other pen pal, Lena over at http://leanlena.com/

You should definitely check her blog out and follow her fitness journey! She works really hard and makes some really yummy food.

Seriously, I’ve drooled on my keyboard looking at some of her recipes.  It was kinda messy.

Lena sent me an amazing box full of yummy goodness!

Um, yeah, the gingersnap cookies? Those lasted like 2 minutes.

No, I didn’t share.

She also included a handwritten note and a copy of her favorite recipe for Delicata Squash with Orzo!  Oh, it looks amazing and I can’t wait to make it!

So, I’ve totally been noshing on those Seedlander Crispbreads for snacks with some Laughing Cow spreadable cheese and either fruit or veggies.  Those crispbreads have like 4 grams of protein in each one!  I’ve never seen a cracker with that much protein. Amazing!

The linguine and quinoa?  Oh yes.

As you can tell, we really really really like those little baby peppers. 🙂

Om. Nom. Nom.

The beef and burger rub is totally happening this weekend. Hello, Labor Day BBQ!

The tea immediately came to work with me.  It’s such a pleasure to have a cup in the afternoon when I need that moment of “ah” and “relaxation” – you know, when I’m trying not to fall asleep at my desk because I get up so stinking early? I love tea. It’s warm and comforting and relaxing.  And hot.  So, no sleeping while you’re drinking it!  Or while on the job, for that matter!

So, folks, definitely make your way over to Lindsay’s blog and check out the Foodie Pen Pals program.  I promise that it’s as much fun as it sounds!

Happy Friday!!!

Questions:

1. Have you eaten anything interesting or tried anything new lately? Share!

2. Have you signed up yet for September Food Pen Pals? Go on – do it! 

– jennifer