March Foodie Penpal Reveal

A little over a month ago I came across a blogger who participated in the foodie penpal program. The foodie penpal program is a really cool program that Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean created. She pairs up bloggers (or non-bloggers!) and you send a box of goodies all for under fifteen dollars. You send to someone and someone different sends to you. I love food and I love receiving packages in the mail, so I was super excited!

The blogger who sent to me was Michelle over at the Quarter-life Chronicles. I have no diet restrictions, but did say I love trying local or regional things, and this is exactly what she sent me!

Michelle sent me items from a local farmers market in Gainesville, Florida. My package arrived on a snowy Massachusetts day, so it was nice to open it up and find a cheerful map of Florida inside! In her note (the program asks you to send something in writing too), she explained that she got this map from a diner and she circled Gainesville. I honestly had no clue where Gainesville was, so it was nice to see exactly where my package was coming from.

This is what I received:

• A lemon bar- UM this was delicious. A tart like bottom with a lemon jelly type mixture on top. It was so good and I really wish I live in Fl. so I could get these as a treat. Basic ingredients for a not so basic taste.
• Guiness mustard- this stuff seriously clears your palette. I have had it on pretzles and in a chicken wrap. I liked it both ways. Comes in a cute little glass container too.
• Cajun seasoning- yum! I love Cajun seasoning and this stuff does not disappoint!
• Peach salsa- this salsa looks super special. I have not tried it yet, because I want to save it for a special occasion with friends. A bag of tortilla and this container of peach salsa, and I'm sure my friends will think I am a great host ;-) I'm wicked excited to try it and I am sure it will not disappoint.

Michelle did such a great job putting a package together for me. So thanks again, Michelle! Here is everything together:

My overall impression of the Foodie Penpal program:

• I loved shopping for my pen pal, but I strategically picked out what I wanted to send and everything was at very different shops. I wanted everything to be fresh, so I ran around one afternoon picking everything up. This, of course, is my own fault and it will be better if I decided that I was going to get things from only ONE shop. I felt a bit under-appreciated, but once again I probably wouldn't feel that way if I got everything from only one shop. 
• I also loved receiving the package in the mail! Michelle did such a great job and I loved everything that she sent me. It exposed me to different foods that I otherwise would not have been able to try!
• I ended up spending a little more than the 15 dollars budget, plus shipping. So the total was a little over 30 dollars. Not bad, but when you are a struggling twenty something that money could definitely go towards something else (AHEM student loans).
• Will I try it again? Yes, but it may be fun to just do it every other month.
  
  Cheers!