Foodie Penpals - April Reveal

Last month I signed up for Foodie Penpals again since the first time was so much fun! I received a snack-filled package from Shera in Hoover, AL and couldn't wait to dig in...

Aaron was just a little excited to see what was in the box for April!

The chips are amazing and we've made nachos twice. The combination of black bean, garlic, and melty cheese satisfied our stomachs. :-)

Snapea crisps are a favorite of mine and the pretzel crisps are yummy too!

Aaron was a little skeptical about the banana chips at first, but then he wouldn't stop eating them. I'll have to buy more from Trader Joe's soon!

The bars were new for me to try and there definitely weren't enough almonds in that small package!

The oatmeal and tea were just the right touch for the cold April days we had.

Thank you for all of the goodies Shera!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

My Foodie Penpal from March, Irene, sent me a family sugar cookie recipe as a bonus to my box of goodies. I was more than thrilled and couldn't wait any longer to make them!

Yesterday was a beautiful Spring day, and I decided to bake them instead of going outside after work! But walking seven miles today around town definitely made up for staying inside baking yesterday.

Anyway, I whipped up the recipe in no time and was a bit hesitant since the dough turned out to be like cake batter. I used a spoon to scoop the messy dough onto cookie sheets and popped them in the oven. The apartment smelled amazing while they were baking! 

Cookie dough and the silicone spatula from Irene's FPP box

Soft, cake-like sugar cookies with a hint of vanilla and lemon

(Is your mouth watering yet?)

Filling is optional, but I decided to top one with strawberry jam...yum!

I gave some cookies to my neighbors since the recipe made a lot! I will bring some to my mother when I visit tomorrow as well. Recipes are a wonderful way to share a part of one's family history, and I am very grateful that Irene sent this to me! 

Foodie Penpals - March Reveal

My friend explained the concept of Foodie Penpals to me back in January. Needless to say, I was excited to try something new, especially since it had to do with food! I signed up and the rest is history... (Google "foodie penpals" or go to Lindsay Livingston's blog: www.theleangreenbean.com if you're interested.)

I arrived home from work two Wednesdays ago and on my doorstep was a small box from my foodie penpal Irene in California. I couldn't get into the apartment and take my coat off fast enough! I opened the box and inside was a card and a neatly packed assortment of goodies.

The contents included:

- A beautiful card drawn by a local artist

- 2 purple spatulas (one plastic, one silicone)

- Oregon Chai tea (sugar free)

- Maisie Jane's Truffle Almonds (from a local grower)

- Nature Valley trail mix fruit & nut bar

- Barbara's Snackimals - chocolate chip

My boyfriend and I were excited to try out the new plastic spatula for our weekend fried eggs. It works like a charm, and has now replaced the other spatula we had been using. And the silicone spatula deemed very useful for cooking/baking.

I usually drink my chai tea hot (except when I order one from Panera), but the weather is warming up so I added half milk and half chai mixture in a cup over ice. Mmmm, was it refreshing!

I opened the truffle almonds first, and I even let my my mom, boyfriend, and friends try some. I wish there were more in the package because they were delicious -- crunchy and chocolatey at the same time!

The granola bar and chocolate chip snacks were nice additions to my work lunches.

Irene was also nice enough to send me a family recipe for sugar cookies that I can't wait to try!

I have already signed up for April FPP and I think I'm hooked!