Foodie PenPals – Round 2

March marked my second month as a participant in the Foodie PenPals program. In January, I was matched with Jacqueline from Kentucky. I sent her a nice box of goodies from Texas, as documented here. This time, the person selected to shop for me was from Kentucky. What are the odds? Well, they’re probably about 1 in 300, but I was still stunned when I saw that a Kentucky girl would be returning the favor this time around. My new penpal caught on to it, too. Tara immediately noticed on my January blog post that my first match was from the Bluegrass State. And since this was her first time to participate, it just all seemed so… appropriate. Like foodie fate.

Here’s what Tara sent:

Here’s how I knew we would get along just fine:

Salsa was interesting because it was fun to compare Kentucky salsa to our Texas version. Verdict: ours is salty/spicy; theirs is slightly sweet; both are good.

Then there was this gem – coffee laced with Maker’s Mark. Hello, Kentucky!

I especially loved all of her handwritten little notes.

It turns out this chili is made just over the border from Kentucky. Close enough for me. Plus, I’ve always wanted to try Cincinnati Chili. From what I’ve heard, it’s very different from the chili we make here in Texas. I haven’t tried it yet, but only because we just had a giant pot of Texas chili, and that just wouldn’t be fair. {insert childish giggling here}

Thank you, Tara, for another great Foodie PenPals experience. I thoroughly enjoyed your selections, as well as your written commentary of each item. I didn’t post a close-up of the stick candy, but it is very much like what I grew up eating in NW Arkansas. Thanks for the blast from the past! I hope you had an equally rewarding experience for your first Foodie PenPal exchange.

To see what I sent my March match, go to For the Love of Kale blog written by my new Foodie PenPal Heather. I’ve already heard that the coffee cup that was included didn’t survive the journey. That’s a bummer. Heather is vegan, and I confess I went into it with zero experience picking out things for a vegan diet. I just kept reminding myself of her hint of “nothing with a face.” You should have seen me browsing grocery aisles, picking up items and asking “does this have a face?” It was fun and educational, to say the least. Fingers are crossed that she liked everything in her box!

If you are interested in participating, click this link to the Foodie PenPals homepage. Remember, you do NOT need to be a blogger to participate. You just have to love food and the opportunity to make new friends. Who knows…. maybe I’ll draw your name some day! And that’s part of the fun. You never know who you’re going to be shopping for, or who will be sending you a box of goodies until the list comes out. I hope to see some of you on it soon!