March Foodie Penpal

This month I came across a posting on Facebook from  Lindsay Livingston from The Lean Green Bean letting us know there was a Foodie Penpal going on here in Canada!  What was that about I wondered!!  She had me at foodie and I could guess that it had something to do with a food exchange!
The amount of coordinating this took was intense - I'm sure!  So a big Thank you to Lindsay for putting this all together.
Lindsay sends us an email with our name and who we send our package to, and another name of someone who sends it to us.  The rules are pretty simple spend $15.00 and make sure your package gets to you penpal before the 25th  and then blog about it on the 30th.  I had Jamie from Embracing Balance and as it turned out she lives here in Victoria - so a bit of a challenge to find unique things and we had the opportunity to meet and had a really great chat! Since I saved on postage I did spend just a little bit more than $15.00 (hope that was ok)  She has posted her blog and you can read it on her site about what I bought for her.

So now the good stuff comes for me!  The package arrived from Ontario and I was excited to see what was in it!

Pamela took the time to write a really nice note for me and explained why she sent what she and how she uses them.  I will have to remember that for next month!  It was really nice to get the beautiful note and the items.

The first item was the Egyptian Licorice organic tea.  I love tea and had never tried this.  I wasn't sure about licorice - but it wasn't too strong at all and was a nice mild flavour.

Next was this - Chilpotles - I love chilpotles and when I opened them the smell was wonderful and they were not overpowering either.  I made a great chili with them!

The last item was this Curly Sesame Delight - which I haven't opened or tried yet, but I will soon and will let you know how it is!

A big thank you to Pamela for taking the time to find some unique items to send to me! I am looking forward to the next exchange!  If you are a Canadian Food Blogger - check out this awesome opportunity to experience new items and meet some awesome people!

Famously Sweet Giveaway!

It always surprises me when I come up with an idea - and then just need to "ask" and it happens!  That's what happened when I contact the very sweet Acts of Sweetness Team from Redpath Sugar.  I see lots of blogs and Facebook pages giving away some really awesome prizes - (all the prizes I have given away have been bought by me.)  I thought to myself - "I wish I could offer my fans something really sweet too!"  So I contacted Redpath Sugars, I have followed them since finding out about them with Canada's Baking and Sweet Show that was held in Toronto last year.  Then in the autumn I noticed at our local Wal-mart carried a few of their products (even more now).  Out here in the west coast we haven't seen their products and so we are limited to a couple of companies.  I was very excited to see and try the sugars.  The first one we tried was the Turbinado Sugar -

This is made from 100% golden turbinado sugar which is boiled directly from natural concentrated cane juices. This unique process gives Turbinado Sugar its distinctive large crystal size and mild molasses flavour. Use it to give your coffee and tea a unique taste. You can sprinkle it on baked products to give them that extra crunch and flavour. We really like using this product, it has great flavour and is very versatile. The Golden Yellow sugar is so fine and light it is just a delight to bake with - the cookies come out so nice and I have never had any problem with clumps or lumps. Next I tried the Icing Sugar - wow so nice to make smooth glazes!!  I am very happy to switch my sugar brand to Redpath Sugars - especially since it is made right here in Canada!  I hope you get a chance to find it at your local store and try it!  Check out their Facebook page too. CONTEST!!! Tell us what is your favourite Redpath Sugar product is or what you would try if you could. Send us a picture of your favourite sweet baked item that you make. info@sweetartsupplies.ca A very special Thank-You to Redpath Sugar for donating this FAMOUSLY SWEET prize!  There are two prizes! FIRST PRIZE: An awesome Redpath Apron (has pockets!), a Signed Buddy Valastro Redpath recipe tea towel (aka Cake Boss) and a little Redpath Sugar spoon in it's own bag" SECOND PRIZE: A Redpath recipe tea towel and the Redpath Sugar Spoon. Please subscribe to our blog and have your chance to win the Famously Sweet prize giveaway!  Remember it is open to CANADIANS ONLY. Terms and conditions: OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF CANADA ONLY. Contest and information provided is not affiliated at all with Facebook.  Your information is for the sole purpose of this contest with SweetArt Supplies. Winner must respond within in 3 business days to claim prize - winner will be announced on our Facebook page. If winner is from Victoria, BC they AGREE to Pick up the prize. Contest is running from March 02, 2012 to April 3rd 2012 (1:00pm PST)