Monday, October 27, 2008

Blogging by mail: lots of goodies from the US!

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It's been another fun round of Blogging by Mail hosted by the lovely Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness! I got a wonderful package from Melody at My Trap Door which was filled to the brim with delightful stuff. First thing I pulled out was not edible, but it sure smelled that way! It's a scented candle, aptly named Champagne Dessert.

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I was super excited to get more non-edible things - they last longer! I got these really cool people-shaped push pins!

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And these gorgeous orange comma-shaped plates. I adore small plates, they're so useful and so much fun. My husband doesn't exactly feel the same way which mean I have to sneak them in - but not when they're gifts!

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Isn't this adorable? An egg whisk to cheer me up on not-so-cheerful mornings. I love it.

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On to the edibles. I haven't had Peeps since I was in high school, but oh my goodness, they're great. I ate one right away, but will leave the rest to firm up a bit - they're best when they're a little stale. Oh, and I have to microwave one, too!

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Completely new to me - cappuccino chips! I was really excited to recieve this, because we actually don't have anything like this here. No chips. except for the potato variety. No chocolate chips, no peanut butter morsels, no butterscotch chips, nothing. (Ok, I buy some of my baking chocolate in chip-shapes at a specialty store, but that's one particular kind of chocolate only.) This will definitely be put to good use - I'm thinking cookies and blondies to start with, and if I can stretch the bag far enough, brownies too.

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I like Lindt chocolate a lot, but I've never seen this kind before. It's dark chocolate with chili, and cherry filling! I'm a real sucker for anything cherry, and this was no exception. Delicious!

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This was a huge surprise! I've been wanting a bottle of raspberry chipotle sauce for ages - since I visited my friend Rebecca several years ago, and she served this with cream cheese on crackers. It's been on my wishlist since I started this blog, and I was so incredibly excited to finally get it! Yeay!

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And for similar excitement.. Melody knew how much I liked Velveeta - my guiltiest pleasure.

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So much she sent me TWO packages! And the second one seems like perfection - spicy! I can't wait to get some tortilla chips and dig in!

23 comments:

ScottE. said...

Blondies are a perfect choice for the cappucino chips. I've used them for that exact purpose. They are lovely.

This is the recipe I use here...they are DIVINE!

http://sseichinger.blogspot.com/2007/12/treats-are-ready-for-santa.html

Jessica said...

You CAN find chocolate chips more and more and especially in your parts, Anne. Just trekk by Chokladfabriken and buy as much as you need. I've run into choc chips for baking here and there, on gotland, here, in Stockholm on numerous places.

Anonymous said...

Anne: You should be able to get the Lindt chocolate in a local store.
At least our local Ica (in Viksjö) have the full range range of Lindt Creation, including the delicious Chilly&Cheery :)

Dagmar said...

Wow, I envy the cappuccino chips! :-) And the raspberry chipotle sauce looks really nice.

Anonymous said...

Your comma-shaped plate is really gorgeous! I am crazy about colorful plates and bowls too, I am brinning them from all the places I travelling. Here is my Mexican bowl
http://flickr.com/photos/mariyaz/2281850219/in/set-72157602587220441/
and my Polish plate
http://flickr.com/photos/mariyaz/2289088428/in/set-72157602587220441/

Anonymous said...

mix your favorite salsa 1 to 2 parts velveeta and heat in the serve with chips...its great!

Jessica said...

Now when we are on the topic of Lindt chocolates. Caramel fig is very delicious too. You can find cherry& chili in our local grocery store too.

Anne said...

Scott, thank you!! I'm thinking cappuccino chips, some espresso and almonds...

Jessika - oh, but I don't need to pay that kind of money for baking chocolate. I find chokladfabriken seriously overpriced, and for that, I like my Chocovic from Martin Ohlsson. But I do miss these fun varieties - at reasonable prices... I'm sure English Shop has something from time to time as well, but I refuse to pay four times more for it... Yep - I'm cheap :)

Lindhardsen - oooh, very good to know, thanks!

Dagmar - you'll most likely get to try both :)

Mariya, how gorgeous!!

Troy - that is pretty much what I do with it :) Which is why the "mexican" version sounds so nice, all ready mixed? I'll definitely have to try it :)

Jessika - caramel fig sounds tasty!

Christa said...

Lindt chocolate is very common and popular here in England, but I've never seen the Chilli/Cherry version.

Might be a bit too "spicy" for Brits :p

I recognize a lot of the other stuff from living in LA earlier though :D

Anonymous said...

definitly Your comma-shaped plate is really gorgeous! I am crazy about colorful plates and bowls too

Karolina Beaudet said...

I love the little orange plate!!! The Lind cherry and chilli chocolate is one of my favorite. Delicious!!!

Anonymous said...

Looks like you got some great stuff! I'd love to do blogging by mail, but I'm not too sure how to get involved... any tips?

Anonymous said...

Wow! you got a lot of interesting goodies...the raspberry and chipootle sauce cut my eye.

Anne said...

Emiglia - there'll be announcements every now and then. Keep an eye on http://ismyblogburning.com for all food blogging events! :)

Rebecca Kline said...

Looks like you got a lot of great stuff. I'd have to file the Peeps under "non-edible" though. My kids won't even touch them and Jeremy will even eat bugs! The rasberry chipotle sauce is one of my favorites. You can either mix it with cream cheese or drizzle it on top. It has such a unique flavor. It is probably the only thing I'll ever be able to introduce you to - you are much more food savvy than I.

Anne said...

Oh Rebecca, I don't know about that - don't forget the Taco Bell Mild Sauce! And bacon wrapped asparagus, for that matter. :) I have fond foodie memories of our times together, most definitely! But really, the kids won't eat Peeps? Awww. :) I like they when they've gone a bit dry and crunchy though.. it's really pure sugar I suppose, I bet the bugs are much more nutritious :)

Morven said...

What a great package - I guess you like Orange! Velveeta makes a great grilled cheese sandwich (on white bread of course). I'm most envious of your raaspberry chipotle sauce though.

matli said...

The combination of raspberry and chipotle is great! It's really easy to make your own raspberry/chipotle jam. You only need raspberries, chipotle and jam sugar (syltsocker). One chipotle per liter of raspberries is just enough.

Anne said...

Matli - THANK you! :) Again, chili expert to the rescue! I definitely have to try that, at least next time I find chipotles!

Anonymous said...

Here is one for your guilty pleasure... I said "You have got to be kidding me!" when I first heard of it. I tried it once, and have made it at least 10 times since. It's the smoothest fudge you will ever make! the best thing to do though is to make it and feed it to friends asking what the main ingredient is, then watch their faces when you tell them it is velveeta.

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
8 ounces Velveeta, cubed
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, about 5 cups unsifted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

Preparation:
In a large saucepan over medium heat butter and cheese cubes together, stirring frequently; remove from heat. Sift together confectioners' sugar and cocoa; add to cheese, mixing well. Stir in non-fat dry milk, vanilla and nuts. Turn into a 9x9x2-inch pan; chill until firm and cut into squares. Makes about 3 pounds of Velveeta Fudge.

Amanda said...

What a great array of gifts! I, too, have that wee little whisk, fondly named "Eggbert." He's great for putting together vinaigrettes. One note, however--don't run him through the dishwasher. The heat will cause the whisk to come out of the base. I wrecked Eggbert that way, and now have a stainless steel version--Eggbert II!

Jeanne said...

Wow - what a paarcel!! I was also amazed at the array of chips (of the chocolate/butterscotch/peanut butter variety) that you can find in the USA!! Who knew? And that Lindt cherry & chilli is seriously addictive - beware ;-)

Shaheen said...

Wow your package looks great! I'd especially like to try the raspberry chipotle sauce. Sounds intriguing.