Monday, April 10, 2006

Blogging by Mail 4 - across continents from Iowa to Singapore

Came home to this a while ago:

a lovely parcel

What is it? It's none other than a Blogging By Mail package from sweet Darla of Messy Cucina! This is the fourth Blogging by Mail and yes I've taken part in all four since it started! This one was hosted by Food Ninja and here's the round up, if you haven't already read about it or you're new to this whole concept.

Anyway, I'll hesitate no further and delve into what's in the package:

BBM4 Contents

That's the whole lot of it. Amazing huh? I like every single thing she put in the package. It seemed like she really thought it through! Haha, she even did a word search to ensure that I didn't already have the things she was going to send. :)

Darla, no worries, Singapore doesn't have any of the things you sent. And that leads to my further excitement because I know that I'm going to enjoy what others can't. heheee.

And so here's a low down on what she sent me:

Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix and Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix and Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. I love blueberries but since they are quite costly here, I hardly have a chance to eat them. So I was delighted to find that she had put this blueberry mix in the package. I am going to cook them for breakfast tomorrow. And Jiffy! The packaging is so vintage and old-school - i like! yay, I have another corn muffins to bake soon.... hehe....

Next up is:

Ovaltine, Reese and Marshmallow Creme

Ovaltine, Reese peanut butter Big Cup and Kraft's Marshmalllow Creme! Here we drink Milo and I haven't seen Ovaltine in a while (they used to have it i think?) so I can't wait to try this. But heh, gotta wait till after Lent (which is coming soon! this Easter sunday) before I can enjoy it. I'm still on my chocolate abstinence in case you all forgot.. haha. and i've been a good girl :) no chocolate whatsoever till now. So that means, Reese will have to wait in the fridge till Sunday! But hey I can have the marshmallow creme.... I heard it tastes good with peanut butter on toast... on and Darla included her Grannie's Christmas Fudge which uses the creme too. Might try it out!

Pickles, Mustard and Old Bay

Ahhhh stone ground mustard! I am a sucker for mustard and I am looking forward to trying this bottle that Darla sent. And check out that huge glass mason jar! It's homemade Russian Sweet Dill Pickles. I like pickles! But I better ration these ones because I know I won't be able to savour them again after they're gone!

See that Old Bay Seasoning? It smells really good! I love grilling my meats and what not, and I can't wait to see how well it enhances my food when I use it!

Fish Fry and Apple Corer


There's also some seasoned fish fry in the package - also another seasoning that I'm really looking forward to use. And here's an amazing contraption Darla sent me - an apple corer. It's fantastic I tell you. I was elated because I won't have to take minutes to cut my apples no more! Haha yes it'll make me lazier but hey at least I'll have more time to bake my stuff!

Sweetheart Candy Box

Now now, these are the gems. Why? Because I've seen it before and thought them to be such cute and interesting candy! I mean, I've yet to see worded candies here in Singapore. Check it out:

Sweetheart Candy

What nice candies to give your sweetheart don't you think? I think they'll do great as nice decorations to top my vanilla cupcakes with. I can't bear to eat these candy. Might just keep them around for as long as I can!

And there you have it, the entire description of what I got in the package Darla sent... and look, I've tried the apple corer already:

Cored Apple

Can I rave about how convenient it is? I won't be prone to cuts on my hands no more! Ya, always have a problem with cutting apples - i'm rather clumsy and if it's not a nail I slice off, it's a sliver of flesh. Okay... i'll stop there... won't wanna gross you all out.

Other than the wonderful foodstuff she sent, Darla also included an awesome mix of music which I am enjoying as I type out this blog post. It's no surprise that I like the songs she's picked out. After all, she's only a year older than me! :)

Darla, if you're reading this, here's a big thank you! I've sent you an email too... do check it ya!

And to you my dear readers, i'll definitely update you all as I try each of the foodstuff she sent me! :) Cheerios for now....

P.S. Pardon my lower quality photos. My aunt borrowed my digital camera for her trip to Korea. So I relied on my trusty Nokia 7610 to deliver the photos. :)

17 comments:

  1. This Blogging by Mail is really cool! You've got goodies there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This BBBM thingy sounds really interesting, can you teach me how does it work?! I can't seem to find anything on the web about it, apart from its participants and packages! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. YDavis: you bet! and I love everything in it... just tried the pancakes... amazing stuff. :)

    JY: It sure is fun as it is interesting! well it usually works by sending the host food blogger an email with your address, allergies, and all, then you wait till he/she gets back to you with an address. You then send a package to that person. And someone else will be sending you one. This is the 4th time this 'event' is held. I'm not sure when the next one would be though. You'll have to wait till they announce who's hosting it. Tell you what, i'll post here, when they let us know ya? :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. The goodies are looking great! Very happy for you!

    You can find apple corers in NTUC or those sundry ($1.99) shops. =)

    I love them. They're a breeze to use! Wish they made Pear corers too =) The apple corers won't work on those odd shaped green pears. Only the Big round china ones.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, the stuffs she sent are fab! Btw, you can find Jiffy corn muffin mix (they have other mixes too) at NTUC Fairprice (Those with an american corner)here! Im surprised to find that they are cheap too. It costs SG$1.20 for a box! And $0.90 for a box of pizza crust mix. Yum~

    ReplyDelete
  6. there are ovlatine and apple corers in singapore too! I wish theres the candies in singapore too!! they look so sweet! :(

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you very much! So is BBBM like a lucky draw, cos the host food blogger may not be able to get back to everybody? How much do we usually have to pay for the parcel packages?

    ReplyDelete
  8. hi, there's old bay seasoning in Singapore too! it's under the herbs and spices corner at most Cold Storage.

    Your reader!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What do u cook with sweet dill pickles? And mustard too?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Blueberries are my favorite and I'm lucky to have tons of wild blueberry bushes outside my house. My mom had a great time picking & eating them last Sept. when she came to visit me from Malaysia.

    ReplyDelete
  11. this looks great! but do you have a budget to meet for the package? aside from that, i thought some countries doesnt allow food being sent over?

    i would love to participate!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad you enjoyed it all! It was my pleasure!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Juz wanna say that JIFFY muffin mix is available in Singapore. I got mine from NTUC fairprice at Marine Parade.... but it dun turn out as delicious as it looks on the packaging...

    ReplyDelete
  14. wow!! the marshmallow creme looks delicious!! and did u know that the apple corner was invented by a singaporean kid?!

    wahahahah

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes, they used to have Ovaltine in Singapore but I only see Ovaltine biscuits nowadays :| In my recollection, Ovaltine mix is a little less chocolate-y than Milo --- although there are also the differences between Malaysian Milo and Australian Milo that could be parsed :)

    I will pay you good money for those Reese's peanut butter cups. Hey, you're doing Lent, after all ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. mariya: oh my gosh, the loot is wonderful! i've seen jiffy at a NTUC near my place. and i'd die for that reese cup. and the marshmallow creme!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. faith-t: oh yes indeed! that's true, i really love using this apple corers. so much easier

    Gabrielle: really? which NTUC? Because I know not all have the 'american corners'.

    eve: there's still ovaltine in singapore? I thought there isn't anymore? well well, thanks for letting me know! and yes, the candies are darn sweet!

    JY: nah, it's not a lucky draw thing. Everyone has a chance in taking part. all you have to do is to email your address to the host. but make sure you send a package to the address your host gives you. well so far, I've been paying around $35 - $40 for the packages I send overseas...

    Anon: there is old bay seasoning in Singapore? cool! thanks for informing!

    Wondering: hmmm well I think pickles can be eaten with anything! haha hamburgers or sausages? mustard can be used to marinate meats or eaten with sausages or rosti! yum i love mustard

    Davis: you're sooo luckY! i too love blueberries but it's simply too expensiver here. darn, I wish I had a blueberry bush too!

    nadnut: there's no fixed budget. hmmm well so far all the countries I send my packages to have no problems with the food items. And those that send to me, no glitches as yet...

    darla may: thanks so much! you really made my day :)

    Anonymous: yea, I heard... oh NTUC marine parade has it? okay now i know where to find Jiffy if I feel like having some corn muffins. Hmmm mine did turn out like the packaging. You have to follow instructions and let the batter sit for a while before putting it into the oven.

    ling: the marshmallow creme is delicious but very very sweet... sorta like melted marshmallows! really? the apple corer was invented by a singaporean kid? no kidding!

    Tym: just as i thought! but you're right... i still prefer Milo. much more chocolatey. yes there are differences between m'sia and aussie milo. if i'm not wrong, aussie one is thicker or milkier! Oooo the reese peanut butter cup is in my tummy now. hahaaa it's easter already and I just consumed it. i wouldn't mind giving you some, if i had more! but she sent only one. hahaa ;0)

    mariya: wonderful is an understatement! ahahahaa... yes if only Reese is easily avail here! wait, is it? i think i might have seen it at Marketplace supermarkets! hmmmmm anyone knows?

    ReplyDelete