Love Actually Mr. Bean: Banoffee Pie, Flapjacks, Ginger Bears, Kendal Mint Cake, Twiglets, and Worcester Sauce and Prawn Cocktail Potato Crisps

When I first started blogging I just wrote.

I didn't reveal very much so my posts had little personality. I wasn't sure whether this was something I wanted to continue. I obviously didn't have any readers. I didn't tell anyone I knew about it at all.

I can't remember when or how the rest of my cousins found out. I think the questions started when the camera came out. Then came the mass email to all the cousins. Some are regular readers, a few comment, and of course, cousin Q started a food blog too. Some of my cousins' friends are lurkers; a few are lurkers who later found out the blog they've been reading was actually their friend's cousin. Did you follow those trains of thought? :P

As for my friends, I remember emailing some of them the link when I posted my recipe for Cha Gio (Vietnamese Egg Rolls) simply because some had asked for other recipes before. As far as I know, only one friend actually reads my blog on a regular basis, a few others read it sporadically.

So who am I writing to when I blog?

Sometimes I'm writing just for me. Casting a net and pulling in a few readers. Like real life, I tend to let others initiate contact. Somewhere between the comments about food, a conversation starts, and sometimes it evolves into friendship. Which is how Oanh of Halfway Between Ca Mau and Sai Gon came into my life.

I love you Oanh! Evidently, she loves me too. When I proposed a food swap, I wasn't expecting such bounty. You can read Oanh's post about what I sent to her in "The Joys of Blogging."

Sorry, you don't get to see what's written on the other side of the card. :P But wanna see what's under the plastic bubble wrap?




Chips. Or crisps as the Brits would say. What do Australians call potato chips? I was there and I can't even remember. And is that chocolate with bubbles I see?



It is! Along with the banoffee pies and Twiglets I had requested, she also sent chips/crisps (Odd British flavors that I like trying and her favorite root chips because the thought of prawn cocktail-flavored chips made her shudder); flapjacks (In America, flapjacks are another word for pancakes.); malt whisky coffee and hot chocolate; and Kendal Mint Cake. Of course, she added Australian real fruit-flavored gummy worms and ginger gummy bears. Yum! I love ginger.



Worcester sauce and prawn cocktail potato chips. Haha! Actually, I really liked both flavors. I've also tried Walkers chicken tikka masala chips too.



The Kendal Mint Cake looked and tasted like peppermint candy. It's popular with hikers and mountaineers because of its high energy content. According to the package, this particular brand was carried in the British Everest expedition of 1975.



And Twiglets. Anyone else remember that scene when Mr. Bean had company coming and an empty cupboard so he cut tree twigs and served them up as Twiglets?



"Sensual satisfaction?" Blech. I don't understand Oanh, nor Noodlepie's Twiglets love. Tasted like burnt wheat to me. But then, I don't like Marmite or Vegemite either.



Banoffee pies though. Toffee sauce, white chocolate, and banana ganache. That kind of love I can understand.



I know, I'm lame. The banoffee pie curiosity came about because of that scene in Love Actually where Keira Knightley showed up at her husband's best friend's house looking for his video of her wedding. I won't spoil it by telling you what happened if you haven't seen the movie. And if you haven't, why haven't you? It's one of my favorites.



Oanh had to add in some Australian food for me to try. The ginger gummy bears were awesome. Slight bite. The way I like my ginger candies.



Thanks again Oanh! You're the best!

*****
1 year ago today, the marble craze that swept 4th grade in I only bought the lychee drink for the marble inside.