I’m back at home! My trip was lovely but I missed my husband and our new condo, so I’m really happy to be back. I brought lots of Israeli snacks back home with me so I can extend the vacation (at least food wise) a little longer. Here are a few goodies I’d like to share with 1 lucky reader:
- 1 small “Bamba” – a very popular Israeli snack. These guys are kind of like peanut flavored puffs. We used to eat A LOT of these as kids.
- 2 mini light halvas (made of sesame tahini and sunflower butter)
- 3 mini candies (1 Israeli “kitkat,” 1 braided milk chocolate, and 1 wafer with hazelnut cream covered in chocolate <– my personal favorite as I discovered last night)
- 3 wild berry tea bags (they smell absolutely amazing, but I haven’t tried them yet)
- 3 Israeli mini jelly packets (unpictured because I found them in my bag after snapping this photo
)
Want to try these goodies? Leave a comment here saying which snack you’re most excited to try by Tuesday 9pm EST and I’ll draw a winner! (US residents only, please)
So yeah, as mentioned I did quite a bit of “sampling” of the loot last night. A mini halva was my mid-morning snack. Yum!
+ about a million candies were consumed throughout the night… 1 of these (this one is like a kitkat):
And man, I don’t even know… maybe 3-4 of these (the wafer/hazelnut filling one):
SO good!!!!!!! Oh yeah, a few Israeli cookies passed my lips (more than on this plate… again, I was chatting and kind of lost track of how much I was eating 
):
I’d say some serious overindulging was happening. I blame a smaller dinner and the fact that this stuff is freaking delicious 
THE REST OF THE EATS…
2 wildberry waffles with Barney Butter + Maine blueberries and 1/2 banana:
Farmer’s market salad: mixed greens, yellow cherry tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1/2 peach, TJ’s light organic string cheese + 1/2 FFL english muffin
All produce was bought at the local farmer’s market and was 100% organic. I loved having something so fresh after a day-long flight with nasty over-processed foods!
One Lucky Duck chocolate chip/almond raw cookie:
Farmer’s market tomato + fresh mozzarella (was made that morning!) on sourdough bread + rainbow carrots:
I drizzled some balsamic vinegar over the toast after snapping this photo, and it brought the sandwich to life. Amazingly fresh and delicious!!
Banana soft serve + choc chips:
The soft serve was really delicious and I thought it would prevent me from eating all the cookies and candy we had in the house. Apparently not so much.
We had some friends over to show off our new digs and play some settlers. I enjoyed a glass of vino while playing, chatting and eating candy
Good food day. Mmm. 
THINGS I’M EXCITED TO TRY:
Got these babies at the farmer’s market. The guy said they tasted like cucumber. They have little spikes on them so I’m slightly scared to eat them but I’m also excited! Do you know what this veggie is called? Have you tried it before?
Ron from NuNaturals, Inc. also sent me some Stevia products to try. I’ve never had Stevia before… I was afraid it was another new “thing” in the market to replace Sweet ‘n low and Equal but after hearing and reading about Stevia over and over I now understand it’s 100% natural. I heard some people find the taste to be a little funky. Let’s see how I feel. I tried a few drops of the clear stevia in my coffee this morning and it tasted like my usual cup with agave nectar. So far so good
Ron also sent me a packet with more info on these products. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I’ll share the info with you once I do. Have you tried Stevia? If so, what did you think?
ISRAELI “TOAST”… THE RIGHT WAY
Remember this toast that kind of disappointed me? I was able to redeem that negative experience at the strangest place – the airport! While waiting for our flight back to the States my sister got hungry and ordered a tuna toast. This was made NY deli style – the guy behind the glass topped the “bagel” with the exact fillings we instructed him with. Our toast had tomato sauce + spicy sauce, bulgari cheese (kind of like feta) + mozzarella, tuna salad, pickles and green olives. Then it was pressed in the panini maker to let the flavors melt together. That’s the stuff I’ve been missing! Yum.
Ok that’s enough ramblings for 1 post (believe me, I had more to say and decided to save some things for later). Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win some Israeli snacks! Good luck!! 
The halvas sound yummy! Great farmers’ market pics, and those little green vegetables look dangerous!
Ooh, I’d love to try the hazelnut candy!
Thanks for sharing your goodies! I’d love to try the mini light halvas. I love halva and am curious about a lighter version (or at least a smaller portion size).
Daria – I love halva and these guys are indeed lighter but I couldn’t really taste the difference between these and the higher fat version (although it’s been a while since I’ve had halva…). Good luck
[...] Win some snacks straight from a vacation in Israel here [...]
Looks like you had a great vacation, Elina! I traveled to Israel for the summer about 10 years and miss all the food, culture and people! I’d love some halva – yum!
Yummy stuff! I would like to try the Bamba. They kind of look like cheese puffs. I bet they are delish!
I love halva!!
I’ve had those cucumbers before. They are sweet inside, but the skin was very tough, so it was an interesting experience.
Yum, the hazelnut one for sure! Your vacation sounded fabulous!!
The bamba sounds fun! I love trying new foods from different countries.
I am so curious as to what that veggie is, I can’t wait to hear about it!
All those snacks/treats sound interesting! I would love to try the hazelnut candy!
I would like to try the Bamba! I went to Israel 2 summers ago and miss all the yummy food!
OMG i love middle eastern food! That Bamba looks amazing- I would looooove to try it
I’m really intrigued by those halvas! Also, that farmers market salad looks AMAZING!
My dad loves halva, so i would love to share those with him! Thanks for thre great giveaway!
The hazelnut candy sounds delicious. I would love to try it!
Yum! I’m interested in the halva. And everything else.
wild berry tea bags look SO GOOD!
I would love to try any of them but I guess the hazelnut one the most. They all look great!
Welcome home! We should arrange a get together sometime soon.
I love trying new foods, so I’m jumping at the chance to win the Israeli goodies. I’m most curious about the mini halvas.
I’m also curious about the spiky veggie! Can’t wait to see what you do with ‘em
Mmm I would love to try the halva, I had a professor bring my class some from Lebanon (so adorable!)
I’m addicted to kitkats, so I’m kind of dying to try the similar one!
Hi Elina – What a unique giveaway! It’s nice to see people offering samples of non-Western fare. I would love to try Bomba – peanut butter is a staple food for me so I’d love to see how other countries/cultures incorporate this versatile food into their treats. Also, I work with several people who are from or still have family in Israel (including our CEO). I’d love to share these goodies with them to remind them of home.
The tahini and sunflower candy sounds amazing!!
jealous of your stevia, can’t wait to see hwo you like it! i’ve never tried it… that toast also looks fantastic, glad you were able to leave with a good memory!
all those goodies! i’ve been seeing havla pop up alot lately, but wondered what it was like…
Oh what a fun giveaway!! I would love to try to the israeli candies “kitkats” I hope I win!
the sesame tahini and sunflower butter treat sounds unique & incredibly delish!
I’d love to try the Bamba! Thanks so much for the opportunity.
the Bamba… its my downfall (cheesy puff food that is) would love to tray the Israeli version.
I loved those little shortbread cookies! They were totally my fall from grace last night….or maybe it was the kit-kat candies…or the chocolate pastry…or the beer….
No, no. It was definitely the cookies, no doubt about it.
I’d be most excited to try the bambas because I love peanuts and poofy snacks.
Thanks for sharing both your trip and these goodies with us out here in blogland. I enjoyed the armchair view of your vacation!
What a fun give away! I’d love to try the Israeli kit kat bar…yum.
wow, cool post!
full of lots of interesting stuff! i would love to try some of those isreali foods, i guess i will just have to visit
By Settlers, do you mean Settlers of Cattan? I’ve never known anyone else who knows that game except for the 4 or 5 other people I’ve played with. That game is all kinds of awesome.
I loved seeing your photos of Israel. The food looks so amazing that it makes my mouth water and it’s almost 2am over here. I’m gonna have to go make some juice now to satisfy my tummy before bed.
I’m from Canada so no entering the contest for me but all those treats look yummy!
Welcome back home!
The bamba sounds great! Anything with peanut butter…. =)
I’d love to to try the halva! I’ve always wanted to try some since I love tahini, but it is impossible to find where I live.
I’d love to try the Bamba. Mmm peanut butter.
The Bamba looks great, I miss Israel so much, it will be like a trip home!
Halvah is amazing, I cant’ find it in the store and to have it from Israel would be great!
I also spent time in Israel as a child and had hoped to get back this summer but not with this economy, I’d love to have these treats (they all look delish) to cure the homesickness!
OMG, I haven’t had Bamba in forever–isn’t it amazing, totally unlike anything in the states if you ask me!
[...] Israeli goodies giveaway [...]
Lauren – we should definitely get together! Right after I get over this cold
Tiffany – haha, you’re funny. The cookies and candy were definitely my downfall too. Oh well, at least they were yummy
Dominique – yes, Settlers of Cattan. I’m still not very good at this game, but it is pretty fun
The Israeli candies look and sound wonderful! I would love to try the hazelnut and chocolate wafer one. Yum!
I’d love to try the bamba.
I’m glad you made it back safely! Must feel good to be back. I have never tried Stevia before because we can’t buy it in the UK. I sucks. Can’t wait to get my hands on some when I get back. I’m still off Splenda, so I am in need of some sweetness
Thanks for all this. I love foreign food a lot. I would like to see how it tastes and collect the wrappers. For me, I’m most excited about the Bamba!
Hi, Elina! This was my first visit (certainly won’t be the last) and I had a blast! No one seems to want the jelly packets, and I would love to have them, not to eat, just to enjoy having something from a place I will surely never visit. I live in a “culturally impaired” town that has limited access to interesting ethnic foods. I shall enjoy them by osmosis, reading your blog! Thanks!
What a fun giveaway! My boss is actually from Israel, so I would love to win this and share the goodies with her. I did taste Israeli chocholate (the kitkat?) once and absolutely LOVED it! So that’s definitely the one I would eat first.
[...] Israeli goodies giveaway [...]
Lara – you crack me up with your alternative sweetener addiction. I’ll try to review these soon. Hopefully they’re a good lower cal alternative to sugar. It does make a bit nervous that they are not allowed in the UK.
Donna S – thanks for vising the blog. I’m glad you like it… and I hope you stay!!
Let’s see who wins. Those jellies may just be yours by the end of tonight 
[...] Israeli goodies giveaway [...]
[...] Back in September, I received a whole loot of stevia products from NuNaturals to try. NuNatural’s stevia products are 100% natural, gluten free, and do not contain aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, HFCS, sugar or any other artificial sweeteners or colors. [...]