The Kitten Lounge is a lifestyle blog that brings the best in entertainment, fashion, beauty and style together. Kimmie presents various options from behind the scenes events to trips to some of her favorite showrooms that carry amazing pieces. As a former model, Internet personality and someone that just enjoys style in general, her site provides daily tidbits!
Today is Saturday, November 7, 2009
Tomorrow one of the movies that Food Editor of this site, Paul Belobritsky, has been anticipating is being released on DVD. Food Inc tackles various issues within the movie including the importance of organic and locally grown food, foodbourne illnesses, diabetes and obesity, working towards putting nutritional labels on foods found in restaurants, factory farming, genetic engineering, pesticides, farm worker protection, environmental impact, cloning and the global food crisis. It's a lot of issues placed in one film and yet in many cases these are issues that your familiar with and in the end is definitely education and makes you question your food, how you get and the long term effects it has on your body!
Paul and I enjoy eating from restaurants whose menus have organic and locally grown foods. We also enjoy farmer's markets and get excited when we see one! Although these issues were important to me as I have been focusing on them, this movie let me think more about the impact of the global food crisis. Although I don't have children, I have always been a proponent of having healthy alternatives in schools when it comes to replacing sodas with water, soy, etc. In addition, I enjoyed attending a highschool that had salad bars and healthy alternatives. This should be something that is available everywhere (don't even get me started on traveling - some airports have great alternatives while others miss the mark).
Much like King Corn, this movie shows how corn has become the sneaky food that many people ingest in high levels and that it permeates our food by being placed in various forms and fed to cows. This not only increases the obesity but places items within our diet that we don't need to have. Coming from Indiana, I know that many farms were decreasing in terms of the "mom and pop" lots and were becoming corporate/government entities which of course encourages me to support locals as much as possible. If you're looking to understand more about where your food comes from and the effects that it has on you, this is the movie for you! We all need to think about the steps we can take upon examining our intake and to ensure that we are beeing nourished in the right way - education is the first step. Also visit Food Inc's site to learn a lot more about issues and actions that are being raised and implemented.
Sundays are made for friends hanging out! Whether you're watching the game or just out and about there are ways to have food arranged so that it's fun and accessible. I'm a huge fan of sushi and love the trays that are available. Sometimes as opposed to having the "typical" game food, we love picking up a lot of sushi so that we can nibble throughout the day. We're never short on cheese and these agate plates are not only right up my alley being a stone, but it's a great way to present your favorite varieties! Even if you have your classic mini burgers, chips, etc get a great platter. I love shopping around and finding the perfect ones that can be used for the everyday. Finally, having the right glass for whatever you're going to sip is essential and to make it homey, get them monogrammed or have your favorite saying placed on it! Whether it's you and your sig other, family or roommates it's a special way to spend the day when you're glued to the TV!
In an ongoing series, Keren Weinstein, our Guest Life-Balance Editor, took a much needed trip. More than the need to go on vacation to a new locale, she wanted to find her own sense of balance and thus Project Detox began. Last week, we realized that a scent can calm us and create its own memory of peace and tranquility! Today, Keren brings us to the perfect moment with a meal.
I’m a young girl at a family function when I notice my L.A. based uncle sitting by the patio with the sun shining on his face. He is eating something from the fruit tray. By the looks of it one might think he was eating a slice of heaven. I immediately dart over.
‘Taste this Fig’ he says. Still standing I take a small bite and begin chewing. As if the faster I chew the quicker, I too, will taste.
‘Whoa. Slow it down. He tells me.
Sit down. Close your eyes.
Now take another bite.
Roll it in your mouth and let it touch the different taste buds.
Smell the experience.
Feel the texture & sensation.
Taste.’
(Wow. Was that the SAME Fig?) I recall opening my eyes & needing a moment just to snap back.
This was my first experience with Mindful Eating. I confess. Originally, I wrote it off as his ‘California’ way of eating.
And I was New York.
Fast forward to Project Detox where I am on the hunt to infuse balance into my every day life. When I see an activity called Mindful Eating I immediately sign up. The curiosity. The nostalgia. The craving for another Miraval-esque experience.
And after being gently slumber I woke up reborn. Hungry like a baby.
We sit with an appetite and an open mind in the dining room. Table set for about 20 guests. (Eating & mingling. Perfect!). Amongst us sits Junelle, the nutritionist. As she guides us through the meal with tips and teachings along the way, we quickly realize that the Only mingling was going to be with our inner selves and with the food!
We are not to talk to each other. We are to focus on the act of eating. Take a moment to notice our surroundings. The setting. The plate. The color and consistency of the food. To take a bite and feel the texture and temperature of the food in our mouths. Acknowledge the process of chewing and swallowing. The pause in between. Notice the after taste. Breathe.
It was challenging (& a bit awkward) to eat quietly in lieu of being amongst new friends but the greater the challenge the greater the reward. In no time did I learn about my personal relationship with food. About eating intuitively.
We were all shocked at how much food was left on our plates when we felt full and how delicious the experience was. The French know this. Quality over Quantity. They are thin.
It makes sense. Your brain receives a signal from the body through the central nervous system that you are hungry, eating and full. If your mind is ‘multi-tasking’ or rushing through a meal then there is no mind-body connection. You then miss the essential flavors and pleasures of the food & your digestion efficiency is decreased (and how ironic that IBS and stomach disease is on the rise). Plus, your brain may miss the messages that you are even eating - let alone full.
It may still think you are hungry. You continue eating.
No skinny jeans for you.
Our lives are in high-speed. If on-the-go we can talk, text, trade stocks, email, shop and for just about Anything…’there’s an App for that’, then you KNOW eating on-the-go must have been mastered way before that. Long ago in the U.S. eating has been defaulted as ‘another task to do on our list’. We eat meals while working at our desks, driving, watching TV, even walking.
OK, clearly we cannot eat every meal in silent focusing on the act of eating. Dinner with friends & family is Critical and there are times we simply must eat on-the-go. But between eating 3 meals and about 2 snacks per day, we have over 35 opportunities a week to attempt it. In between it all, we Can balance a sense of well-being with our high speed culture.
The picture above is my son ‘E’ at my favorite lunchtime-waterfall-escape-spot in NYC two blocks from my office. It’s important to me he learns the importance of mindful eating early on. No write offs this time.
Most cities are packed with many public parks, gardens, waterfalls, etc. and with an iPOD you can be staging moments for your meals just about anywhere. Another trick is to at least eat the first bite of every meal mindfully to set the tone. Putting your fork down in between bites really does help (thanks Junelle).
Book time on your calendar to eat mindful meals. Treat it with the importance of a business meeting or a trip to the doctor. This is time for you. A much needed break. A reconnection.
Slow down. Become aware. Chew. Pause. Savor. Enjoy.
Haven’t you heard?
Mindful eating is the meal of the moment!
Bon Appétit
Keren Weinstein is a seasoned professional in Fashion & Beauty with over 12 years in Integrated Marketing, Advertising and Celebrity Fashion Styling
The Friday prior to Fourth of July, I was invited to Ben & Jack's Steak House which just opened on 5th Avenue. I love that Ben and Jack are two brothers that worked various positions within the restaurant industry and were waiters at famed Peter Lugar's. Now I have never been to their uptown location; however, I tend to enjoy going downtown to eat at sister restaurants as they tend to be less corporate which is a positive for me. On this Fri, my Food Editor, Paul Belobritsky, and I settled into the restaurant which was much bigger than I had suspected. I love that the main level looks back at the bar and a cute atrium. If you go upstairs, there is another spacious area where additional people can sit with another bar. But in addition to additional seating, there are rooms that can be rented out. This is perfect during Fashion Week if you want to take out your Creative Designer, PR Teams, etc as they are perfect for groups of 10 - 12. If you're doing a larger event, then maybe you would consider booking the entire upstairs area. Sitting on 5th Ave, this is the perfect area that's close to Madison Park, Flatiron, Chelsea, etc.
The first thing that I have to say was the best part of my experience is the fact that most of the staff was not aware that we were from Kitten Lounge. Typically, when people know I'm coming, we find the staff to be extremely attentive, we're offered items that aren't on the menu etc. We entered the restaurant and we were the recipients of genuine attention. I can't say how nice it is to have various staff attending to your table and never having to look up to get a refill of your water, extra bread and more. I felt that this attention was analogous to being on a cruise ship where people are very attentive without feeling like you're being intruded upon. Whether you're here for a dinner among friends or you're impressing your staff, this is a perfect place to consider.
To start out, we enjoyed the best Great Neck Oysters which were quite large and we had the Crab which was also refreshing. The Great Neck Oysters were my favorite as they didn't have a fishy taste and once again the size was perfect! This is a must to start off the night. For dinner, Paul had the Filet Mignon (which I sampled and loved the taste but I am not a fan of the rare that he requested) which he asked to be rare but felt that it came back Black and Blue. I enjoyed the Sea Bass which I was pleased to find that it didn't have the butter sauce with it as I find that to be a very distracting flavor. The sides are very generous and are family style. We had the creamed spinach - very tasty although not as cheesy as I'm used to and then the Mashed Potatoes which were heaven (as you know I love Mashed Potatoes). For dessert, I enjoyed a very generous portion of Raspberry Sorbet with their very own (made from scratch whipped cream) and Paul had Tiramisu with their whipped cream as well.
With a relaxed atmosphere and with the attentive staff, the dining experience is a must! I couldn't help but think of those in fashion and entertainment who want to have a nice dinner that is equidistant to those that may be coming all over the city in order to have a meal together. Whether it's a post Fashion Week, Coterie, Project or meal prior to a CD launch, Ben & Jack's Steakhouse is the perfect place to hold these functions and more without having that ultra corporate feel while retaining a gorgeous atmosphere. If you're visiting the city, this is a must as well! Check out the site and think about what you would love to have here and as always, drop by for a drink as this is a great way to see a restaurant by sitting at the bar and watching the crowd in general.
At some point, KFC, Popeyes Chicken or any other kind of fried chicken has tempted and lustfully conquered even some of the most discerning of pallets. If everything tastes like chicken and more specifically organic free range fried chicken then everything must be delicious. But, if you are like the rest of us who suffer from New York’s square footage malnutrition and live in tiny spaces with tiny dogs and tiny kitchens probably don’t have the ability or the desire to purchase a deep fryer for the occasional glutinous submersion. As you have no option, but to love The Roots and to enjoy the occasional clove cigarette, you succumb to the fast food industry’s siren-like call of the delicious and obscenely detrimental to your health fried chicken.
So, what’s the answer? Do you pack it in and invest in bigger pants in the anticipation of a greasy deep fried future or do you grab your laptop, throw your play list on shuffle and give an alternative a chance? The alternative is the right combination of spices, a little grape seed oil and a little grape seed oil and a little something on the side.
Chicken drumsticks
Butternut Squash
Hungarian Hot Paprika
Morton & Bassett Cajun Spice Blend (paprika, celery seed, garlic, basil, white pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme and parsley)
Chili Powder
Pangu Salt
Nigerian Cayenne Pepper
Grape Seed Oil
The preparation of this meal is extremely simple. Chop all of the drumsticks in half, season to taste with the above listed spices (use only a little bit of the Nigerian Cayenne Pepper), drizzle with grape seed oil and place in the oven at 450 degrees. After 30 minutes, turn the chicken and don’t be shy make sure that it’s covered in its own juices. Continue to cook for an additional 15 minutes. Peel, clean and cut butternut squash, place it in the pan right next to the chicken (do not season) and once again baste it with the chicken juices. Continue to cook for 15 minutes and you’re done.
The beautiful thing about this dish is that you can use as much chicken and butternut squash as you need. The most important part is that you cut the drumsticks in half and use the right spices; everything else is up to the chicken, that sneaky chicken. Enjoy!
I love this time of year! Although I am resting from coming back from Atlantic City last night, I am still hard at work thinking about the holiday season and so I wanted to share two of my favorite things with you! First off, I am a fan of Crate and Barrel - I love that they have so many pieces that so eye catching that you feel they must be in your home! In addition, who doesn't love a gift from Crate and Barrel? In addition, I love cookbooks! Here are some great cookbooks that are perfect for this wintery season and all the holidays. These are great dishes that could be made with friends and can be given as gifts. Don't forget the cookie book that has been included as well - a great way to gift your office, doorman, etc! Take some time to check out these books and of course they have a lot more of these availabe online and in stores as well!
I love the roundups! Sometimes, I need to be reminded of all the goodies that have been going on, will take place here and maybe just something that needs to be mentioned because you guys will love it! So what happened over the past week that is of note: Well, I am rapidly moving in with Food Editor and boyfriend, Paul so I am all about decor at the moment! Expect that Sundays are going to be packed with items that we actually will choose. Last week, I highlighted great pieces that are from West Elm! Expect to see interesting pieces of items that we have actually purchased over the next few weeks - starting with this Fri and learn about our color schemes. It may be a little TMI but I could use some design direction as I am in the middle of quite a few things at the moment!
We began an amazing and fun partnership with Lucky Magazine which makes me so pleased. If you want to be apart of the giveaway of one of the goodie bags that will be given away at Lucky Shops, make sure that you leave a comment here as this drawing takes place on Oct 24th and you don't want to miss out. At the same time, we also have another great Lucky item which allows you to play a Denim Stylist and you can enter through our site! We have a few shows in addition to magazines that we have partnered up with! In addition to Lipstick Jungle, you can also check up Starter Wife with an amazing interview from one of the key members of the cast!
In the realms of fashion, we loved covering Hayden Harnett which has amazing bags that have been on Gossip Girl and have been covered everywhere! We can't help wishing that the Hayden Harnett fairy would bless us with this season's bags. Fortunately, they have a site so enjoy some goodies. Pearls took on an entirely new meaning with this post about Moon River Pearls
I love reading and you got your first introduction of A.W. Gryphon who will be featured throughout the month as she is the author of 'Blood Moon' which is perfect as we get closer to Halloween. This is the first book in the 3 book series letting us know about the path of Amelia and how she not only finds herself but her own truths as Wiccan. Along the way she has some amazing Chanel pieces and this past Thurs, we received some great beauty tips!If you missed it, you know that I am all about Dashing Diva and they had Jennifer Hudson stop by and they are doing an amazing contest with ABC Daytime Soaps and SOAPnet! This past Thursday, you were hit with 3 beauty items and one of my favorites was the lovely Brazilian sisters of Beam Laser Spa - the idea of never having to shave again makes me gidddy and after 6 - 8 treatments it will be a complete transition! I can't wait and know that once I get this done (armpits) who knows where I will go next! Learn more about the process and that this is truly attainable beauty for everyone!
Looking forward, there is an unofficial meet up of sorts in the shape of my sister's party and I will be there! If you're in NYC, stop by, it's on the 25th and will be a lot of fun. Going forward we have amazing partnerships with WE TV which will start soon and Express as well! I am so excited about this and can't wait to share this with you. In addition, we launched our Holiday Guide and 25 Days of Holiday Glam. Find out how you can be apart of this. I think that this week was so jam packed that we will take a breather but know there is always something around the corner!
Last week was pretty crazy and my weekend was pretty hectic as well! So with that being said, the round up for last week, starts now and of course there are some peeks into what you can expect for this week and this month as well! Last week, we kicked off the end of Sept with a double dose of tasty treats. Our Food Editor, Paul, took us to il Buco’s annual Pig Fest and let us know a little about the inspiration of Edgar Allen Poe’s book! We also had an amazing series of recipes from Food Network’s Halloween. With the holiday season around the way, we had to get everyone dazzled and we introduced someone that we love – Objets d’Envy which is full of fun and Swarovski Crystals! We had 2 giveaways and the winners of Model Co will receive an email later on today and if you missed the Ellie Handbag Collection . In the world of music, Paper Doll performed this weekend – amazing and we posted about IreneB who I can’t wait to see her live and she totally showed her love for Kitten Lounge by giving us a snippet and a shout out to boot!
This leads to this weekend which was full of shows and interviews that will come out this week and over the next few weeks. I interviewed AW Gryphon, author of Blood Moon! With the appropriately themed Halloween book, you will see various posts throughout this month about her and book related topics! In addition, I went to Beam Laser Spa this weekend and let me say I loved it and will let you in on what happened and as there are various sessions, you will hear more about it. I have to say, the idea of never shaving is so exciting! With so many goodies out there it is hard to keep some things a secret but it will be very exciting to share once I can! This month, Kitten Lounge will hit the road heading out to Atlantic City and Philly! I am excited and we are currently working on another HUGE project that will be unveiled early next year although there will be hints throughout the site. As a side note, I am now linked to various members that are playing Gemni Division while watching it and I love it!!
Finally, to spread some love, Haydan Harnett, someone who you will see on this site later in the week, is having an amazing sale that ends on 10.07.08! Purchase an item over $300 and receive 20% off using the code fallingfast. This helps you get an amazing bag and helps the economy in general as well - very beneficial and fashionable.
With help from Sandra Lee, star of Semi-Homemade Cooking on the Food Network, throwing a Halloween Celebration doesn’t have to be a frightening experience. Just use Sandra’s “Semi-Homemade” rescue plan: Combine ready made ingredients with a few creative twists to make crowd-pleasing dishes that demand only a fraction of the time, energy and patience. With all the tricks and treats that Sandra has up her sleeve, you’ll be done before you can say hocus pocus!
Below are Sandra’s super easy ideas for a “Midnight Soiree” from her new books: Semi-Homemade Desserts 2 and Semi-Homemade Fast-Fix Family Favorites. Follow these quick and simple tricks to deliver dinner in half the time, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your Vampire Kiss Martini with your guests!
First up, creative Oozing Potatoes served on waffle fries with sour cream and olives and Spooky Punch for a refreshing lemon-lime treat. Then there’s a crowd favorite, Screamin’ Macaroni and Cheese baked to perfection with bread crumbs and butter, embellished with broccoli florets. Next, sweeten up with Swiss Orange Chocolate Truffles and Crunchy Doughnut Eyeballs, melted and coated with chocolate and food coloring to resemble spooky veins! For the grand finale cocktail, serve a Vampire Kiss Martini, chilled and garnished with licorice, wax teeth and candy corn.
Midnight Soiree Menu:
Oozing Potatoes Screamin’ Macaroni and Cheese Vampire Kiss Martini Scary Ice Spooky Punch Crunchy Doughnut Eyeballs Swiss Orange Chocolate Truffles
Ideas for a Ghouly and Glamourous Tablescape:
A classic black, white and metallic silver tablescape design is ghouly and glamorous! Glowing mercury glass candlesticks show off the soft sheens of silver for an evening that is one to remember. Increase the sparkle even more with glass plates, black goblets, and ornate silverware. Rolled and tied sheets of music add to the theme, while gold votive candles in bubble glass holders cast a romantic moon-like glow over each place setting.
Spooky Place cards:
A personal note makes a thoughtful keepsake place card. Fold pieces of black-and-white scrapbook paper in half and personalize a Halloween message to each guest – perhaps a short riddle or an inspiring thought for the evening. For a final flourish, thread black satin ribbons through the hole-punched tops and gently tie them around pages of rolled-up sheet music.
For more unique Semi-Homemade recipes, don’t forget to tune in to the Food Network to see Sandra portray some of the greatest Queens of all time in her new Halloween episode, “Halloween Queens” on Semi-Homemade Cooking, on October 26, 2008 at noon EST/PT and again on October 27, 2008 at 4pm EST/PT.
Sandra will surely cast her Semi-Homemade spell over you!
Semi-Homemade Desserts 2
Swiss Orange Chocolate Truffles
Prep 25 minutesChill 2 hours
Makes 22 (1-tablespoon) truffles
1package (10-ounce) dark chocolate chips, Nestlé® Chocolatier
3⁄4cup whipping cream
3tablespoons orange juice concentrate, Minute Maid®
2teaspoons grated orange zest (optional)
2teaspoons pure orange extract, McCormick®
3tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, Hershey’s®
Grated orange zest (optional)
1.Place chocolate chips in a medium bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, combine whipping cream and orange juice concentrate; cook over medium heat just until boiling. Pour cream mixture over chocolate chips; use a rubber spatula to stir until smooth. Stir in orange zest (optional) and orange extract. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
2.Pour cocoa powder into a pie plate. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the chocolate mixture; using slightly wet hands, form into a ball. Roll ball in cocoa powder to coat entire ball and place on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat to make 22 truffles, rinsing hands when mixture becomes too sticky to roll. Chill until ready to serve. Sprinkle with grated orange zest (optional).
To store: Place truffles in an airtight container. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 3 months.
Semi-Homemade Fast-Fix Family Favorites
Oozing Potatoes
Prep 15 minutesBake 18 minutesMakes 4 servings
1⁄2bag (22-ounce) frozen waffle fries, Ore-Ida®
1can (16-ounce) refried black beans, Rosarita®
1cup Mexican cheese blend, Kraft®
1⁄2cup mild chunky salsa, Pace®
1⁄2cup dairy sour cream, Knudsen®
1can (21⁄4-ounce) sliced black olives, drained, Early California®
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil; set aside. Arrange waffle fries in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, microwave black beans on high heat setting (100 percent power) for 4 to 6 minutes.
3. To assemble, evenly space waffle fries on a microwave-safe plate. Top each with 1 tablespoon beans and a sprinkle of cheese. Microwave on high heat setting (100 percent power) for 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Top each stack with 1 teaspoon salsa, 1 teaspoon sour cream, and an olive slice.
Spooky Punch
Prep 5 minutesMakes about 2 quarts
1can (12-ounce) frozen cranberry concentrate
31⁄2cups fresh orange juice, Minute Maid®
1liter lemon-lime soda
1. In a pitcher, combine cranberry concentrate, orange juice, and lemon-lime soda. Serve in glasses over ice.
Scary Icee
Prep 5 minutesMakes 6 servings
1can (12-ounce) frozen lemonade mix concentrate
2tablespoons packaged lemon gelatin mix, Jell-O®
1tablespoon granulated sugar, C&H®
Ice
1. In a blender, cover and pulse lemonade, gelatin, and sugar. Add ice to almost fill blender. Cover and continue to pulse until ice is crushed. Pour into glasses and serve.
1. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper. Cut 1⁄8-inch-thick slices from 2 opposite sides of each doughnut hole.
2. Melt white morsels and vegetable shortening in top of double boiler or in a microwave-safe bowl in microwave.
3. Working with one doughnut hole at a time, use a fork to dip into melted morsels mixture to coat. Lift coated doughnut holes from coating, shaking excess melted morsels mixture back into bowl. Place coated doughnut holes, one cut side down, on prepared cookie sheet.
4. Place jellied candies on top of doughnuts. Dab chocolate candies with some of remaining melted morsels mixture and press onto jellied candies. Chill in refrigerator for 10 minutes or until coating is set.
5. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of remaining melted morsels mixture and 2 drops of food coloring. Using toothpick, paint colored morsels mixture on doughnut eyeballs to resemble veins. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
This fall season, eating well and staying on budget is easy with help from SandraLee, star of Semi-Homemade Cooking on the Food Network. The oft proclaimed “Queen of Quick” offers practical tips in her new cookbook Semi-Homemade Money Savings Mealsthat heighten the flavor of food while reducing the prep and cost. It all adds up to more choice and more meals for less time and money, which you can now use to buy shoes. Too good to be true!
So turn over a “new leaf” this month and follow Sandra’s 70/30 philosophy; Mix 70% quality prepackaged foods with 30% fresh ingredients, add a dash of your own creativity and cook up a meal that’s 100% fast and fabulous! Check out a mini-menu from Sandra that transforms supermarket staples into a simple, flavor packed meal for the well-heeled girl on the go.
First up, inventive Early Peas and Haricots Verts in Garlic Herb Sauce, seasoned to taste and coated with a savory garlic herb sauce. Then there’s Herb Butter Roasted Turkey, which is not only healthy but can be transformed into a lavish leftover with peppercorns and sage. Next, sweeten up with Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie drizzled with caramel sauce. Then it’s cocktail time with a Cherries Jubilee Cocktail served over ice with a splash of color.
SandraLee’s Quick-Fix Fall Menu
*All recipes from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Money-Saving Meals
Appetizer
Early Peas and Haricots Verts in Garlic Herb Sauce
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Let piecrust thaw for 10 minutes. Prick the bottom and sides of crust with a fork. Bake on a baking sheet in preheated oven for 8 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare sweet potatoes as directed on package. Mash cooked sweet potatoes with butter. Stir in sugar, eggs, evaporated milk, bourbon, and pumpkin spice; pour into pie shell. Leaving pie on baking sheet, bake for 10 minutes.
3. Reduce oven to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch off-center comes away clean. Cool for 2 hours before slicing. Drizzle individual slices with caramel sauce and sprinkle with toasted pecans (optional).
Early Peas and Haricots Verts in Garlic Herb Sauce
Prep 15 minutes
Makes 12 servings
1 bag (16-ounce) frozen haricots verts (green beans), C&W®
1 bag (16-ounce) frozen early harvest peas, C&W®
1 tablespoon water
4 strips bacon, chopped
1 cup slivered red onions
11⁄4 cups half-and-half or light cream
1⁄4 cup cognac
1 packet (1.6-ounce) garlic herb sauce mix, Knorr®
Salt and black pepper
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine frozen green beans and peas. Add the water; cover and heat on high setting (100 percent power) for 8 to 10 minutes or just until vegetables are tender, stirring once.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, brown chopped bacon. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the pan. Add slivered onions; cook until softened. Add half-and-half and cognac to saucepan; whisk in dry garlic herb sauce mix. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, until thickened.
3. Drain green beans and peas. Add to pan with sauce; stir to coat vegetables. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cherries Jubilee Cocktail
Start to Finish 5 minutes
Makes 2 servings
Ice
4 shots vanilla vodka, Smirnoff®
2 shots cherry brandy, Kirschwasser®
Lemon-lime soda, Sprite®
Maraschino cherries, Mezzetta®
Lemon and/or lime slices (optional)
1. Fill two cocktail glasses with ice. Pour 2 shots vodka and 1 shot cherry brandy over ice in each glass; stir. Top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with cherries. Add lemon and/or lime slices (optional).
Herb Butter-Roasted Turkey meal 1
Prep 30 minutes Roast 4 hours
Chill 15 minutes Makes 12 servings
Turkey’s lean protein is so healthy, you’ll want to eat turkey every night. Roast it with herbs for Sunday dinner, then simmer with peppercorns and sage dumplings for a savory stew. Go for three by creaming it with cheese, butter, and bacon in an open-face Mornay.
11⁄2 sticks (3⁄4 cup) butter, softened
2 tablespoons garlic herb sauce mix, Knorr®
11⁄2 teaspoons poultry seasoning, McCormick®
11⁄2 teaspoons crushed garlic, Gourmet Garden®
1 bag (32-ounce) celery and carrot party sticks, Ready Pac®
3 packets (0.75 ounce each) fresh poultry herb blend (sage, thyme, and rosemary), Herb Thyme®
1 lemon, thickly sliced
1. In a small bowl, combine softened butter, garlic herb sauce mix, poultry seasoning, and crushed garlic. Use a fork to stir together until well mixed. Cover and refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes or until butter mixture is firm but not hard.
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In the bottom of a roasting pan, arrange celery and carrot party sticks and half of the diced onions. Add chicken broth; set aside.
3. Rinse the thawed turkey under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Using your fingers, carefully loosen the skin around the entire bird. Chop the butter mixture into small pieces. Place half of the butter pieces under the skin of the turkey. Rub the remaining butter pieces on the outside of the skin. Season inside and outside of the turkey with salt and pepper. Stuff turkey cavity with remaining onions, fresh herbs, and lemon slices. (Truss if desired.) Insert a pop-up thermometer at an angle (about 3 inches down from the neck cavity and 2 inches from the breast bone).
4. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack over the vegetables in the roasting pan. Place in preheated oven and reduce temperature to 325 degrees F.
5. Roast for 1 hour. Then, basting with pan juices every 20 minutes, continue roasting about 3 hours more or until thermometer pops up or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the inside thigh muscle registers 180 degrees F.
This week has been yet another interesting week in terms of what posted and what you can expect to look forward to for the rest of next week. But first the recap! As always we have our eye on another band which I believe will be a group we will follow for quite awhile here on Kitten Lounge! PaperDoll is a fun band that will play this Sat and they will also be in the city playing a Halloween show as well. The lead singer Teresa definitely has a sense of style which is very important to us! Another highlight was the Modern Romance event which allowed brides to get a feel for the different kinds of looks, tastes and more that they could have at their wedding. There are also two giveaways going on at the moment as well! Model Co cosmetics has amazing tanners (in addition to other ares of their product line that I enjoy) and you could win your own self tanner so read this post and then comment! Another giveaway reminds me of my mom. I always remembered that no matter what she looked great and Lucky Me Tees believes the same thing. Read the post and make your comments so that you could be a winner. The Rachel Sage gift pack winners will be conacted this week so that those packs can be sent out to you. Finally, Lipstick Jungle premiered this week and there was some behind the scenes footage of the show! You never know what we will share about the show but we definitely have some intel and will pass the goodies along when we get them! That was quite a week and while that was going on, a lot was happening behind the scenes.
On the 22nd, Food Editor, Paul and I went to il Buco and tomorrow you will read and see images/video of the post. In addition we have monthly posts from Sandra Lee of Food Network's Semi Homemade who will contribute to Kitten Lounge! Speaking of books, novelist A W Gryphon, released Blood Moon in May 2008 which is an intriguing book that I would not be able to put down if it wasn't for all the work that I have going on at this point! Expect to see coverage of her during the month of October which is a great tie in with Halloween. As you know, Kitten Lounge will cover Islands of the World Fashion Week. In addition, we are traveling! We will be at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, covering their Halloween festivities and then making our way to a few days in Philly to capture food, designers and a little history as well. We will also make a trip to the Poconos at the Skytop Resort to share with you one of their food oriented weekends! We do love to travel and can't wait to share this with all of you. With the holidays coming up, not only will we have the Holiday Guide showing you what's perfect gifting for those on your list, but we will also have the 25 Days of Holiday Glam which allows each day to be a giveaway - and I know you love those. I do believe that that's it for now and as you know, there is always something in the works.
Last night I went to the Millenium Hotel's Hudson Theater to attend the Modern Romance Bridal Event. Now before anyone starts spreading stories, I am not engaged nor does that seem on the immediate horizon; however, I know it will happen one day and I am a fan of various Bridal shows and in lieu of hearing from people on Twitter, those I have lunch with and more announcing their engagements, I felt that this was something that I wanted to know about. Now I have attended many bridal events which are bona fide tradeshows where there are booths of the same types of services that are run by various companies, I would find this very overwhelming and difficult in terms of just focusing on the moment,. I wasn't sure what I was walking into but I was very intrigued to not only attend the event but to also see the Jenny Yoo Collection which I am familiar with many of her dresses.
Upon entering, I knew that this wouldn't be a massive and impersonal show.. For $25, brides were able to come to the event with a guest and to sample various foods, beverages and an extremely select group of vendors from entertainment, spa, makeup and more. The best part, this was extremely intimate! There weren't large groups of people the entryway of the theater (which at one time had actually housed various Broadway productions prior to their purchase of the Millenium Hotel next door) allowed everyone to check in, receive their goodie bag and to meet with the vendors. This space was illuminated with lighting and large mirrors. I know I began thinking about having an event here as the mood was definitely in place. As you walked into the theater, you were welcomed with tasty sweets on the right and on the left various meats and appetizers. Both sides had bartenders and of course there were passed beverages and drinks as well. I was very pleased to enjoy the champagne. The theater not only had tables set in various motifs that were created by James Abel Events (I love the amber inspired table), but there was seating for the fashion show and on the stage the band played. This was very soothing and kudos to the organizers to hold the event from 6:00 - 9:30. Although the fashion show didn't start until nearly 8:00, it was nice to come early and to have ample time to talk to the vendors while also recognizing that some brides would be unable to come until later.
Most of the attendees had a guest with them (kudos to the fiancees that appeared) although I felt bad for those that were alone as this was definitely an event to begin honing in on the decisions of your wedding while also enjoying the atmosphere. Mental note: these events are the best to go to and I would prefer to not go alone - friends and family beware!
I could go on and on about each vendor but I focused on certain areas but if you have a question, you can contact me and I can pass on what I know/heard. Jo Malone attended this event and as I have always been a fan and tend to walk by their Flatiron location, I was pleased to learn that they have an interesting way of offering their services. Obviously, they are available to have the bride and their party come to their location to enjoy their services and they are also able to travel as well. This is a great way to get pampered and to enjoy one another's time. But the most interesting element that I enjoyed was learning about their Fragrance Combining. This service is where the bride chooses a particular scent that will be worn for the wedding and then her bridesmaids will have various notes of this scent with other items layered in. In this way, the bride has a signature scent and her bridal party has elements of it while being different from hers. She doesn't have to worry about competing or offending scents as it is complimentary. I loved this concept and was so pleased that the two ladies attending this booth were so knowledgeable about this. Pampering and a signature scent - fabulous.
This event also had a great blend between traditional versus having your own element within your wedding. The band played traditional songs such as "Just the Way You Look Tonight", "Night & Day", "What's Going On", while also putting in a Stevie Wonder song that had elements of Will Smith in the song. They were not only playful and welcoming but they showed their range as we listened to the different songs and heard from the male and female singers respectively. This was enjoyable as we had Tuna Tartar, Spicy Shrimp and more.
Prior to the fashion show, I was able to see Tarte Cosmetics offerings, Cake Alchemy, Jerry Kravat Entertainment and more. Our hostess for the night who I thought was very warm and shared many of her experiences as she had recently been married, introduced the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. This couple did two dances (shown in the video) with a traditional dance and then one that was a salsa for the first dance. Once this was completed, we were treated to the Jenny Yoo Collection which had wedding gowns and then vibrant hues for bridesmaids dresses. These are definitely not the dresses that I have seen in Bridezilla epidsodes where the adventurous bride strives to find the most questionable dresses. These are beautiful gowns that you could use for other dressy occassions and that are very flattering whether you're looking for long, short, strapless, halter and more. Of course no fashion show of dresses would be complete without showing the super cute flower girl!
I left this event thinking that there are no shortage of events that "assist" brides and their friends and families with the options available to them. But when it is my turn, I want to attend events such as this that have a select group of vendors, a small number of attendees and then having a staff that caters to everyone so that you can feel special leading up to your day.
Today is a busy day! I woke up this morning thinking that my boyfriend and Food Editor of Kitten Lounge, Paul, will be attending a foodie event which will find its way on next Monday's post! Of course I will attend this afternoon after going to a few meetings myself which will include info for Island Fashion Week, my clothing line and the lines of others. Of course, all of this will end with us hanging out at a bar to watch Paul's beloved Jets (and I will enjoy watching Brett as well). So this morning is definitely key as we tie up a lot of loose ends and start projecting the rest of this year (how crazy is it that we are close to the beginning of a new year??). We will be confirming a future weekend trip which will make its way on this site and so much more.
So when it comes to a busy day where I will be running around, I definitely like to have something enjoying - I will start with my flavored Green Tea and maybe have a nibble of Madeleines! I love this soft cookie and I will make these this holiday season. Of course, I had to go online to check out some great recipes and Milk and Cookies Blog has a nice orange infused taste, Yumsugar had the classic and Taste of Home has a nice hazelnut one as well. What a great way to create some great variations off of the classic recipe! I knew these were amazing when I gave some to Paul one afternoon and he declared it his favorite (I couldn't believe he had never had one). Anywho - I can't wait to share a lot of the goodies that are going on on the site and as soon as I can I will let you know. Until then, treat yourself to a Madeleine!
Last week I was in the thick of things at New York Fashion Week and I ended it on my birthday! As exciting as this was, I can only be giddy about my next location to cover Fashion Week. This year, the Bahamas will have the Islands of the World Fashion Week taking place Nov 5th - Nov 8th! It is definitely going to be a lot of fun in presenting designers from various islands all over the world! These designers come from Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Madagascar, Fiji, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, Haiti and British Virgin Islands. All the action will take place in The Bahamas at the British Colonial Hilton and Atlantis.
In addition, the entire team will make its way down with our Food Editor, Paul covering local foods and restaurants and our Development Editor, Arlene, covering hotels and real estate developments. Arlene is a new member added to the team who I am excited to have as apart of Kitten Lounge. With my love for HGTV's House Hunters (International and Domestic), when we have the opportunity to leave the city, she will look at the market from a tourism and a relocating stand point! This is a great time to enjoy beautiful weather and amazing hospitality. We'll give updates as we get closer and of course, I can't wait to give all the details as well.
The answer is: maybe. It depends on your expectations and your previous experiences with authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Personally, I love Vietnamese food, but I am a sucker for the authentic and the untainted. There is a lot to be said for the art of passing down recipes from one generation to the next and the genuine love of cooking for one’s family and friends. Just as we emerged from the sea and evolved, our recipes have followed suit and developed along with our DNA. Just as Michael Phelps feels at ease and excels in the pool, certain chefs possess the same qualities in the kitchen. They attempt to preserve the genuine nature of their family’s recipes while enhancing their flavor’s DNA through classic training and imagination.
If you are one to look for the authentic and you dare to venture away from this city’s culinary epicenter, then your final destination for Vietnamese cuisine should undoubtedly land you in Eden Center, VA. For two years I lived in Arlington, VA and had the pleasure of experiencing Vietnamese cooking the way it is presumably prepared in its country of origin. Infused with some traditional French culinary techniques, Vietnamese cuisine takes on a life of the fresh, the untamed and the honest. Spring rolls wrapped in rice paper, Pho and grilled whole fish are the foundation of this most delicious world. So, what does this city have to offer as the option for mid-priced Vietnamese cuisine? After hours of research and countless reconsideration, my girlfriend and I decided to visit Nam in Tribeca. The restaurant is easily identified by bamboo like greenery surrounding the entry way and you are quickly welcomed by a warm feeling and extremely high ceilings, which are common in this part of the city. The restaurant has anywhere from 15 to 20 tables, which are generously spaced and comfortably positioned throughout the space. The walls are accented with circular photographs of past generations, which presumably lead to the culinary evolution of its menu. The rear left corner of the restaurant features the best two person table and is decorated with bamboo and illuminated with soft yellow lighting. The restaurant lacks bar seating, but if you arrive too early for your reservation, you can always catch a pint at the pub right across the street.
Be prepared for a limited wine list and a menu stripped down to the interpretive staples of Vietnamese cooking. We started with grilled prawn wrapped in rice paper with cucumber, basil, peanut sauce, grilled calamari over cucumber, tomato, mixed lettuce, tamarind vinaigrette and shrimp dumplings wrapped in banana leaves. The prawns and calamari were grilled with an amazing smoky flavor and the salad had just enough heat to complete the dish. The shrimp dumplings on the other hand, although a highly successful and satisfying dish lacked the necessary heat and left your brain searching for that missing ingredient. For an entre, I ordered the crispy red snapper in chili lime sauce and my girlfriend had the steamed sea bass. Let’s start with the good first, the steamed bass was absolutely delicious and without a doubt a must to try if dining at the Nam. The fish was not mushy, flaky and the accompanying sauce was a success on every level. The crispy red snapper on the hand brings me back to my original point of “the authentic” in modern cuisine. The Nam’s interpretation of the crispy red snapper, although with admittedly decent taste qualities should make all of chefs in the black and white photographs previously mentioned close their eyes and turn the other way. The chili sauce was too sweet and didn’t offer even a hint to chilies or any heat for that matter. The red snapped was deboned, de-headed and de-finned, in other words it might as well have been a filet. To serve a filet as the centerpiece of this classic dish is criminal. The flavor was discarded as common trash, this dish’s DNA was eradicated and the memories of the genuine and the true forgotten.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Nam is a great place to dine if you’re looking for good food, but not for the authentic and the genuine. In my opinion, chefs who were so cleverly presented on the walls of this cozy restaurant would not recognize the menu or the techniques that that were used to prepare it. This restaurant is without a doubt a pleasure to visit, but it’s not the place that it attempts to be.
All the planning and tests of endurance and witihin a few days, it's all over! Well the good news is there will be some recapping on Fashion Week next week but we will start to go back to our normal structure. There were a lot of outfits and coverage that made it onto other media outlets which I can't wait to share with you and my lovely sponsors but I don't have the footage and like you, will have to wait for it. When I receive it, I will let you guys know! With that being said I am recovering from Fashion Week and definitely had some parting thoughts and I have a new Fashion Week that I will let you know about shortly that I will be covering which takes place right before the holidays and it's International as well! We are getting the last bolts tied down but I can't wait to share with you.
Fashion Week - I have been to shows before but never seriously covered it in the way that I did this year! It definitely take a lot of planning and there are events that happen prior to, during and after! My big thing was feeling amazing each day and it wouldn't have been possible without starting off the day with my beauty regimine which consisted of Mistral Soap (I used a different one everyday and always smelled amazing - they are a must for any day), Nars Cosmetics (I need to know that I will look amazing and not have to retouch as I was running around all over the place) and Model Co (which kept me fresh with the misting sprays). These were my basic tools that I relied on!
Comfortable but amazing clothing was a must as well - Lauren Conrad's Collection made everyone smile as I went from the tents, suites and off site locations! I can't thank their staff enough and it actually made it live on air in Sacramento since Fox News was at the tents on Friday and a few Japanese magazines (once again, when I get the footage and magazines, I will let you know). Linea Pelle had amazing belts and on the first day and with my outfit from Inhabit, I included it within my look which was amazing. It just goes to show you that you can put your flair in there and still look amazing.
Every now and then I had to take a breather and constantly rework my schedule as I had plans to see one event but would recieve an invitation to another. When covering the shows flexibility is the key! Most important, being able to hang out with people in the industry and to remember that this is an amazing series of days is also key. I have to thank Sam Dark PR and Dashing Diva for not only keeping me amazing in manis and pedis but letting us go back stage to Erin Fetherston and Tony Cohen to see what they do and what it takes to put on such a show. I love you guys and it added so much to this coverage.
Finally, when it was over, yesterday was my birthday and with Lauren Conrad on my back I felt amazing covering the show and then heading out to dinner at Nam with my boyfriend and later to Mocca Lounge. There is nothing like hanging out in Tribeca with the rain, a few friends and your boyfriend. Today, I'm heading out to the beach and working on covering the super secret Fashion Week but it was all worth it and I can't wait to do it all over again in a new location! I have included two images: one is me on the red carpet of the Total Beauty party which kicked off Fashion Week. They had a daily sponsored suite at the Bryant Park Hotel with Chanel, Ted Gibson, Aveda and more. It was nice to meet fellow bloggers and to get away from the madness. You guys throw a great event. The next is last night at Mocca Lounge after a few drinks with Paul our Food Editor and also my boyfriend. Speaking of Food Editor, he was linked on Food Channel so you can learn a bit more about him there!
Oh the summer ends, fall is on the way and everyone gets into this massive baking/cooking kick. Somehow we think about having people come over so that everyone can enjoy great friends, food and drinks. Or many people think about baking/cooking in terms of possible gifts. Either way, it is always nice to freshen up what you have and to think about what is essential. Anthropologie is one of my favorite places when you think about items for the home and of course when the holidays come up, you know that you can count on them have to cute items that are perfect for presentations when they're on your table or to create great conversation when people watch you cooking with them. If you're all about color and a sense of the eclectic, this is perfect. Take some time to check out some of my favorites that will boost your kitchen, dining areas and of course - you.
I am a Seamless Web girl! I love the fact that I can open up the page and get a variety of restaurants that are available in real time to me. Generally, I tag some of my favorite orders such as my Calamari Roll, Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll and Veggie Gyoza (Go Sushi) or my salad with everything but the kitchen sink (Food Exchange). Simply enter in your address and you'll find all restaurants that deliver to your area and only those that are open will be displayed while the other ones that are in the area but are not open will show that they are closed. I love it as you can store multiple addresses (I use mine when I am working more then when I am at home), you can store your favorite places you order from in addition to those items that you love the most so that you can order them again without wasting time. If you wish to order something hours from now for a conference you will have with others, you can let them know the time you're interested in having them come. This is the best thing ever and I have noticed that more and more restaurants are signin up so it's definitely catching on! If you have never ordered, the fab people at Seamless Web will give you 20% off your first order with the special code KITTEN. This is good for first time orders only and this code will be available from now until 12.31.08. Take some time to check it out and see how great it will be to order in a snap!
As you know, Mingling Mondays is about going out to places to eat that you can share for your next office function, friends or significant other. Well Mingling Mondays will now introduce you to not only the most amazing guy ever (my boyfriend) but a foodie who will post on here two Mondays a month! I want to introduce you to Paul and of course you will love him as much as I do. Enjoy learing about some of the favorite places that we have eaten at and his honest opinion of many of the meals. I think that this will be a great addition to the segment and seeing that he is teaching me a thing or two about cooking (he is a great cook) and I think a natural to host his own show one day, he is a great guy to join the Kitten Lounge family starting in August!
Fourth of July was an interesting night! It rained a little but yet my boyfriend and I, saw fireworks in Red Hook at a great bar which made an amazing lemonade that had Triple Sec and Vodka - it went down nicely. We decided that it was time to check out some places that will be in our new area shortly and came upon Baja. Now, we had went past this restaurant before but ended up going to Sushi House (although we weren't pleased that they closed early on the Fourth of July even though people were still there and they were making fresh rolls). On this night, two revelers were looking for great food and found it here. This weekend's theme ended up being Mexican food as we had a lot of it but the chips and salsa hit the spot and I was quite a fan of the Enchiladas that had spinach and chicken! Although they were closing up soon, I could see why this is a favorite in Hoboken and that they also have another location in Jersey City.
If you can't pop in for lunch, dinner or brunch, you'll love their daily Happy Hour specials (I had a Pear Margarita that was really tasty). If you visit during a weekend for lunch, this is a nice place to stroll too and to also visit other places to get a drink and then to head to the many shops that Hoboken has to offer. I would also suggest this for a dinner as the food had a lot of of flavor and the staff was so pleasant to everyone that was there. Take some time to visit Baja to see for yourself if you find yourself in the neighborhood.
Ah one of the final segments from this week's Big Apple BBQ Festival shows how the city brings everyone together. Typically these streets would be full of cars (I loved sitting in one of my seminars and realizing that my feet were crossed on a manhole cover) and yet this weekend, everyone enjoyed a large and safe block party. It was nice to see everyone in their summer outfits and sunglasses with either a beer or a plate of food in their hands. One of the cutest places that I saw in terms of booths was Baker's Ribs! I love the cute little pink pig in green writing. Once again I was impressed with how hard people worked and how hot it was outside but everyone was equally impressed - especially the guy in the navy shirt with the sunglasses! Fortunately that was my boyfriend who enjoyed taking in the sites and enjoying the food. It's always nice to see how the city can come together to enjoy a great event and the music was absolutely amazing!
There are so many ways that we can assist others that I love sharing certain organizations that I feel is something that you should know about! Lauren Bush is seen here (picture courtesy of AP) posing with the bags that are apart of the Feed 1 Initiative (yes she did in fact design these bags) in London. I love that the bags are reversible so you can take this so many areas without wondering if it might get a little dirty. She aims to raise awareness and funds for the United Nations World Food Programmers. By doing so, funds raised from this go towards children that are hungry and in need of attending school as well. These bags are 100% organic fair trade and they provide lunch for a year for one child! How amazing is this and of course you can learn more by visiting the website and get a bag of your own as well for under $60!
It's chilly today and snowing so our decor day will actually allow you to stay home and browse what's going on around the Blogosphere. Here are some links to other posts I have written on Social Diva! As always you can also visit See Pretty Things as well for my daily posts.
We love hearing from you! Suggestions, ideas and thoughts are always welcome.
Please send all food related questions to Paul, spa and wellness items to Keren and all other queries to Kimmie.
There are so many ways that we can assist others that I love sharing certain organizations that I feel is something that you should know about! Lauren Bush is seen here (picture courtesy of AP) posing with the bags that are apart of the Feed 1 Initiative (yes she did in fact design these bags) in London. I love that the bags are reversible so you can take this so many areas without wondering if it might get a little dirty. She aims to raise awareness and funds for the United Nations World Food Programmers. By doing so, funds raised from this go towards children that are hungry and in need of attending school as well. These bags are 100% organic fair trade and they provide lunch for a year for one child! How amazing is this and of course you can learn more by 
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