A Feast For Your Eyes


This post is sponsored by Lean Cuisine. See what’s cooking at the Culinary Roundtable here.

When you’re a lover of design, finding the beauty in everyday things is second nature, and that includes your dining experience. Beautiful, warm textiles and vibrant table settings – and most important, fresh, colorful ingredients – can turn an otherwise regular meal into a pleasurable dining experience that pleases both the palate and the eye. That concept is on the menu at the Lean Cuisine Culinary Roundtable, featuring renowned chefs and restaurateurs coming together to identify the hottest culinary trends

Heading up the artistic kitchen creations are Chicago’s Paul Kahan, who introduces farm-to-table cuisine; Michelle Bernstein of Miami, who brings multicultural flavors to the table; and New York-based Lior Lev Sercarz, known as a spice guru.

Feast your eyes on some of the highlights of their collaboration, and get inspired to design your own dynamic dining experience:

 

 

From colors and textures to bold flavors, the newest Lean Cuisine varieties (including Ranchero Braised Beef and Chile Lime Chicken) answer the Roundtable’s call to culinary creativity.

Head to Twitter and follow the #culinarychic hashtag and @LeanCuisine to talk about the beauty in food, and more healthy lifestyle ideas. For more about the Roundtable, like Lean Cuisine on Facebook.

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The Zodiac

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ROW 1: Ursa Major Constellation Pillow // Original Abstract Constellation Drawing // Constellation Pendent Necklace    ROW 2: Best Friends Sky Map // iPhone Constellation Case // Nightwalk Watercolor Print    ROW 3: Compass to the Northern Sky // Zodiac Birthday Cards    ROW 4: Zodiac Print // Ralph Lauren Wallpaper // Night Sky Map    ROW 5: The Southern Sky // Constellation Matches // Constellation Globe

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Angela & Roi

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Fashion meets philanthropy with Angela & Roi‘s vintage-modern vegan leather handbags. For their Donate By Color mission, Angela & Roi promise to donate a portion of each sale to a chosen non-profit health organization by color of a handbag sold. Help them support the community in a positive way by making a purchase you’re sure to use for years to come!

 

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Tortellini Meatball Soup

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Over the holidays my Uncle John passed away after a valiant fight against several medical issues. And as sad as that was and remains, it was also amazing to see my family come together and grow even closer. We all spent several days together reminiscing about great times and pouring through photos of younger days. My cousin, Kathy, brought over a big pot of this soup that she had literally just made up. Everyone thought it was delicious and kept asking for the recipe, though there really wasn’t one because there’s not much to it. Most of the ingredients are precooked, though you can feel free to make homemade versions should the urge strike. Easiest soup ever!

 

Tortellini Meatball Soup
• 48 oz. chicken stock
• 1 package cheese tortellini (in the refrigerated section)
• 16 frozen (or fresh + precooked) lean turkey meatballs
• 1 bag fresh spinach (I used broccoli this time around, anything green will do)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

In a soup pot slowly bring chicken stock and Italian seasoning to a boil. Add tortellini to stock and cook according to package. While the tortellini is boiling, cook the meatballs accordingly and quarter. Add meatballs and spinach to stock once tortellini is finished cooking. And that’s it.

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Happy Weekend

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01/ Record + send a digital copy of your heartbeat with Re:Beat.
02/ Typographic lovely little lies – Daily Dishonesty.
03/ Beautiful frozen trees on the shore of Lake Ontario.
04/ Check out the Tea Cup SlingsHOT!
05/ Swooshy, swoopy toilet paper art.
06/ Illustrated Wes Anderson valentines.
07/ Mother + Daughter – a posing/dressing alike series.
08/ Classic food pairings literally bound together.
09/ An adopted 13 year old sits for newborn photos.
10/ The prettiest Prize Ribbon Kit.

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Make It: Hardware Store Jewelry

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Last week I took a trip to the hardware store to pick up some spray paint to give new life to my filing cabinet and happened to walk down the fasteners aisle. Where inspiration smacked me in the forehead. So many shapes, weights, and options just waiting to be gussied up and turned into something beautiful. When I came home and sat down to start creating the other piece of the puzzle seemed to be waiting in my bathroom (stay with me here) – in the form of nail polish. I have bottle upon bottle of every color in the rainbow, have never finished one in my life, and love the lacquered finish. Here’s what I ended up with.

 

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These Hex Nut Rings were the first piece I came up with. They’re chunky for sure, but quite the statement. I love the metal finish sans any sort of color, but decided to play around with some different combinations – just painting the edges a dark navy blue, painting half fuchsia half purple, etc. These would also be fantastic strung on a chain and worn around your neck!

 

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These Washer Brooches may be my favorite piece, I plan on clustering several different sizes together to wear at one time. Some monotone and probably one patterned. Pro Tip: While painting such a broad flat surface is to dab the nail polish rather than brush it on. Don’t be afraid to load it up with paint either, it ends up leaving a great enameled finish.

 

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I love these Washer Hoop Earrings! I painted them with a gold flecked black polish and can’t wait to wear them out. Pro Tip: Be sure to paint the edges and backs of these guys as well as the surface. I think with the next pair I’ll do a contrasting color on the backside. Don’t be intimidated, they’re surprisingly light to wear!

 

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I couldn’t resist doing a small pair of Washer Stud Earrings as well.

 

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Lastly I created a large Washer Pendant, though I’m not thrilled with the black cord. I’d rather have used something like a beaded silver chain and hope to find some to replace this with. But I really like the pendant itself, especially with the swoosh of purple on navy. You could also use a smaller washer here for something more delicate of course.

 

MATERIALS
• 3/4″ hex nuts (or whatever size best fits your finger)
• large washers
• small washers
• earring backings
• pins
• cord or chain
• Gorilla Glue (hot glue didn’t hold all that well)
• varied colors of nail polish

 

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Lydali

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I love a shop with a good backstory, and Lydali has just that, a pair of kindred spirits – Lydia Harter and Ali Price – met in college and years later joined together to form a company. Lydali purveys beautiful one-of-a-kind quality goods from the world over. Proud Mary from Guatemala, Mikuti from Tanzania, and  Nkuku from Delhi are only a few of the varied and talented producers from 21 countries that they’ve partnered with to create their collection. The Hard Angle Bangles, Black Fulani Tote, Willow Striped Alpaca Throw, and Mango Wood Bowl are my favorites but you’re sure to find your own treasures!

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