Pumpkin Pie and Cranberry Sauce, oh my!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner (next week to be exact), girl is your fork ready for you to get your grub on?

The thought of cooking can be overwhelming this time of year. It is easy to opt for making the same ‘ole thing you make during the holidays…year after year.

Well, I have two scrumptious recipes that are a sure hit for any Thanksgiving feast. One recipe is for a low-fat pumpkin pie. No one will know it is low-fat, cause it is packed with flavor. The other recipe is for a cranberry sauce that is out of this world. The sauce has port and shallots in it, so it is rich and bold.

Work your magic in the kitchen girlfriend!


Low-fat Pumpkin Pie

2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
1 pinch cloves, ground
1 ½ cups canned pumpkin
1 ½ cups evaporated skim milk
3 egg whites, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup orange juice
9 inches graham cracker crust

Preheat oven to 450F. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and pumpkin and stir well. Add vanilla, evaporated milk, and egg whites. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Fold in orange juice. Pour into unbaked pie shell bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325F and bake for 45 minutes. Take out of the oven and cool. Serve alone or with fresh low fat/non fat whipped cream.

Cranberry Sauce w/ Port and Roasted Shallots

18 large shallots, peeled, quartered lengthwise through root end
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
5 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 2/3 cups ruby Port
1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 12-ounce bag cranberries
1/4 cup dried currants

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss shallots with oil and 3 teaspoons thyme on small rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until golden, about 25 minutes. Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 tablespoon sugar in small bowl. Drizzle over shallots; toss to coat. Continue roasting until shallots caramelize, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
Bring Port, brown sugar, and 4 tablespoons vinegar to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add cranberries and currants; cook until berries pop, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix in 2 teaspoons thyme. Mix in shallots. Transfer to bowl. Cover and chill overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature.

~Shoshi

SEPHORA FRIENDS & FAMILY COUPON!

Aahhhh. Felt inspired to keep the beauty going. Here is a Sephora Friends & Family discount code. Use it online at Sephora.com. Enjoy...

Be Seen at the Top!

BE GORGEOUS WHEREVER YOU ARE

Genevieve Santos is the Founder and Executive Director of Gorgeous on the Go, a mobile beauty and skincare company. She has been a makeup artist and skincare consultant for three years. Now, while this is a short time in the beauty industry, Genevieve’s success is firmly backed by her strong business savvy skill set. At the tender age of 22, this Girlfriend already has six years of entrepreneurial experience, non-profit development, and graphic design under her belt. At the age of 18, Genevieve started her first business—a line of custom designed photo albums. It proved to be very successful.

In this new entrepreneurial vein with Gorgeous on the Go, Genevieve has worked with quite a few clients such as: fashion house Harriet’s Alter Ego, CoverGirl Queen Collection, and the Harlem Bridal Expo. Understanding that makeup artists need to showcase their talent and generate work, Gorgeous on the Go takes pride in providing them such opportunities and experience by hiring them on consulting a basis. Gorgeous also forms partnerships with companies related to fashion, entrepreneurship and beauty thus furthering company exposure.

I think this is a wonderful idea. Genevieve allow ordinary women to have perks and live the fabulous life like a say… Kimora Lee Simmons {who btw has a Kimora Barbie due out this Holiday!}. Well, not quite, but you can have your makeup artist come to you and be on the go. You know how Girlfriends are. We keep it moving.

Gorgeous on the Go offers the following services:
· Makeup application for special occasions, photo shoots, and fashion shows
· Skin analysis consultation for individuals and group events
· Special packages for weddings, proms, sweet 16s, and other groups.

Check out their mini Ambush Makeover. It is very cute.




Until next time… be Gorgeous and…

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Wrap Up on DuBois Chicago Event

Chicagoen Girlfriend Modupe Arowolo provided the pictures and information for this post. I couldn’t attend, so she was my eyes and ears for the event. ~Bettina

Here is her first hand account:

The party began at 5:30pm at Ariel Capital Management, the investment firm operated by Mellody Hobson who was also the hostess of the event. There were about 40-50 people in attendance (about 95% of those were women), with people constantly coming and going as the event went on.

While keeping my eyes peeled for Amy [DuBois Barnett], I mingled my way around the room and had the opportunity to meet women from various industries, backgrounds and cities. I was so amazed at how friendly everyone was. Rhonda Saffold, the woman who organized the event talked with me for a few min and I was surprised to learn that she was actually Amy's sister-in-law.

Soon after my chat with Rhonda, I spotted Amy. She wore a red party dress that was elegantly complimented by her sleek, black bob and black suede shoes. She was very warm approachable. She signed my book, gave me hug and she actually talked with me for a few minutes about career, Chicago, etc.

Soon after Mellody made her rounds, as she too, greeted every person who wanted to mingle with her. It soon became time for Amy to speak about the book and soon after she gave her account on the experiences that led to the inception of Get Yours!, Amy and Rhonda presented Mellody with an original painting that once hung in The Keny Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio. A gallery founded by Rhonda's father.

At the end of the event, Amy officially began to sign books at table located in the lobby. Although the line was about 30-deep, she was cordial enough to chat with everyone.








Until next time... Get Yours! and

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Martha Stewart Collection

Hey girlfriends,

Yolanda Shoshana best known as, “Shoshi”, is on the now on the blog!

Here is a little 411 on me:

I am a lifestyle entrepreneur and artist known as the Luscious Lifestyle Diva and Queen of Kosher Soul Cuisine. My goal is to empower women to live luscious lives and celebrate living a life by design! I accomplish these goals through lifestyle, food/entertaining, art, and wellness. I am the founder Center of Female Empowerment, LLC, a lifestyle company in New York City.

I look forward to sharing advice/tips on home and entertaining with all of you!

By accident, I saw the new collection of houseware by Martha Stewart that is exclusively at Macy’s. In case you have missed the new commercials for the collection, one of them features Martha and Usher, which was a great way to bring to appeal to the urban market and the Connecticut housewives at the same time. Usher even calls Martha “girl” in the commercial and it didn’t seem to bother her….maybe Martha isn’t as stiff as she seems.

As for the Martha Stewart Collection, I found the colors for the sheets and bedding to be quite boring. Most of sheets and bread spreads are on sale, which might mean they are not flying off the shelves. The best thing about the collection is the cookware. Love or hate Martha, that woman knows how to make some fabulous cookware and bakeware! If you are strapped for cash don’t forget you can still get the lifestyle diva’s cookware at Kmart (probably for half the price)


~Shoshi