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Olive Recipes Perfect for this Father’s Day
Finished mastering banana bread while cooking at home? Why not demonstrate your culinary prowess by baking an olive oil cake in honor of this coming Father’s Day? Gifting might be a good idea, but sharing your own cook delicious and healthy food will carry more love to the people you care about. Aimed to not only celebrate the Father’s Day itself, but also the many ways that the olive enriches the family lives via food, oil and tea (yes tea), Father’s Day is the perfect excuse to try making something new. This year, Bel Lavoro Olive Orchards (family owned/operated), home to Cut1886 Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Steep Echo Tea, is marking this coming Father’s Day by sharing some of their favorite recipes that showcase one of the world’s oldest (and healthy) fruits.
Created by Kim Branum, owner of Bel Lavoro, the recipes were developed using Cut1886 Extra Virgin Olive Oil and highlight a beautiful flavor profile. Medium bodied with a mix of herb and nut flavors and a touch of spice, the oil is perfectly balanced, crafted from a small batch and in limited quantities.
Cooking with olive oil provides many of the same health benefits that eating olives do, including the introduction of healthy fats. From olive oil cake to lemon bars and even ice cream, enjoy these olive-centric recipes and Happy Father’s Day.
Olive Oil Cake — Bel Lavoro styleIngredients- 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; plus, more for pan
- 1 cup sugar; plus, more
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1/3 cup almond flour or hazelnut flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
- 3 tablespoon fresh Meyer lemon juice (if using regular lemon increase sugar to 1 cup).
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- Special Equipment needed – A 9″-diameter springform pan
Preparation- Preheat oven to 400°F. Drizzle bottom and sides of pan with oil and use your fingers to coat. Line bottom with a round of parchment paper and smooth to eliminate air bubbles, coat parchment with more oil. Generously sprinkle pan with sugar and tilt to coat in an even layer. Whisk cake flour, almond/hazelnut flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to combine and eliminate any lumps. Stir together Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and vanilla in a small bowl.
- Using an electric mixer on high speed (use whisk attachment if working with a stand mixer), beat eggs, lemon zest, and 1 cup sugar in a large bowl until mixture is very light, thick, pale, and falls off the whisk or beaters in a slowly dissolving ribbon, about 3 minutes if using a stand mixer and about 5 minutes if using a hand mixer. With mixer still on high speed, gradually stream in 1¼ cups oil and beat until incorporated and mixture is even thicker. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with Grand Marnier mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Fold batter several times with a large rubber spatula, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of bowl. Scrape batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
- Place cake in oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until top is golden brown, center is firm to the touch, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 40–50 minutes. Let cake cool in pan 15 minutes.
- Poke holes all over top of cake with a toothpick or skewer and drizzle with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil; let it absorb. Let cool completely. For the best flavor and texture, wrap cake in plastic and let sit at room temperature at least a day before serving. Bake Ahead — this cake gets better. Cake can be baked 4 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.
Lemon Bars with Cut1886 Olive Oil
IngredientsFor the Crust- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, plus more for sprinkling
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into slices (or shredded)
For the Curd- 4 to 6 lemons
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs plus 3 yolks
- 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Preparation- Preheat oven to 325°. Grease a 9″ x 9” baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving 1″ of overhang on the two long sides.
- To make the crust, pulse together the flour, granulated sugar, confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest and salt in a food processor, or whisk together in a large bowl. Add butter and pulse (or use two knives or your fingers) to cut the butter into the flour until a crumbly dough forms. Press dough into prepared pan and bake crust for 23-35 minutes, or until golden.
- While the shortbread is baking, prepare the lemon curd: Grate 1/2 tablespoon zest from lemons and set aside. Squeeze lemons to yield 3/4 cup juice.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together lemon juice, sugar, eggs and yolks, cornstarch and fine sea salt over medium heat until boiling and thickened, 2 to 5 minutes. Make sure mixture comes to a boil and stays there for 30 seconds or so; you should see it thicken up before you take it off the heat. But once it boils do not cook for longer than 1 minute or you risk the curd thinning out again. Remove from heat and strain into a bowl. Whisk in butter, olive oil and lemon zest.
- When the shortbread is ready, take it out of the oven and carefully pour the lemon curd onto the shortbread base; return the pan to the oven. Bake until topping is just set, 10 to 15 minutes more. Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold before cutting into bars. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and flaky sea salt right before serving.
Bel Lavoro Olive Oil Ice Cream
Ingredients- 1 3/4 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Special Equipment – An ice cream maker
Preparation- Bring milk, cream, salt, and ½ cup sugar just to a simmer in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar; remove from heat.
- Whisk egg yolks and 2 Tbsp. sugar in a medium bowl until pale, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk ½ cup hot milk mixture into yolks. Whisk yolk mixture into remaining milk mixture in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 2–3 minutes. Strain into a medium bowl set in a large bowl of ice water; whisk in oil. Let cool, stirring occasionally. Process custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer ice cream to a container, cover, and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
- Serve with fresh figs or add in some roasted pepitas or pine nuts for a twist.
Steep Echo “Arnold Palmer” with Bloom
Brew pot of Bloom tea — use large tea pot with 3-4 sachets
Let cool (if you want to use honey for sweetener mix into warm tea)
Pour into large pitcher
Squeeze juice of 1-2 lemons (depending on size)
Fill pitcher with ice
Sweeten to taste (sugar, honey, stevia or simple syrup)
Garnish with fresh mint and lemon slicesNote: Bloom is high in immune-boosting ingredients. We like to sweeten with Manuka honey to keep our systems strong and healthy. This is a great treat for allergy season — and keeping us all safe and healthy. Enjoy.
About Bel Lavoro:
Owned and operated by the Branum family, Bel Lavoro was purchased sight unseen by this then Seattle-based family in 2010, and upon their first visit, the Branum’s discovered that olive trees surrounded their new home. After years of research, education and trial (and error), Kimberly Branum and her son Brandon dedicated themselves to developing products that are harvested by hand through timeless practices. Their calling has become their occupation and today they are ready to share the fruits of the labor: a collection of the finest organic teas and oils, drawn from fruits, vegetables and herbs irrigated by natural spring water.You May Also Like
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Bee K’onscious Artisanal Honey Now Available Online
Denver-based startup Bee K’onscious Artisanal Honey is now offering its nutritious raw honey online at https://bkshoney.com/. Each jar of Bee K’onscious’s single-origin honey is sourced from the finest beekeepers around the world, with a QR-coded label that allows customers to scan and trace the honey to the single beekeeper who produced it. The “hive to home” honey brand has partnered with TagOne, a provider of blockchain technology, to provide customers the ability to ensure the source of the jar is producing 100% pure, unfiltered, unpasteurized, non-blended honey.
“Many people enjoy high quality honey, not only as an alternative sweetener, but for its natural antibacterial qualities and disease-fighting antioxidants. What consumers don’t know is that many mass-produced supermarket honeys are cooked and, thereby, lose their nutritional value,” says Bee K’onscious owner Matt Kollmorgen. “Every jar of Bee K’onscious is raw, unadulterated and uncooked and retains all the good stuff your body needs to fight disease.”
Bee K’onscious currently offers four varietals: Brazilian Cipo Uva, Brazilian Marmeleiro Prateado, Montana Clover and a much sought-after California Sage. The selection of unique honeys will continue to expand as the Bee K’onscious team continues to search the globe for beekeepers that have integrated best practices. Bee K’onscious Artisanal Honey retails for $18 per jar.
Bee K’onscious only partners with beekeepers that maintain ethical and sustainable beekeeping practices. The company is also committed to packaging their honey in glass jars and shipping to customers using only recyclable, corrugated packaging.
Energy Balls
In need of a quick snack, on the go? Honey, peanut butter, and chocolate…I am a sucker for sweets, but this truly is a healthy, easy and tasty treat for the whole family to enjoy.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup- peanuts finely chopped
1 1/2 cup old fashioned Quaker oats
1/3 cup flax meal
1/2 cup almond flour
3 T unsweetened cocoa
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup + 1 T honey
2 T almond or soy milk
DIRECTIONS
Line a sheet pan with parchment or wax paper.
Place peanuts in a small bowl, set aside.
In large bowl combine 1 cup of the oats, flax meal, almond flour, cocoa.
Add the peanut butter, honey and almond milk to the oat mixture and mix until the mixture comes together.
Add in the chocolate chips
Roll into 1″ balls. Then dip the bites in the finely chopped peanuts. Place each ball on the sheet pan and chill in the refrigerator.
About Bee K’onscious Artisanal Honey
Bee K’onscious is a honey company that navigates the globe looking for the highest quality honeys, harvested and produced by the world’s finest apiarists. The Denver, Co-based startup is working towards ending the exploitation and inequality in an industry where economies of scale value quantity over quality. For more information, please visit www.bkshoney.com and follow them on Instagram @beekonscious.
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The perfect gifts to recommend for graduates!
Graduation parties look different this year,
but that doesn’t mean they can’t be just as fun.
It’s not how many friends you have, but how well you know them! Friend or Faux inspires players to get personal, share stories, and recall memories while making you laugh until it hurts.
With the help of 250 question cards (ranging from tame to OMG), you’ll be inspired to get personal, share stories and recall memories to earn points!
Do your friends know your favorite genre of music or how you met your significant other? It’s time to find out!
How well do you really know your friends? Well, it’s time to reveal their True Colors! This revealing party game is the perfect addition to your next virtual game night with friends! Which player wishes every day was Valentine’s Day – but just for the chocolate? Which player is most observant?
Your friends vote on how well they think a description fits you, and you earn points if you can guess how many votes you’ll get! 170 laughter-inducing questions guarantee you’ll learn surprising things about your friends you thought you knew!
Click Here to see how to take your game night online!
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Award-Winning Parma! Vegan Parmesan Offers Cheese Lovers A Delectably Nutritious Range of Dairy-Free, Protein-Rich Condiments Ideal For Main Dishes, Salads, Pizza & More!
Founded in 2004, Parma! has steadily grown to its current status as a leader in the dairy-free cheese alternative arena and a key player in the multi-billion-dollar global vegan food category.
Available in health stores nationwide as well as on the brand new www.eatparma.com site, Amazon, VitaCost and other online retailers, Parma! is ideal for environmentally conscious consumers, vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and all health conscious eaters. Unlike some other vegan cheese alternatives, Parma! has also proven highly appealing to mainstream cheese aficionados who are ready to eschew traditional cheese so long as a healthier option boasting authentic flavor, aroma and texture is available.
Sold in 3.5 and 7-ounce bottles, Parma! can be savored on pasta, lightly steamed vegetables, pizza, salads, potatoes, avocado toast, popcorn and countless other hor d’oeuvres, main dishes and desserts.
Cucumber & Tomato Salad
Ingredients
Tomatoes & cucumbers, cut into bite size pieces
1/2 lemon to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1 to 2 garlic cloves, smashed and diced
1/2 red onion sliced thin
1 or 2 avocados, chopped
1/4 bunch basil or other fresh herb, torn into small pieces or diced
Parma! your favorite flavor for on top.
Directions
Mix everything together. Spoon into individual servings in your favorite bowl.
Sprinkle (or pour) Parma! on top. Enjoy!A cucumber & tomato salad is great in the summer when the veggies are coming right out of the garden. Top with Parma! and you’ve got a complete meal.
Parma! Popcorn
Directions
Prepare your popcorn.
Add oil or buttery substance.
Sprinkle on coconut animos and Parma!, flavor of choice, combine well.
Enjoy!Elevate your popcorn experience with vegan Parma! Try Chipotle Cayenne, Garlicky Green or add a little award winning Better Than Bacon flavor! Get all four delicious flavors today and save!
Green Pea Pesto
When she found a pesto recipe with frozen peas she hesitated, but decided to give it a try. “I would have never thought peas would be so delicious”, said Tara. Then when she found Garlicky Green Parma! Tara realized that it contained many of the same ingredients she was using in her pesto, so she substituted Garlicky Green Parma! for some of her ingredients and this is what she came up with, she loved it and so do we. You can also go to her post here.If you want to make it oil free, try using a juicy, organic tomato instead of the olive oil.Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
- 1/3 cup fresh basil
- Juice of one lemon, about 2 TBL
- 1/3 cup Garlicky Green Parma!
- 4 TBL olive oil or tomato
Directions
Add all ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender. Start with one TBL water and add more if needed. Blend until thick but creamy pesto is achieved.
Tonight I tried a self-designed LULU’s Slaw with Parma! It is super easy. Shredding cabbages, carrots and cucumbers first, and then mixing avocado mayo, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, black pepper and Parma! into a bowl. Next, I whisked all the vegetables and ingredients together, stir to combine. And it’s done. For a creamy & yummy slaw, it only needs 5 minutes.
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Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Cats
It’s no secret that among the most popular pets in the world, cats are some of the favorites. Apart from the type of breeds, cats can broadly be categorized as indoor or outdoor cats.
Indoor cats refer to the cats that spend most of their time in the house. As such, they are provided with quality food, medicine, and are always clean. On the other hand, outdoor cats are allowed to roam outside the house as they please. Due to this, outdoor cats are known to be more susceptible to different diseases and are prone to pests.
Apart from the nature of their confinement, other factors make these two categories of cats different. One is the physical element of the cats. Indoor cats tend to be less muscular than outdoor cats.
This shouldn’t be the case, though. You can help your indoor cat stay healthy and strong by feeding them with Natural Balance Premium Food for indoor cats. Natural balance cat food is low in proteins and contains wholesome ingredients such as oatmeal, brown rice, potatoes, and chicken, which provides all the necessary nutrients for your cat. The most important thing is to ensure that the food you provide promotes healthy weight for your indoor cat.
Since there are many differences between indoor and outdoor cats, pet parents should give much thought to these differences when deciding how to take care of their cats.
So what are the differences that you should be on the lookout for? What variations do vets deem important? Read along to find out.
What Makes Indoor and Outdoor Cats Different?
Although we’ve highlighted several differences between indoor and outdoor cats, there are still other significant differences to consider. While you may find them simple, it’s of paramount importance to note that these differences play an integral role in a cat’s overall health and longevity.
1. Lifespan
As mentioned above, indoor cats tend to have a longer lifespan than outdoor cats. This is basically due to all the obvious reasons.
For starters, outdoor cats are at a higher risk of contracting different diseases. Apart from that, cats left to wander freely are at a higher risk of injuries.
On the other hand, indoor cats spend more of their time indoors. As such, they are not only safe from injuries but are at a lesser risk of contracting any diseases. This makes them healthy and thus have an increased lifespan.
2. Diseases
One of the leading causes of death in pets is diseases. While these can easily be managed by taking your cat to a vet, the risk of exposure to infections is what makes the difference between indoor and outdoor cats.
Outdoor cats are at a higher risk of exposure to diseases than indoor cats. Some of the common cat diseases that an outdoor cat can be exposed to include feline AIDS (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Feline Leukaemia (FeLV), Adeline Distemper/panleukopenia, among others.
3. Pests and Parasites
You wouldn’t want your feline friend to be infested with parasites and pests, would you? While all cat owners would want a clean feline companion, this is not the case always.
Although it’s quite hard to get rid of pests and parasites from a cat, the only way to keep your cat free of such infestation is by managing their whereabouts. As such, it’s much difficult to control pest and parasite infestation on an outdoor cat.
However, indoor cats are less susceptible to pest and parasite infestation since they can’t readily pick parasites such as ear mites, intestinal worms, ticks, among others.
If your cat ventures out regularly then it’s best to buy flea and tick products that provide continuous protection.
4. Physical Injuries
Generally, felines have little sense of speed and incoming motion. While they are capable of hunting, this is mostly on a minimal basis.
Due to this, outdoor cats are more prone to physical injuries than indoor cats. For instance, due to cats’ inability to avoid moving cars, outdoor cats tend to be hit more frequently, thus leading to physical injuries and death.
5. Toxic Ingestion
Regardless of whether you have an indoor or an outdoor cat, your feline friend is always at risk of ingesting toxic items. In the house, for example, your cat can easily ingest toxic hazards, while mistaking it for food.
Even so, it’s safe to assume that outdoor cats are more likely to ingest toxic substances. This is because there are more poisonous substances outdoors than in your house. So when you let your cat wander freely in the neighborhood, there are higher chances that it will ingest either oils or antifreeze items, which can either cause diseases or death.
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Spruce Up Home-Cooked Meals With Award-Winning Parma!
With just the right condiment, a plain salad becomes a festival of flavors, a plate of vegetables transforms into a delectable stroll through a country garden, and an ordinary bowl of pasta becomes a savory work of art. And perhaps no condiment covers as many different foods and as many different cultures as classic Italian Parmesan cheese.
Unfortunately, for vegans or anyone following a dairy-free and/or calorie-conscious diet, parmesan cheese has always been not only off limits but one of the most difficult of life’s little indulgences to forego. If only someone, somewhere, could create a non-dairy parmesan cheese alternative so authentically delectable that even the most discerning cheese lovers would never miss its conventional counterpart ever again!
Well, luckily for countless millions of us, someone has. Welcome to the next revolution within the booming vegan cheese category – Parma!
Created in Oregon just over 15 years ago by Sister River Foods’ founder Shannon Schnibbe (Tofurky founder Seth Tibbott is an ongoing Advisor), Parma! was established in response to a rapidly-growing need within the vegetarian marketplace for a breakthrough allergen-free parmesan alternative.
Comprised of four deliciously distinct varieties – including Better Than Bacon Parma! –voted Favorite Bacon-Flavored Product in 2017 by VegNews magazine – Parma! is a plant-based umami superfood line of convenient and affordable products that are Paleo and Keto-friendly, a complete protein, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO and Certified Kosher.
In addition, all four raw nut and seed-based Parma! flavors contain whole raw ingredients, are low in sodium, heart-healthy, packed with essential B vitamins and trace minerals, replete with beneficial animo acids and an excellent source of healthy oils.
Enjoying its most successful period of growth to date in terms of both distribution and revenue,Parma! late last month introduced an ambitious new website featuring easy navigation, boldly colorful images and graphics, exciting new recipes and convenient shopping options.
A World Of Flavor
Available in health stores nationwide as well as on the brand new www.eatparma.com site, Amazon, VitaCost and other online retailers, Parma! is ideal for environmentally conscious consumers, vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and all health conscious eaters. Unlike some other vegan cheese alternatives, Parma! has also proven highly appealing to mainstream cheese aficionados who are ready to eschew traditional cheese so long as a healthier option boasting authentic flavor, aroma and texture is available.
Sold in 3.5 and 7-ounce bottles, Parma! can be savored on pasta, lightly steamed vegetables, pizza, salads, potatoes, avocado toast, popcorn and countless other hor d’oeuvres, main dishes and desserts.
Parma! varieties include:
- Original Parma! – Featuring an irresistiblycheesey umami flavor. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic SunflowerSeeds, Walnuts, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds.
- Better Than Bacon Parma! – Voted Favorite Bacon FlavoredProduct by VegNews and featuring a smokey cheesey umami bacon flavor. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, Ground Paprika, Organic Dried Onion, Natural Flavor, Organic Brown Sugar, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Smoked Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds.
- Chipotle Cayenne Parma! – Blessed with a smokey umami flavor akin to the most popular barbeque potato chips, with a slight cayenne kick at the end. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic SunflowerSeeds, Walnuts, Organic Ground Chipotle Pepper, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Ground Cayenne Pepper.
- Garlicky Green Parma! – Distinguished by acheesey umami Italian herb flavour complemented by nutritiously delicious kelp, pumpkin and sesame seeds. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic SunflowerSeeds, Walnuts, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, OrganicDried Garlic, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds, Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Kelp Powder, Organic Dried Basil, Organic Dried Oregano.
For parmesan lovers in Europe (in other words – just about everyone!), Parma! also offers a specially branded line called Shake! Original featuring a mouth-wateringly cheesey umami flavor and such ingredients as nutritional yeast, raw organic sunflower seeds, raw walnuts, raw organic pumpkin seeds, raw organic hemp seeds, and Himalayan crystal salt.
Parma! is expected to introduce a bold new line of products to the U.S. marketplace later this year.
Only The Beginning
Founded in 2004, Parma! has steadily grown to its current status as a leader in the dairy-free cheese alternative arena and a key player in the multi-billion-dollar global vegan food category.
Looking back on the origins of the Parma! brand, Sister River Foods’ co-founder and CEO Shannon Schnibbe recalls that it all started as the result of her severe allergies and effort to find foods that might give her relief. Introduced to raw foods, she was soon inspired to begin making what is now Parma! for herself, friends and family. After moving to Oregon and becoming pregnant with her first baby, she decided to combine her passion for healthy eating with her corporate experience and turn her hobby into an actual business. The vegan parmesan revolution had begun!
Today, Shannon takes special pride not only in the rave reviews, industry honors, new distribution channels and increased sales Parma! has enjoyed in recent years, but in her brand’s ability to provide a more nutritious yet equally delicious alternative for those who have been missing out on one of life’s true culinary pleasures – parmesan cheese.
According to Tofurky founder Seth Tibbott, “Like Tofurky, Parma is an authentic, trailblazing brand with deep roots that took hold when the plant-based world was very young. I love that it is a family owned business run by kind, passionate people producing a wholesome vegan food with exceptional flavor.”
Adds Shannon, “Parma! gives you that cheesey flavor without all the dairy baggage. It provides an excellent food source of high-quality vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, omega 3’s and trace minerals, along with the natural goodness of hemp, and it tastes great! We’re deeply grateful for the exceptionally warm reception our brand has received from consumers and industry leaders since our very first days on the market and look forward to continuing to shake up the dairy-free industry for many, many years to come.”
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