I usually don’t read a lot of YA novels but when the school librarian recommended The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares for a quick read, I took her up on it. It was honestly about fifteen years or so ago. I did enjoy the book. I had never seen the movie (2005) and I didn’t even know there was a sequel (2008).

I also didn’t realize that was a totally young Blake Lively until about halfway through the first film.

And, I am not sure that I would have really been intrigued by either of these films if I had NOT read the novel. In fact, I am not sure I would have finished the first film without having the insight that the novel provided.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1 and/or 2) is the September film(s) for Movies & Munchies.

Once more, I would not have been intrigued by the characters in the film without having read the book. I really can’t stress that enough. This is one of those franchises that is totally playing off the popularity of the novel along with the population who loved that novel.

The movie is set in four distinct locations during a pivotal coming-of-age summer.

• The Isle of Santorini
• Baja California
• Charleston, SC
• Bethseda, MA

After finding the magical jeans, the four best friends (The Sisterhood) separate for the summer. Lena (Alexis Bledel) travels to Greece to visit her Yia Yia and Papou. She discovers love. Bridget (Blake Lively) goes to soccer camp in Baja. She discovers lust. Carmen (America Ferrera) anxiously anticipates spending the summer with her father in South Carolina. She discovers disapointment. Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) has to stay at home in Maryland where she works at a Walmart clone. She discovers loss.

The food:

There wasn’t a lot but here is what was mentioned or on the screen:

• Arro con pollo and platanos
• fish
• Iced tea, chicken (awkward dinner)
• Convenience store snack food
• Praline, blueberry, and graham cracker ice cream
• Strawberries
• Lemonade
• Greek market place (more fish)
• Beers and margaritas at the Cantina
• Honey
• The Smell of Junk Food
• Bacon & olive pizza
• Hilltop Cafe and Pies

The only thing that really inspired me was Roberta’s concoction that she creates at her second job. (Roberta was one of Tibby’s co-workers.) Bailey (Tibby’s summer sidekick) points out that Roberta could actually make a career out of inventing new ice cream flavors.

Praline & Graham Cracker Sundaes with Blueberry Topping

By Debra

Ingredients

• 2-3 scoops of good vanilla bean ice cream
• Blueberry syrup, jam, or preserves
• 4-5 pecan praline pieces (like Trader Joe’s), chopped
• 1-2 graham crackers (like Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Graham Crackers)

Instructions

1. Place the ice cream in a single-serve bowl.
2. Drizzle with blueberry syrup, jam or preserves. 
3. Top with the chopped pralines and the crushed graham crackers.
4. Eat!

Yield: 1

This sundae was interesting in a good way!

Thanks, Roberta, for the idea. You could also do a true mix/blizzard/concrete concoction with these flavors, mixing everything together in a mixer and then refreezing.

I hate to do more product placement (see my Ferris Bueller post) but I am in love with these two things:

The one thing I can praise the film for (as opposed to the book) is the change in Bridget and Eric’s affair. It was so cringeworthy in the novel. Eric is older in the book and he’s shown in a more predatory light. In the movie, Eric is a bit closer to Bridget’s age but the relationship is still inappropriate.

I also thought that Bridget’s traumatic loss of her mother was kind of glossed over in the film. The book did allow for all four of the girls’ characters to be fully developed. The film did not.

It was fun seeing these actresses at the beginning of their careers.

I’m not sure who is actually hosting this month. It has to be Cam or Wendy though! 🙂

Movies & Munchies does have the next few months lined out. I hope you can play along! Join us on our FB group for more info.

October: Hocus Pocus (The sequel is in theaters now!)

November: Steel Magnolias (in honor of Dolly)