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Let My People Go — Out To Eat

Ah, Passover. Moses demanded, “Let my people go.” We’re tempted to add, “out to eat.” We find it terribly ironic that we celebrate our freedom from bondage by observing dietary restrictions that are the food equivalent of an electronic ankle monitor. As far as food goes, on Passover, we’re all under house arrest.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, you can’t visit your favorite restaurant or pick up some Krispy Kremes, but you can get out and enjoy a Passover picnic. This good-looking lunch tote will let you brown-bag it in style. Enjoy a lazy lunch on the lawn while you dream of kosher restaurants to come. Next year at Le Cirque 2000!

Passover Picnic Tote

4 6 x 7-inch pictures of matzo (we found ours by searching for matzo images on the Web)

3 x 6-inch piece of white paper

Contact paper

Needle and thread

1. Place two of your matzo pictures face-down on the contact paper, with the piece of white paper in between. Lay them out lengthwise, so you end up with a 6 x 20-inch rectangle. Lay another sheet of contact paper on top, so your paper is completely sealed. Trim away excess contact paper, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance along the sides. This will form the front, back and bottom piece of your bag.
2. Take the third matzo picture and cut it in half lengthwise, so you have two 3 x 7-inch pieces. Cover front and back in contact paper. Trim away excess contact paper, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance along the sides and bottom. These will form the sides of your bag.
3. Using needle and thread, sew sides to the front-back-bottom piece you made in Step 1. It’s easiest to do this while the bag is inside out. When you’re finished, carefully turn bag right side out, trying not to rumple the paper too much.
4. Now you’ll make your straps. Take your fourth matzo picture and cut four widthwise 1/2-inch strips. Lay two strips face-down on contact paper end to end, so you end up with a 1/2 x 12-inch strip. Lay another sheet of contact paper on top, so the strip is completely sealed. Trim away excess contact paper. Repeat with two remaining strips to make another strap.
5. Stitch straps to the inside of your bag, about an inch down from the top. Then fill your tote with kosher-for-Passover goodies and go find a nice bench.

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