Water for Malawi!

Dear Family and Friends,

As you know, many students, educators, community members, colleges and I have worked for years to make a BIG difference in one small corner of the world that is near and dear to our hearts – Malemia village in Malawi, Africa.  Last year, the Rotary Club of the Roanoke Valley worked with the Malawi Chibale Project to build a kitchen for our feeding program.  The kitchen has been such a blessing – providing a secure shelter for the women in the village to prepare school feedings for nearly 1000 children.  This year, the Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley is planning to build a rain harvesting cistern in the village.  The cistern will provide water that can be used for irrigation and sanitation (including hand washing, dishwashing, etc.).  World Vision is working with us to assist with the engineering plans for the project.  The village hasn’t ever seen a cistern and our sources in Malawi tell us this will be a life changing addition to the school and village community. 

This photo is before the kitchen was built.

Happy Cooks

The New Kitchen!

Simple, but life changing technology.

 In an effort to raise funds for this project, the Rotary Club of the Roanoke Valley is doing a raffle.  Tickets cost only $10.  The grand prize is a choice of a One Week Condo in Orlando  or Williamsburg.  Other prizes include a night’s stay and breakfast at the Hotel Roanoke, and many others!  The drawing will take place on May 8, 2012.   If you are interested in purchasing a ticket for this most worthy cause, please let me know.  I will make plans to meet you OR you may email me your name/address/phone number and mail your $10 to me. I will fill your ticket out for you and mail it back to you after I receive your donation. 

**Please do not feel obligated to send a donation.  I always feel awkward about these things, but I have always appreciated your love and support of the project in the past.  I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask!   

This little sweetie knew only a few words in English, which she shared with me each morning..."Hello. My name is Violet. I am a girl."

 

 

 “Zikomo” (thank you) for considering! Jenny

Delicious Energy Balls

This is the perfect snack to take on all of your outdoor adventures or just to keep in the fridge for a quick pick me up.  I got the recipe from A Dash of Compassion (great site, FYI), but have made some modifications to suit our taste buds.  You could use any type of nut your prefer for the base, which is the part that has the good fats, proteins and energy.  I am thinking about making all types of cookies with them, such as using macadamia nuts as the base and a small portion of white chocolate chips. Oatmeal raisin would also be a delicious and easy modification.  Enjoy!

Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

-1 cup raw almonds
-1 cup raw pecans
-1 cup raw oats
-1/4 cup raw honey
-1 tsp. cinnamon (fresh ground is best!)
-1/8 tsp. sea salt
-1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Put all of the dry ingredients in a food processor (not blender) and blend until the mixture has a moist, but slightly chunky consistency (you will want to have a little crunch to it, almost like meal).  Add the wet ingredients and blend evenly.  Roll into one inch balls and place on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Freeze for about one hour.  Store in a sealed container in the fridge. 

They will maintain their shape and consistency for outdoor activities...we took them camping/rock climbing and it was a wonderful treat!

Homemade Yogurt (for Meredith!)

Per a request from Mere, here is a run down on making homemade yogurt.  Even though I cannot tolerate lactose (and neither can my husband) the cultures and bacteria in yogurt make it a great way to get calcium and the important belly bacteria that your digestive tract needs.

I cannot get these pictures to turn! Apologies!

 1.  Heat one gallon of milk to 180 degrees F in a pot (I use our stew pot).
2.  Cool the milk to 110 degrees F.  It can be left on the stove to cool or the pot of milk can be placed in a sinkn of cold water to quicken the process. 
3.  While the milk is cooling, mix a yogurt starter packet (which can be purchased online) or use one cup of your favorite yogurt (PLAIN!) with probiotics. You can find these at any local store.  We use Thorne brand probiotics and just empty three casules into the yogurt and stir.
* We really like Chobani Greek Yogurt. It makes a nice, thick finished product and is easier than buying starter packets.
***Half the point of doing this is getting rid of the sugar and corn syrup found in store bought yogurt! Do not use flavored yogurt!
4.  Mix the yogurt mixture with about 2 cups of the cooled yogurt.  STIR WELL! I use a whisk.  Add the remaining milk.
5.  Now, the incubation process...We have a yogurt maker, but you can warm your oven to 110 degrees F, put the milk and yogurt mixture into a ceramic soup pot, TURN THE OVEN OFF and let the mixture sit in the oven for 5-6 hours. Or, you can buy a yogurt maker and place the mixture in there for eight hours.
6.  Taa-daa! 8 hours later you have homemade yogurt for the week.

 Add berries, granola, honey...whatever you please. I use the yogurt to substitute for butter, oil, etc...in recipes, as well. Makes great tzatsiki sauce, too!

Hoppy Easter!

I love these little sweet and salty treats! For Easter, I made them into eggs in a nest. They made the 8 hour bus ride to Jamestown and back much more enjoyable, though I would do anything for my students.  I tried the gluten free pretzels for myself and a co-worker and they were just as delicious.

Now Selling: Java Gloves!

No school today, so I have been busy, busy!  I just wanted to share some of my new styles of drink cozies.  These little guys are the perfect gift for a simple, special way to show you care.  Check out my new Etsy Shoppe to purchase these little cuties!  Option to purchase as a gift basket also available.

Now selling a Cups in Grandin Court, Roanoke City.

 I have coupled this java glove with a reusable mug, one time and a $5 Starbucks gift card to make the perfect inexpensive and thoughtful gift for those coffee and tea lovers in our lives. (I would use a local gift card to gift to someone in town).