#serrv

The SERRV Fundraiser was last night, and it was a success!

The store is graciously donating 15% of all sales from last night’s fundraiser time to the program in Kenya.

There was a great turn out of people there mingling and checking out the cool products the store has to offer.

I bought a few things for myself- a box for earrings and a hanging rack for keys, both handmade.

Here are a few pictures from the event.

Daal (also spelled dhal and dal) is a thick, hearty lentil dish from India, and it makes a wonderful dinner on its own or a great side dish with your favorite curry, grilled meat or vegetables. Here's an easy way to make a big batch with our Lentil Soup Mix from the fantastic Women's Bean Project, based in Denver, CO.

1 package Women's Bean Project Lentil Soup Mix

olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

4 cups vegetable broth

salt

basmati rice, to serve (optional)

1) The night before, empty the lentils into a large bowl, setting the spice packet aside. Cover the lentils with cold water and let them soak until you're ready to cook.

2) Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until translucent. Add the contents of the spice packet, curry powder, cumin, and coriander and cook for another 2 minutes.

3) Add the lentils to the pan, spreading them out evenly, and cover with vegetable broth. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 45 minutes-1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the daal has a very thick consistency and the lentils are soft. Check for seasoning, and add salt to taste if you like. 

4) For a filling vegetarian meal, serve the daal over cooked rice, or serve it alongside your favorite curry dish. Serves 3-4 as a main course or 6 as an accompaniment.

Notes:

When I originally tried this recipe, I used about 3 cups of broth and cooked the daal for 45 minutes. At this point the yellow split peas were still a bit al dente, but that didn't bother me. I'd recommend adding more broth and a longer cooking time for a more uniform texture.

Things to do with Handmade Paper #2

Recycled paper is perfect for decoupage (fancy French word for gluing paper to other stuff) because of it's pliant, fibrous texture. Use Mod Podge or a 50/50 solution of white glue and water and a sponge brush to deck out a picture frame, trinket box, switchplate, lampshade...you name it! We used this technique to brighten up our necklace displays in the store.

What it means: a type of soapstone named after the Southwestern Kenyan city in which it is mined. Soapstone is mined around the world and comes in a variety of colors and patterns, but most kisii soapstone is white, cream, lavender, or black and lends itself well to etching and dyeing. Because it is non-porous, maintains temperature well, and is soft enough to carve easily, soapstone is ideal for decorative pieces, counter tops, and kitchen items.

By this time of year, plain hot chocolate seems a little passe. So why not try something new to stave off those bitter January winds?

If you like it rich: Dark hot chocolate has a more nuanced cocoa flavor and is a little less sweet than a typical hot chocolate mix, which makes it the perfect partner for a sweeter pastry or cookie. It would also make a sumptuous homemade mocha.

If you like it zesty: Chili and spice hot chocolate blends cocoa with chili, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla for a cup with a kick! Pass around cups of this with mixed nuts and tortilla chips at a casual party, or try it with with a Mexican pastry like churros or pan dulce.

If you're a chocoholic: Drinking chocolate is actually finely grated or ground chocolate as opposed to the mixture of cocoa powder and powdered milk that many Americans are used to, and when melted in warm milk it creates a decadent drink similar to the hot chocolate enjoyed in Italy, France and Spain. Pour this one into tiny espresso cups and top with a cloud of fresh whipped cream for a sophisticated end to a meal.