HOGAR RUTH

Founded in 1983, Hogar Ruth is a safe haven for women and children escaping the cycle of domestic violence. We will work with the residents of the shelter to create a cookbook of staff and family recipes. This book will also double as a "covert" abuse prevention manual; a seemingly innocuous cookbook that the aggressor will not realize is a resource for the woman in need.

Currently there are 8 women and 12 children in the facility. The program offers many training seminars for personal growth. It also gives them confidence as well as a skill set for future personal / professional development.

In the picture below the Director of Hogar Ruth speaks to the Team about the program and about domestic violence on the island. The percentage of women affected by this growing crime in Puerto Rico is alarming.

Responding from Blackberry

SAPIENTIS

Today, Tuesday, 2/1, we are heading to SAPIENTIS. This program creates positive learning environments for youth at-risk in Puerto Rico. All programs at the school encourange self-respect and community leadership.

The program is at the Albert Einstein High School in Barrio Obrero, a culturally rich but underserved area of the city. Sapientis has set up a three year culinary program for baking and pastry. There are approx 60 students, ages 14-17, in the program.

We started the day splitting into teams of two and were assigned five students to teach the art of making pasta, a marinara sauce and a balsamic vinaigrette for a green salad. There were two sessions; one in the morning and one in the eve.

A very rewarding experience was had by all. Jessica and I taught our group and then the students interacted with each other. A few of them actually started teaching the others after they were feeling confident.

Responding from Blackberry

Chef Rebecca

LOVING THIS KITCHEN !!!

Chef Rebecca invited us to her kitchen where she cooks Vegan Puerto Rican dishes. She caters from her space in San Juan – Afrodita Catering.

We started the evening after Bill’s Kitchen by visiting a local farmer’s market where Rebecca shopped for the produce she would be using for the cooking class and dinner we were going to be a part of.

In the end we had an incredible Mojito on Cassava Bread and Baked Batatas (sweet potato). She cooked a pot of a Puerto Rican soup called Sancocho but only used root vegetables (yautia, malanga, chayote, yucca, name), dumplings made from plantains, and lentils. To accompany the soup brown rice was also made. Typically the soup includes a varieties of meats. But because she is vegan, it was made without. The soup was amazing; Hearty and flovorful !!!

THANK YOU REBECCA !!!!!

Responding from Blackberry

Bill’s Kitchen

Bill’s Kitchen was created in 1992. It makes over 3000 frozen meals weekly for residents living with HIV/AIDS. The day focused on troubleshooting a selection of their healthy menu items for efficiency, economy, taste and texture — a recent problem with the kitchen.

We divided into teams of two. Christine gave each team the task of creating a recipe which would be used to either improve or replace a recipe currently used at Bill’s Kitchen. We also tested currently cooked recipes to comment on taste and texture after reheating. The day finished by testing the recipes we had created. The Kitchen Staff and Dieticians were very appreciative of our new recipes and suggestions on how to improve their own.

Workshops in Knife skills, pesto sauce making, thickners, and pasta cooking were also included in the day’s itinerary.

Responding from Blackberry

First day – Bill’s Kitchen

Ready, Set, GO………
Christine, CulinaryCorps Director reviews with the Team the itinerary of the day….. GO TEAM !!!!

Responding from Blackberry