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

Evening Dinner in Cayey at Viviana’s Parents

We started off the evening with our introductions and our individual food contribution. There were so many different types of food –From Butterscotch chocolate crunch (Thomas) to Pork Crackling (Simone) to my Candied Papaya to Brenda’s Coconut Rum Balls and on and on……..Everyone shared a bit of history about themselves and/or what brought them to CulinaryCorp. I thought everyone’s stories were fascinating. A couple of them were actually tear jerkers…..(Yea, call me a mush !)

Vivian’s Parent’s were the greatest. Their home sits on one of the many mountains of Cayey in the southern portion of the island. It was a relaxing secluded ranch with a wrap around deck. We ate dinner outside on the deck and what a banquet did they have prepared for us. There were starters pastelillos (turnovers) de guava y carne, morcilla (blood sausage), longanisa (spanish pork sausage, rellenos de papa y apio (potato and celery root(?) balls stuffed with meat). Then there were fried plantains, arroz con gandules, chicken stew, white rice, pasteles, roast pork and candied yellow plantains. To finish it off. Tembleque (resembles a panna cotta) and some island black coffee.

Great Food, Hosts, Chefs, Convo, and Drink !!!! A great kick off to an incredible week !!!

Responding from Blackberry

Guavate

So today I met the Team and what agreat group of Chef. We are so different as far as our backgrounds and experiences but we have our Goal in common.

We are on the way to Viviana’s Parent’s home for a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas Feast. We stopped in the town of Guavate and visited Lechonera El Mojito. Basically a Roast Pork joint.

The picture attached was taken at El Mojito. There is a pig on a roasting spit in the background.

Believe me when I say Yum Yum !!!

Responding from Blackberry

Making Candied Papaya

Part of my introductory task is making or buying a dish which I can present to everyone. I decided since I am fond of fruit, fruit pies and chutneys, I would make Candied Papaya. So for the past three hours Green Papaya has been simmering in brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla. I have added raisins and a bit of bourbon….. (Olga – if you take the recipe, make sure I get credit…..LOL)

Responding from Blackberry

Candied Papaya

Pot simmers away as I make Candied Papaya. Read on…….

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At Home…….

Greetings USA !!!! Sorry to rub it in your faces….BUT……… Waking up to Paradise, 75 degree weather, the sounds of roosters, swaying palm trees and the Island of Vieques in the distance.
Responding from Blackberry