Martin Luther King’s Legacy

- Posted by to General

Today we commemorate the birth of one of our country’s great leaders, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was assassinated in April of 1968 and still 46 years later his legacy lives on.  In celebration of Martin Luther King’s remarkable life I would like to share some of his quotes that have inspired me over the years.  These quotes remind me that while the struggle for justice may be long and arduous we are called to continue for our sake and for the sake of all people.

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Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Dawn

New Sseko Sandal Styles!

- Posted by to Fashion General Product Spotlight

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Oh, summer, why do you insist on hiding for half the year?

It may still be a winter wonderland around here (bangs head against Starbucks cup), but we’re dreaming of sunny days ahead—and that includes fair trade sandals for summer! Specifically, gorgeous and comfy Sseko ones. This fun footwear line is always a summer best-seller, and if you want to get a sneak peek at the new collection, check ‘em out here!

Fair trade sandals are popping up everywhere these days, but Sseko still holds my heart for the cutest, breeziest styles. And there’s a color and pattern for every day of the week, as Shape Magazine pointed out above. :) These lovely black chiffon ties are perfect for a night out on the town, and I definitely am going to need these funky Addison straps for days spent beachside this Summer. Remember, you just order your sandal base, and then go to town ordering straps to match your whole wardrobe! And don’t forget that we have fun add-ons like turquoise and sequin accessories to give you totally unique fair trade shoes you won’t see the girl next door wearing. :) Watch the YouTube video for a quick how-to on all the ways you can tie your straps!

As always, your Sseko purchase helps to educate and empower women in Uganda.

Check out the whole line here and let us know in the comments—what’s your fair trade sandal style?

XO,

Casey

 

 

Chubby Hubby Cupcakes | Tasty Thursday

- Posted by to General

Do you love Ben and Jerry’s ice cream? I must admit that I really love it and Chubby Hubby has long been my favorite flavor – what doesn’t sound good about fudge covered peanut butter filled pretzels in vanilla malt ice cream with fudge and peanut buttery swirls? During my college years I ate more Chubby Hubby ice cream than I care to admit.  That’s why when I came across the following recipe for Chubby Hubby Cupcakes I was eager to make it!

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Annie’s Eats: Chubby Hubby Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

For the cupcakes:
3 cups cake flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups fair trade sugar
1 cup malted milk powder (I happened to use chocolate malted milk powder)
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tbsp. fair trade vanilla extract
1¼ cups buttermilk, at room temperature

For the filling:
8 oz. fair trade bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups coarsely chopped pretzels

For the frosting:
3 sticks (1½ cups) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4½ cups fair trade confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Pinch of coarse salt
2 tsp. fair trade vanilla extract
3 tbsp. heavy cream

To garnish: 
Mini pretzels drizzled with melted chocolate

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DIRECTIONS

  • To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to blend and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add in the sugar, about ¼ cup at a time, mixing for 1 minute after each addition. Blend in the malted milk powder. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl and mixing well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing each addition just until incorporated.
  • Divide the batter between the prepared liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • To make the ganache, place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Add the cream to a saucepan and bring to a simmer (or warm in the microwave). Remove from the heat and pour the hot cream over the chocolate; let stand 1-2 minutes. Whisk together until a smooth ganache forms. Whisk in the butter 1 tablespoon at a time until completely incorporated. Let stand at room temperature, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened.
  • To fill the cupcakes, use the cone method to fill the cupcakes part way with ganache. Top off each ganache center with some of the chopped pretzel pieces (or a few pretzel M&Ms). (You don’t need to replace the cake tops for these cupcakes but you can if you would like.)
  • To make the frosting, combine the butter and peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar and salt. With the mixer on low speed, mix in the vanilla and cream just until incorporated. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and whip until light and very fluffy, about 4 minutes. Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a plain round tip (I cut put the frosting in a freezer bag and cut a corner without a tip; I think it would have been better with a tip but this actually worked out fine.) Pipe a swirl of frosting on top of each cupcake. Garnish with a chocolate drizzled pretzel.
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Avoid being covered in flour, as I was when making these cupcakes, by wearing one of our super cute Recycled Flour Sack aprons.
Enjoy and happy eating – Dawn
PS – These fair trade cupcakes really conjured up the essence of Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream!!! In my mom’s words, ‘they are to die for good’!

7 Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

- Posted by to General Gift Guides

I’ll admit it, I LOVE love! And I’m glad there’s a day to help remind us to appreciate and dote on our significant others and good friends a bit more than usual. One of my goals this year is to be mindful of my every day purchases – whether it be choosing organic over non-organic, and choosing fair trade alternatives whenever they are available. To give you a bit of a head start in finding just the right gift for your sweetheart, this is the first post in a two-part series on Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas.

Each of the 7 gifts featured below are either made by a fair trade cooperative from around the world, or a small-scale producer right here in the United States. Plus, each gift purchase helps give back to the community in which it was made. Happy shopping & Happy Valentine’s Day – I hope it’s filled with lots of love & laughter!

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1. Eva Hand-Painted Jug, Red – India
2. Dreambean Bath Salts – USA
3. Rosette Necklace – Uganda
4. Love U Soap & Pumice Gift Set – Indonesia
5. Love Bowl – India
6. Cotton Travel Wallet, Crimson – Cambodia
7. Custom City State Cutting Board – USA

Baby Shower Gifts that Give Back!

- Posted by to General

Yesterday, I spent a few hours with lovely women at my friend’s baby shower.  Several of the women at the shower were also pregnant and they all looked radiant and beautiful with their little babies growing within.  Baby showers are one of my favorite events, even more than a wedding shower, baby showers are brimming with expectant joy and utter possibility.

Since I attended a baby shower yesterday I thought it would be fitting to share with you a fair trade gift guide for baby showers.  I always recommend buying off a person’s registry because those are the items that the person definitely wants.  However, the gift ideas below are fun and fabulous, give back and would perfectly compliment any gift!

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The Pink Woven Basket from Senegal is a great way to store baby’s toys and blankets.

The Tree of Life Metal Wall Art is a perfect fit for the bedroom of either a baby boy or girl.

LIttle Toms, I can think of nothing cuter to put on baby’s little feet! And for every pair of Toms that you buy you are also improving the life of a child.

Organic cotton and fair trade, Under the Nile pjs are darling and comfy.

Enjoy – Dawn