Somaly Mam Foundation: September 26, 2010

Greetings Diners!

A very special thank you to the 14 women who helped make our September dinner a success! We shared delicious food and inspired conversation while collectively raising $336 to provide post-recovery educational opportunities to female victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

We would also like to thank Helen for offering up her beautiful home in Encinitas! On that subject, we are looking for hostesses for October (Guatemala), November (Afghanistan) and December (Kenya). If you are interested in hosting an event this year, please email me at erikakeaveney@gmail.com to discuss dates. Hosting can be as hands-off or involved as you want…some people may prefer just to provide the location, whereas others may want to get involved in researching and presenting on the monthly program. Though most hostesses choose to contribute to the meal, you are not asked to share more than your home and your flatware :)

If you couldn’t make it this month, you can still participate virtually by watching the Somaly Mam Foundation’s documentary at http://www.theroadtotraffik.com/. If you are inspired to contribute to this project, it is not too late to do so here: http://www.diningforwomen.org/donate/program.

Thank you again to everyone for being a part of this growing movement in San Diego. Please stay tuned for more information on October’s dinner. If you would like to be included on our invite list, please contact me at erikakeaveney@gmail.com.

Hope to see you soon!

Warm regards,
Erika Keaveney

September's Charity: Somaly Mam Foundation

Greetings Diners!

If you have not heard of Somaly Mam (the inspiration for this month’s DFW charity), prepare to be stunned…

Somaly was born into a minority ethnic group in the Mondulkiri province of Cambodia.   Orphaned as a small child, Somaly foraged like a wild animal until she was picked up by a man posing as her “grandfather.”  Somaly ultimately ended up serving as the man’s domestic slave.  He not only physically and sexually abused her—he profited from allowing others to do the same.  When she was 11, he sold her virginity to pay off a gambling debt.  At 14, he sold her to a man to be married.  When her “husband” (a soldier) disappeared, he sold her to a brothel.  Believe it or not, this is where the real horror begins…

Somaly’s life in the brothel is simply unfathomable.  If she resisted clients in the slightest way, she was subjected to what can only be classified as torture: brutal beatings, electric shocks, starvation…her owners even locked her in a windowless basement and poured maggots all over her body and down her throat, something she has horrifying nightmares about to this day.  And Somaly didn’t fare too badly, all things considered: unlike her peers (one of which she witnessed the murder of), she was never subjected to forced abortion and she ultimately came out alive (and AIDS free).

Somaly eventually transacted with a French “barang” who would ultimately marry her and help her start a new life.  But Somaly did not turn her back on the other girls and women who continued to suffer her same fate.  She began by distributing condoms to girls in brothels, and was soon sheltering escapees in her tiny apartment—an action which eventually led to the genesis of AFESIP (French acronym), a Cambodian NGO which among other things, operates a network of safe shelters across Southeast Asia for victims of sex trafficking.

The Somaly Mam Foundation is Somaly’s answer to increasing awareness and response to global trafficking in U.S.  In addition to supporting AFESIP and other initiatives in Aisa, SMF is working to increase awareness on the realities of the devastating global trade in human beings—a rapidly growing multibillion dollar criminal industry second in only to the drug trade in lucre.

Unfortunately, Somaly’s story is being relived by countless girls as I write.  In 2005, the Cambodian Minister of Women's Affairs estimated that 30,000 children were involved in the Cambodian sex trade.  And just a few months ago, Amnesty International released a study which reported a desperate shortage of aftercare services for trafficking victims in Cambodia.

Our dinner is an opportunity to remedy this shortfall, even if only by a small amount.  The funds we collectively raise this month will go toward a scholarship fund which will help rescued girls just like Somaly get access to training and education – from primary school to the university level.

If you get a chance, I highly recommend Somaly’s heartbreaking (though triumphant) memoir, The Road of Lost Innocence which is available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Lost-Innocence-Cambodian-heroine/dp/0385526210

I have also included a short and inspiring interview with Somaly (though we will be showing an equally powerful video at the dinner on the 26^th:

If you are not on our evite distribution and would like to be, please email erikakeaveney@gmail.com.  These dinners *are* in fact open to the public, though for reasons of privacy and limited space, we will not be publishing event details on the blog.

Thanks to all of you for being a part of this wonderful movement.  See you on the 26^th!

Warmly,

Erika Keaveney

Bead for Life: August 28, 2010

Greetings Diners!

Thank you to everyone who attended our second Dining for Women event this past Saturday!  We had 15 attendees (10 of which were new DFWers) and collectively raised nearly $1,000 to provide women in rural Uganda with improved economic opportunities.

Linda (with the help of Corinne) set up a beautiful shopping boutique in her front yard to feature Bead for Life jewelry sent all the way from Uganda.  Bead for Life beads are made out of recycled paper strips from various sources such as magazines, pamphlets, calendars and cereal boxes.  The paper is rolled, glued and varnished with an eco-friendly sealant.  The finished beads (along with colorful glass seed beads) are strung onto elastic and/or plastic lines and are completed with a silver-plated clasp and tag.

Beads are handmade by rural Ugandan women who receive training in jewelry making and business development with a goal to become financially independent within 18 months.  BFL introduces these entrepreneurs to Western markets who pay fair trade prices for the beautiful end products (check out their online store at http://www.beadforlifestore.org/servlet/StoreFront - the holidays are coming!).

BFL (in partnership with Dining for Women) is building upon this highly successful initiative by introducing a Shea butter project which will give Ugandan women the tools and training needed to process Shea nuts for soaps and lotions.  Our group raised $650 through BFL jewelry sales and $315 in support of the Shea Butter project for a total of $965!

Another successful meeting, and we would like to extend a very special thank you to everyone who attended and shared food, funds and compassion.  We will be scheduling the September dinner in the coming weeks and will be sure to keep you posted on the date/time – hope to see you there!

Warm regards,

Erika

PS - If you would like to be added or removed from our invitation list, please contact erikakeaveney@gmail.com.

Spinach Salad with Pecorino, Pine Nuts and Currants

Recipe courtesy of Dawn Ramsayer :)

Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons dried currants

1 1/2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons minced shallot

1/2 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 cups (packed) baby spinach leaves

Shaved Pecorino Romano cheese

Preparation
Whisk first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toss spinach with vinaigrette in large bowl. Add cheese and toss.

Curried Chicken Wraps Recipe

Alternatively, this recipe can be made with medium-firm tofu.  Simply cube the tofu, gently coat in oil and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, turning in between.  Chop cubes into desirable sized pieces and use in lieu of chicken.

Ingredients

3 split (1 1/2 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on

Olive oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups good mayonnaise

1/3 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup chutney (recommended: Major Gray's)

3 tablespoons curry powder

1 cup medium-diced celery (2 large stalks)

1/4 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)

1/4 cup raisins

1 cup whole roasted, salted cashews, chopped

6 large tortillas

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan and rub the skin with olive oil. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is just cooked. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the meat from the bones, discard the skin, and shred the chicken in pieces.  For the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, wine, chutney, curry powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until smooth.  Combine the chicken with enough dressing to moisten well. Add the celery, scallions, and raisins, and mix well. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Add the cashews to the chicken.  Fill the center of each tortilla with the chicken mixture. Fold the 2 sides of the tortilla over the filling so that the sides overlap. Roll the tortilla from bottom to top, and cut in half diagonally.

Bead for Life Uganda

Watch this short yet powerful video on August's feature charity, Bead for Life Uganda. This month's Dining for Women event will be held on August 28th @ 4:00 PM in Encinitas, CA. If you would like to be included in this and future events, please email erikakeaveney@gmail.com

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

As requested, here is the recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala that I brought at the DFW event on July 31st. This recipe serves 4. If you are a vegetarian, try using paneer instead. You can find it at Indian markets or make your own.



Ingredients
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 4 long skewers

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz can diced tomatoes
• Fresh cilantro (optional)
• Basmati rice

Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, garam masala, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in chicken. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (overnight is best)
2. Preheat a grill for high heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side. Pan frying (w/out skewers) works well if you do not have a grill.
4. Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens/reduces, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with basmati rice and garnish with fresh cilantro.

This was modified from the original recipe here on allrecipes.com.