Megan enjoying a truly "Divine Evening"

We had such a great time celebrating our love of Divine Chocolate at the SERRV store in Madison last week that we wanted to take time to share a few of our romantic recipes with you…♥

Dark Chocolate Mousse
1/2 cup Heavy cream
1/2 bar Divine 70% Dark chocolate                                            ¼ Tbsp Gelatin

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water.                 
Heat a 4 tbsp of cream and stir in gelatin.
Whip the remaining cream and gently fold into the melted chocolate. Then, add the gelatin.
Pour into serving dishes and place in the fridge to set.

Check out Divine Chocolate’s Recipe for Divine Velvet Cheesecake …. So tasty

Ganache-covered Brownie Bites

1 Package        Women’s Bean Project Cindy’s Sinfully Chocolate Brownie mix                         4 Tbsp             Unsalted butter                                                                                                          2                       Large eggs                                                                                                                    5 Ounces         Divine fair-trade chocolate (70% dark works best)                                            ¼ Cup             Warm water                                                                                                                6 Tbsp             Unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

For Brownie bites:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees                                                                                                       Spray mini-cupcake pan with nonstick spray                                                                             Combine Brownie mix, eggs, and oil until combined (may be small lumps)                              Pour/ spoon evenly into greased mini-cupcake pan (filling cups about 2/3 full)                Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean                                                     Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool upside down on wire rack for 20-30 minutes.

For Ganache:

Heat chocolate and warm water over double boiler until well combined                        Remove from heat. Gradually, whisk in cubes of cold butter until smooth                             Let ganache cool for about 1 hour or until thickened                                                                Dip brownie bites in ganache to coat                                                                                            Let cool on wire rack.

Divine White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened                                       3/4 cup packed brown sugar                                                   1/3 cup granulated sugar                                                          2 teaspoons vanilla                                                                     1 egg                                                                                              1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour                                                        1/2 teaspoon baking soda                                                       1/4 teaspoon salt                                                                                                 6oz Divine White Chocolate, chopped                                       1 cup sweetened dried cranberries (Substitute other dried fruit or nuts if desired)

Heat oven to 350°F.

 In large bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and egg on medium speed until well mixed. Gradually stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in chopped white chocolate and cranberries.

 On parchment lined cookie sheet, drop heaping spoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart.

 Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on wire rack.

 Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

A Valentine's Day smorgasbord!!

Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥ Treat yourself to something special today. See all of the amazing, handmade gifts available for Valentine’s Day and everyday…

To stay up-to-date on future events and promotions at the SERRV Store in Madison, WI- “Like” SERRV Store – Madison on Facebook

We are so excited for the new catalog. We think it’s the best one yet! Our Spring Catalog is gorgeous and filled with bright, cheery items that are perfect for you and your home. Here are just a few of the new products that we know you’ll love. (They’ll be online soon!)

Bright Charpoy Stool

Bright Charpoy Stool
Comfortable, durable, and portable, this small stool is based on a traditional woven bed from Southeast Asia, and is constructed from a natural turned albizia wood frame and brightly colored woven jute seat. Place it in garden or porch for an attractive spot to enjoy the beauty of your yard.

Batik and Tie-Dye Shawl

Batik and Tie-Dye Shawl
Handwoven rayon shawl provides gentle warmth and soft comfort. Masterfully tie-dyed in cool pinks and purples and dotted with earth-colored diamonds, this super soft shawl will chase away the winter blues.

Haitian Garden Stakes

Garden Stakes
Recycled steel drums are cut, hammered, and perforated by artisans in Haiti to find new life as charming works of garden art. Sold separately, these adorable sculptures will add extra vitality to your garden.

There’s much more, but we don’t want to give everything away! The new collection will launch online soon, so keep checking our website.

For Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Line cupcake pan with paper liners; spray with nonstick spray

Combine Brownie mix, eggs, and oil until well combined (may be small lumps)

Pour/ spoon evenly into lined and greased cupcake pan (filling cups about 2/3 full)

Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

For Frosting:

Heat chocolate and warm water over double boiler until well combined

Remove from heat. Gradually, whisk in cubes of butter until smooth

Let ganache cool for about 1 hour or until spreadable

Frost and decorate

Decorating Tips:

• Add a Little Heart- Top cooled, frosted cupcakes with a foil wrapped Divine’s Dark Chocolate or White Chocolate & Strawberry Heart for a romantic twist.
• Feelin’ Toasty? Try topping with toasted coconut; heat sweetened coconut flakes in a small sauce pan over low heat until golden brown. Sprinkle generously over just frosted cupcakes.
• Make it Red Hot! Just sprinkle red decorating sugar over the top of the frosted cupcake or dot with you favorite red candy.
• Feelin’ Nutty? Scatter chopped fair-trade Almonds or Cashews atop a frosted cupcake.
• Party-Worthy! Mix in 1 ounce of amaretto or mint liquor into ganache before you whisk in the butter.
• Sugary Sweet ♥- Sweeten things up with a dash of powdered sugar. Try to make your own stencils out of paper for personalized fun!

**Note: This is a brownie mix. I prefer a gooy-er brownie so I took my cupcakes out after baking for about 35 minutes. Brownie center fell slightly but texture was perfect. To solve this issue, I filled the sunken cakes with a ½ tbsp of peanut butter immediately after they were removed from the oven and let them cool while I made the frosting. Once peanut butter center hardened I frosted the cupcake and no one was the wiser. A very tasty mistake

Thank you, Diamond!

The Women’s Bean Project is a non-profit organization based in Denver, CO which was created to help at-risk women break the cycle of chronic poverty and unemployment. Since 1989 they have been providing skills training, raising self-confidence, and inspiring hope in place of the demoralizing effects of poverty. They learn skills that allow them to govern their own lives, empower them to create bright futures, provide their families with hope, and contribute to a stronger, more just community. To learn more, visit http://www.serrv.org/product/womens-bean-project/united-states for more details. **Delicious soup and cookies mixes also available online.

My terrariums

Over the past several months, I’ve developed an obsession with terrariums. It seems like I see them everywhere I look. They keep popping up in blogs, on craft websites and in catalogs. From the first one I saw, I knew I had to try my hand at making them, despite the fact that both of my thumbs are decidedly not green.

Terrariums are adorable-they’re basically miniature gardens in enclosed glass containers. While you can also make them in an open container, a closed container means that you’re almost creating a self-regulating system. And that, my friends, means that terrariums are pretty dang hard to kill. So, if you’re like me, you don’t have to worry about sinking time and money into something that will only last a week or two. Given the right care, a terrarium should last for quite some time.

Instructions abound on the Internet and most are probably written by people who are far more crafty than I. However, here are the steps that I took to make my two lovely little terrariums.

Apothecary Jars

Step One: This step is the most important! You need to find a suitable container. I found my containers among the unique samples at our Madison SERRV store, but we have the perfect thing for you…how about something beautiful, fair trade, and on sale? SERRV’s gorgeous apothecary jars are on sale for $37.50-$45 each. From left to right are the Bulb Apothecary Jar, the Saucer Apothecary Jar, and the Cylinder Apothecary Jar.

Step Two: Okay, now that you’ve got your jar, you need to go shopping.

Ingredients:
Small rocks or pebbles
Activated Charcoal
Sphagnum Moss
Potting Mix (with NO fertilizer)
Sand
2-4 plants, depending on size
A squirt bottle

Optional decorative items:
Shells
Pretty moss
Rocks
Small figurines

Inside!

Most garden centers will have all of these items. (Hint: Some garden shops even have little terrarium sections!) You can also stop by a craft shop to find extra decorative elements. I found my charcoal in the aquarium aisle of a petstore, but some garden shops will have it too.  

This might seem like a lot of ingredients, but don’t get discouraged. My supplies were relatively inexpensive. If you’re a gardener or a crafter, you may already have a lot of these items at home. Also, consider having a terrarium party! You and your friends can all chip in and make several terrariums at once. 

Little plants

A note on plants: Ask your garden center for their recommendations! Some shops sell small plants especially for terrariums. Mine were $3 each. In general, any small plants should work (avoid succulents!). Use plants of different heights for visual interest.

Step 3: Assembly

Steps 1-3

1) Clean and dry your jar.
2) Fill the bottom with a layer of rocks for drainage.
3) Sprinkle the activated charcoal over the rocks.
4) Soak the sphagnum moss in water, squeeze it out, and layer over the charcoal.
5) Mix potting mix and sand together in a 1:1 ratio. Start with 1 cup of soil and 1 cup of sand. Add more as needed.
6) Plant your plants in the soil!
7) Add other items as desired: rocks, small pieces of moss, figurines, etc.
8) Mist the terrarium with water (use quite a bit to start to ensure it’s wet enough), pop on the cover, and place in a window.

A note on watering: Watering depends on your plants. Some condensation on the glass is fine, but if you see lots of water condensing and running down the sides, it’s probably too wet. Just open the lid to let it dry out a little. When the soil line is dry, it’s time to water. If the surface soil is dry but moist deeper down, you can wait to water. 

Mist every few days and that's it!

That’s it! If I can do it, you can do it too! My terrariums have been alive for maybe two months now and they seem to be happy and healthy. This is a really fun project. It’s especially fun in winter as terrariums bring a little bit of spring to your window. Plus, I think this would make an excellent gift.

Click here for printable instructions.

P.S. As you see above, I also made a terrarium without a cover. It’s cute! I followed the same steps as above but I just water it more frequently than my enclosed terrarium–I usually try to mist it every day.

Indrika Thae

Have you browsed our new Valentine’s Day Collection yet? It’s full of gorgeous jewelry, whimsical decor and indulgent chocolate. Even more importantly, every purchase empowers our artisan partners so they can create a better future with renewed dignity and respect.

Indrika Thae provides the only source of income for her family. She is a single woman who does not have any children, but she lives with her mother, her eleven brothers and sisters, and their children.

Indrika shares, “I love my work at Get Paper,” a cooperative in Nepal that is strongly committed to social development programs. Cooperative members receive benefits like health care, personal loans and a pension. The organization uses proceeds from their sales to fund support of five schools that educate 700 children, educational scholarships for girls, AIDS awareness trainings and environmental programs.

Valentines items from Get Paper

Get Paper makes the adorable Playful Paper Heart Garland, patterned handmade paper hearts strung on a red ribbon, and the embroidered paper heart boxes for our special Scarf Gift Boxes. Get Paper uses recycled fabric scraps and natural fibers to make its paper products, so you know that your purchase is good for the earth, too.

Raju

Raju, a silverworker in Nepal, works with Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS). KTS’ vocational training program provides opportunities to underprivileged youth, women, and disabled people with limited schooling to learn useful trades. The program has resulted in hundreds of graduates being able to find employment.  Graduates from the program are offered employment in KTS’ production units where they can use their newly learned skills to earn a livelihood. Steady work throughout the year helps hundreds of artisans meet their day to day needs, reducing poverty in the area.

Valentines jewelry from KTS

Raju says, “The orders I receive for my jewelry have allowed me to take care of my family.” With the income he earns from his work, Raju has been able to build a better house for his wife, 8 year old daughter and one year old son. He can also send his daughter to school. Raju loves working with silver in his workshop, called ”Shradha Handicrafts,” which he named after his daughter.

KTS’ sterling silver jewelry is romantic and skillfully created. The Garnet Rose Necklace, Silver Leaf Pendant, and Cupid Earrings are gorgeously crafted for your Valentine.

This Valentine’s Day, give a gift that spreads love and peace around the world. Shop today.

Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show is a gathering of wholesale suppliers and retail buyers looking to connect and discover the next big handcrafted gift idea. The show features an entire floor of handcrafted temporary showcases and several floors of permanent showrooms. There is no shortage of things to drool over, uh… I mean, look at here. They have everything from flower pots to ice cream scoops and the most jewelry and accessories I’ve ever seen in one place! I love to attend this market because they feature a section that is strictly for fair trade merchants. It is always fun to connect with fair trade friends, talk about the industry, and see Spring’s trends up close and personal.

Here are a few photos from our adventure…

Maria Wood is loving light!

Beautifully crafted bags help get our creative wheels turning!

Maria Wood & Kerry Evans find fun with these patterns

Trend Watch: Mixing blues and prints

Inspiration around every corner...

Maria W. with her newest friend!

SERRV's PD Team hard @ work

In the depths of the SERRV office lies a mysterious land of never-before-seen fair trade products hand crafted by artisans throughout the world. SERRV’s product development team works tirelessly year round to assemble an exciting collection of these fair trade goodies for each season’s catalog.

Variety of color from Vietnam

The process starts many months in advance of the catalog launch. SERRV’s talented product designers partner with artisans to create never before seen wonders to complement the following year’s trends. Calls and emails zip back and forth from places like Cameroon, Peru, and Bangladesh as we make final adjustments to color, material, and size.  The newly crafted pieces are carefully picked, packed, and shipped out by our partners via boat or plane.

Product samples from our partner in Africa

The intriguing package arrives at our doorstep and it truly feels like opening a handmade birthday present created especially for you! Finally, almost 6 months after inception and after many months of hard work from people all over the world, the newly born product is ready for selection.

Product Selection week is an event at SERRV. Our PD Team locks themselves in the office for a week and spends time carefully combing over each product to match it to our valued customers needs. Products are selected by collection to match a theme for the next season’s catalog. Then we have to decide how many to buy and determine the logistics of getting a large order from one end of the world to the other!

Working on the Spring catalog layout

A rough catalog layout is assembled and then passed off to the magic makers behind SERRV’s marketing squad. The ladies from marketing use the next few months to write product descriptions, organize photos shoots, and arrange the layout for the final look of the book. Once the magical marketing wand has been waved, we take the time to ensure our customers receive a flawless catalog by editing and re-editing. After almost 18 months of work, SERRV is ready to release a new catalog.

Bright Rainbow Master Tintsaba Basket, $135

SERRV’s one-of-a-kind Master Baskets from Swaziland are truly special. Handcrafted by women with our partner Tintsaba, these baskets are beautiful works of art that require hours of labor.

Tintsaba is a development organization located in the northern mountainous region of Swaziland. Founded in 1985, Tintsaba now gives 1,000 women sisal weavers a way to earn an income to supplement their families’ budgets. In addition to income, Tintsaba provides production assistance, marketing, and social programs. Programs include HIV/AIDS awareness and education, free homeopathic traveling clinic for complementary medicine for HIV/AIDs patients, and a literacy program.

Tintsaba Basket Weavers

All of Tintsaba’s artisans are women living in rural areas. Most are subsistence farmers, which is why the extra income is so vital to their lives. School fees are high in Swaziland and the bulk of the women’s income goes toward schooling.

Most women come to Tintsaba with a basic knowledge of sisal weaving. Sisal is an invasive weed in Swaziland, and it is used to make cattle fences and sleeping mats. Artisans are trained as novices and most eventually rise to the level of craft maker. A few continue to the level of master craftswoman. Tintsaba encourages the women to move from novice to craft maker quickly, as the improved skills earn them better money.

The women who weave our Master Baskets are certified as master weavers with Tintsaba and have been identified as true artists with a commitment to excellence.

Nomphumelelo with some of her baskets

One of these master weavers is Nomphumelelo Dlamini, a third generation weaver. After being educated through secondary school, she went to work in a Chinese garment factory where she found the pay and conditions unsatisfactory. She went to work at Tintsaba and became a master weaver in four years. Nomphumelelo supports her husband, son, and two foster-daughters with her weaving. She has won Tintsaba’s basket-weaving competition three times and trains other women within the organization.

Nomphumelelo says:

“Working with Tintsaba helps me a lot, because my husband is not working. I can feed my family, including two girls I have taken in. My village is poor and there are not many people. We farm for the food that we eat. There are lots of people who are ill in my village. Sometimes we weave together and sometimes at home. I have made friends making baskets.”

Purchase one of our unique, one-of-a-kind Master Baskets today, and help these women weave a brighter future for their families.

Please note: these baskets must be ordered via phone at 1.800.422.5915 since we only have one of each kind. Baskets may be in stock despite the out of stock message shown. Please call to get most recent stock info.

This year, we ask you to give just one SERRV gift to someone who doesn’t know about us.

• Give a piece of Haitian wall art as a meaningful house warming gift.
• Going to a party? Bring a few bars of Divine Chocolate as a hostess gift.
• Visiting your parents for the weekend? Arrive bearing bags of delicious fair trade coffee.
• Surprise someone special with gorgeous Valentine’s Day jewelry.
• Celebrate a friend’s birthday by giving her an adorable double carved animal or a unique treasure box.

Why is this important? SERRV depends on you to help spread the word about our products and mission. And, the more products we sell, the more we all support our 60 artisan partners in 30 countries.

Children at the school funded by our partner Nyabigena in Kenya

SERRV’s fair trade work goes far beyond paying a fair wage. We invest in our artisan partners by providing tools, training, and design and marketing support. Our partners, in turn, invest in their communities through projects that benefit everyone. Projects include HIV/AIDS education, building water wells, improving schools, and teaching skills that empower families to improve their lives.

It’s amazing to contemplate what your SERRV purchase does. One purchase provides a steady stream of income for a family while supporting projects that benefit entire communities.

Isn’t that a message worth sharing? Please, share the SERRV story and help us create a more just 2012 for families everywhere.

Christmas is nearly here! If you need a last minute treat to bring to holiday parties, try these easy and delicious fair trade mixes (only $6 each!) by the Women’s Bean Project, an organization based in Denver, Colorado.

Mmm...delicious!

Simply add butter and eggs to Grammy’s Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix for amazing cookies. Or, if you’re so exhausted from holiday festivities that you can’t bear the thought of making actual cookies, just dump the batter into a greased 9×13 pan, sprinkle with the provided cinnamon sugar mix, and bake! Voila, easy cookie bars that taste like you spent hours working your fingers to the bone.

Yes, please!

Or, if chocolate is your thing, try Cindy’s Sinfully Chocolate Brownie Mix. Just add melted butter for rich, chocolately brownies. That’s it! What can be easier?

Besides being easy to make and delicious, these mixes are made with normal ingredients. Just look at the ingredient list for the brownies, for example: 

Sugar, all purpose flour, cocoa, vanilla powder (natural & artificial), salt,  baking powder (calcium acid posphate, baking soda, corn starch).

I can pronounce all of these ingredients! You know what that means, right? You can officially call these ‘homemade.’ No one will know and I won’t tell!  

On a more serious note, the Women’s Bean Project is a fantastic organization. Since 1989 they have been helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment. WBP is a nonprofit organization that teaches job readiness and life skills for entry-level jobs through employment in gourmet food production and handmade jewelry manufacturing businesses. Women come with the goal of transforming their lives and moving toward self sufficiency. WBP also supports supports small, local farms, sourcing many of the ingredients for their products from local farmers and vendors.

There you have it! Delicious food that nourishes your soul and helps your neighbors here in the U.S. Next time, I’ll show highlight WBP’s wonderful soup mixes, in case you need some vegetables after the holidays!