Taking a Trip to India in Gingham...

Recently I have been made aware of an outstanding humanitarian organization called  Gingham Project and their amazing Mission for school children and their families in rural impoverished India. 

Their goal is to keep the child living with their family and provide support for the child to attend school. They feel that the most effective tool they have is mentoring the children and families through locals who understand what it takes to educate a child and rise out of poverty.

Ironically, Face (my youngest son) and his  class at school have been studying India in geography this month and his teacher Nicole asked if I would be willing to come down and teach a little about the food that they have in India. I felt like someone had asked me to tell every food in America in under 30 minutes...and knew it wouldn't be possible. Instead, I decided to make it a little more personal. I wanted the kids in Face's class to see real life children their age.  Thursday I went to his school and shared some Tandoori Chicken, jasmine rice and mango. Specifically we talked about the fact that kids their age are eating  Dal and rice generally and mango with a little spice.  We learned about what kids his age are doing in school across the world in  India...and it was an amazing experience. Thanks to Melanie  Smith, the photographer who has been working on this amazing photography of  Gingham Project and the beautiful children for these breathtaking  pictures...

As part of a joint effort to help these children, I'll be providing Melanie with my tandoori spice rub recipe and she will be purchasing spices while there in India. We'll be combining efforts to do what I call, "lift where I stand and reach where I can." I lift local...and I reach far even in small ways if I think it will benefit some of God's children on the other side of the world.  When someone makes a donation ($ amount to be announced) they will get my rub from the Gingham Project Store and the knowledge that their donation went 100% to the children. . So, here's what the tandoori looks like:

Its a remarkable flavor combination or heat, ginger,  cumin, coriander, paprika, sea salt...and a few others.

 My Grilled Tandoori-Style Chicken 

and Mangoes with Mango Jasmine Rice

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 garlic cloves
• 3T Chef Tess Tandoori Spice Rub 
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  
  
• 2 (2 1/2-pound) chickens, quartered
  
  
  For the Rice:
• 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled; 1 cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices, 1 cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 cups jasmine rice 
• 3 cups water

Arrange chicken on large platter; garnish with grilled mango slices and cilantro sprigs. Serve mango jasmine rice alongside.




Put cilantro, garlic,  and spice rub in blender or food processor.

 . With machine running, gradually add oil through feed tube and process until blended.

  With machine running, gradually add oil through feed tube and process until blended. Transfer 1/4 cup herb mixture to small bowl; reserve. Add yogurt and lemon juice to remaining mixture in processor and blend.

 Place chicken in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Pour yogurt mixture over chicken; turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Place chicken, skin side down, on grill. Cover and grill until chicken is cooked through, turning every 5 minutes, about 30 minutes total.

Grill mango slices 2 minutes per side; set aside. Meanwhile, combine rice, 3 cups water, and reserved 1/4 cup herb mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fold in mango cubes. Arrange chicken on large platter; garnish with grilled mango slices and cilantro sprigs. Serve mango jasmine rice alongside.

Did they like it? Yes! Thank you Nicole for letting me be part of this amazing class!

 Hopefully, this brought these kids a better understanding, if only for a few minutes, of what kids in India are up against...and perhaps they'll want to cook something from the spices and staples of the land so very far, far away. I know that I, for one, wish I could just bring them all home!

There you go!


Oh...on an end note.. look at this beautiful Necklace from the gift shop of the school. I just got mine in the mail today! It's so cool and a great way to give a little to help a lot!  Check out the Gingham Project Store  and help if you can as well. It's really an remarkable cause.