Today I’m excited to partner with Fair Trade USA to celebrate Mother’s Day through their Moms Make a World of Difference efforts. Today’s post is full of goodies, including a delicious recipe for the Fair Trade Brunch, a really awesome giveaway, and the story of a mother in Rwanda who’s life has been improved thanks to fair trade practices. I studied international relations and women’s studies in college and these issues have long been dear to my heart, so I’m more than delighted to help spread the word!
Fair trade benefits all of the farmers it touches, but I can see how it is especially helpful for women. So many women in developing countries are tasked with both supporting their families monetarily and being the primary caregiver for the children. The burden can be great, but I have heard stories time and again about real women in these countries who, through fair and good employment, are able to not only provide for their families financially but also spend more time with their children.
As I started looking through the Moms Make a World of Difference website, this quote from Mukantelina Soline, a mom and coffee farmer in Rwanada, really stood out to me: “Growing coffee is hard work, but it is work that I love because it helps me improve the lives of my children.” Let me preface my next comment with this – I always feel incredibly blessed and grateful for my work and my situation. But that doesn’t mean that the stress of working and being the primary caregiver in our home doesn’t sometimes get to me. Even though my life and my work is different than Mukantelina’s, reading her words made me feel a kinship with her. It also made me realize that, when the stress starts to get me down, I just need to be grateful.
As I read more of Mukantelina’s story, I learned that she has three children – one in school, one who can’t go to school due to chronic illness, and a third who joins her as she works each day. By joining the Dukunde Kawa Coffee Cooperative in 2003, Mukantelina has received extra support with the processing and sale of her coffee as well as additional income. Now she spends more time with her family, and she has been able to get electricity for their home and a cow to provide milk for the family. This is why fair trade products are so amazing – when you buy these products, you know that it is making a real difference in real lives.
To prepare for the Fair Trade Brunch, Fair Trade USA sent me a box of goodies from 12 of their partner companies. SO MUCH GOODNESS. I was challenged to come up with a recipe for their online Mother’s Day brunch that uses 2 of the ingredients. I knew I had to use the Guittard chocolate because I’m completely obsessed with their chocolate (theirs are the only chocolate chips I buy and I can’t tell you how happy I am that I can finally get them at almost all grocery stores!). There was also a bag of brown muscovado sugar by India Tree that intrigued me. I thought about recipes that really feature brown sugar and shortbread immediately came to mind. And then I got cooking!
These simple shortbread cookies are, quite simply, delicious. The buttery, brown sugar flavor pairs nicely with the little punches of chocolate. These cookies would be a great addition to a brunch – a little something sweet that’s not too sweet. They are also good for just eating any old time. Like right now while I’m typing this post. (I literally just walked into the kitchen to get one!)
The winner of the giveaway was Kim, who said, “Your cookies look fabulous!” Thanks, Kim! And I hope you enjoy all your goodies (I’m sure you will)!
Before we get to the recipe, let’s do a giveaway! One of you lucky, randomly-selected people will win the same goodie box that I received. Here is what you’ll get!
Whole Foods $25 gift cardGuittard Semi-Sweet Etienne Baking BarsbarkTHINS Snacking Chocolatesweetriot Dark Chocolate Quirky Quinoa Crunch barFrontier Ceylon CinnamonIndia Tree Brown Muscovado SugarAllegro Coffee Café La Dueña (these coffee beans are seriously the yummiest thing I have smelled EVER.)Nutiva Coconut Oil and O’Coconut treatsprAna Vanessa ScarfNumi Chocolate Rooibos TeaChoice Organic Green Moroccan Mint TeaHonest Tea Half & Half Tea with Lemonade
Here is how to enter the giveaway! (All comments must be posted by midnight PT on Sunday, May 11 and prize must be shipped to a U.S. address.)
Simply leave a comment on this post! Easy peasy!Bonus entry: Like Fair Trade USA on Facebook (leave a separate comment stating you followed to get the extra entry; if you already do, that counts!)Bonus entry: Follow Fair Trade USA on Pinterest (leave a separate comment stating you followed to get the extra entry; if you already do, that counts!)Bonus entry: Like This Week for Dinner on Facebook (leave a separate comment stating you followed to get the extra entry; if you already do, that counts!)Bonus entry: Follow This Week for Dinner on Pinterest (leave a separate comment stating you followed to get the extra entry; if you already do, that counts!)
Now, let’s make some yummy shortbread!
- 1 cup salted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup India Tree Fair Trade Brown Muscovado Sugar
- 2¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Pinch kosher salt (optional)
- 2 ounces Guittard Semi-Sweet Baking bar, chopped into small pieces
- Preheat oven to 325ºF.
- Cream butter and brown sugar together on medium-high speed in a stand mixer for about 3 minutes with the paddle attachment. Scrape down bowl.
- Add 1½ cups of the flour and a pinch of salt (if using). Beat with paddle attachment on medium speed until fully incorporated.
- Set aside the paddle attachment and switch to the dough hook.
- Add the rest of the flour (3/4 cup) and mix on medium-low speed with the dough hook, kneading the dough in the mixer for about 5 minutes, scraping down bowl as needed.
- Switch back to the paddle attachment and add chocolate chunks. Mix on medium speed until chocolate is mixed in completely.
- Roll dough out on a floured surface to about ½-inch thick. Using a round or flower-shaped metal cookie cutter about 2 inches wide, cut cookies and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. (If you run into a chocolate chunk with the cookie cutter, just push hard right through the chocolate.) Prick the tops of the cookies with a fork.
- Form leftover dough into a ball and roll back out to ½-inch thick and repeat process until you've cut all the dough into cookies.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until bottoms of cookies are light golden brown.
- Makes about 26 2-inch cookies.
Hi! My name is Jane Maynard and you've landed yourself on my blog, This Week for Dinner™. Every Sunday I share a weekly menu...and count on you to share yours! You'll also find other deliciousness that I hope you'll enjoy!
Yummy! I love shortbread, I can’t wait to try these!!
b.
Love shortbread so I can’t wait to try this!!
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Yum!!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
I follow this week for dinner on facebook
And on pinterest
And fair trade usa on pinterest
and on facebook!
this is the second shortbread recipe I’ve pinned today, must mean I need to make shortbread!
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I’ve never made shortbread, but would love to try this recipe!
I like Fair Trade on FB
This recipe looks so good!
I like this week for dinner on fb
These look perfect for an upcoming Girl Scout tea I’m hosting!
I love shortbread cookies.
I liked Fair Trade USA on Facebook.
I follow Fair Trade USA on Pinterest.
I liked This Week for Dinner on Facebook.
Follow This Week for Dinner on Pinterest.
I like you on FB.
I love it that this giveaway is fair trade! My husband and I are very passionate about buying fair trade. Thank you!
I like Fair Trade USA on FB.
Liked Fair Trade USA ON facebook!
Followed Fair Trade on Pinterest!
Liked This Week for Dinner on Facebook!
Followed This Week for Dinner on Pinterest!
These cookies look like a great addition to the tea/ coffee party I’m having at my house this weakened with my girlfriends! I will definitely make them and coffe, as well as, dark chocolate in my house are always fair trade. Love this giveaway!
Following Fair Trade on Facebook
Following Fair Trade on Pinterest
Following This Week for Dinner on Facebook
Following This Week For Dinner on Pinterest
That looks so delicious!
The cookies look great!
LOVE shortbread!
Yum! Looks good.
I follow TWFD on facebook..
and pintrest!
Perfect for a little sweet treat. Will make these soon.
Follow you on pinterest.
Follow you on Facebook.
Liked fair trade USA on Facebook.
I love this!
I also follow you on pinterest.
And I have liked you on facebook!
I like fairtrade on facebook!
And i follow ft on facebook!!!
Big fan of shortbread!
…and I like you on Facebook.
AND I follow you on Pinterest! Hurrah.
what yummy-looking cookies for the fair trade brunch and what a wonderful organization. I also study women’s issues–from a legal perspective and am interested to hear about this. great post!
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Yum!
Like you on facebook
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What a nice giveaway and what lovely cookies!
Chocolate, sugar, and tea. All Fair Trade. I’m in!!!
Thanks for the post (and giveaway), every post like this helps people understand we make choices every day with our buying dollars. Nice to see a real person who benefits from fair trade and how important it is to purchase fair trade products.
The cookies look great! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love shortbread AND India Tree Muscovado Sugar but never thought about putting the two together. I’ve always used white sugar before, but made this recipe and it is definitely a step above anything I’ve created before. The chocolate chunks didn’t hurt either. 🙂
Your photos are great! Would love to win.
Your cookies look fabulous!
I follow Fair Trade USA on pinterest
I follow Fair Trade USA on Facebook
I follow This Week for Dinner on pinterest
I follow This Week for Dinner on facebook
Wow! This would be a delightful Mother’s Day gift!
I’ve never tried the Guittard chocolate bars but if you recommend them, I know it’ll be great. Can’t wait to try the recipe!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I like you on facebook
What a great giveaway!
follow Twfd on pinterest.
Those cookies look amazing!
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FOllowing Fair Trade USA on Pinterest
Yeah for fair trade! I always try to support when I can.
And those cookies look yumalicious!!
I love shortbread, so yummy!
Love all that is out there that is Fair Trade! And who can pass up some shortbread cookies?!
This cookies look amazing
I liked fair trade on fb
i liked this week for dinner on fb
i followed fair trade on pinterest
i followed this week for dinner on pinterest
Love this blog – thanks for the great posts and chances to win!
Thank you for sharing the shortbread cookie recipe. I just made these and they are exceptionally good!
I am so happy you liked the cookies!
Love this recipe and the wonderful (true) story behind it!
I follow TWFD on Pinterest.
I like TWFD on Facebook.
The shortbread cookies look so yummy. I’d love to do some baking with these wonderful ingredients.
I Like Fair Trade USA on Facebook (Amy Masters Leach)
I Follow Fair Trade USA on Pinterest (Amy Leach)
I Like This Week for Dinner on Facebook
I Follow This Week for Dinner on Pinterest (Amy Leach)
Jane, I watched “The Fair Trade” What is your life worth? documentary recently, you should check it out.
Thank you for the recipe, I’m going to do give them a try, this will be my first time baking a shortbread cookie, so I’m pretty nervous, but they look to good not to.
I will have to make sure I see that, thank you julia! and don’t be scared of shortbread!!
These looks delish! Looking forward to trying them!
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These look so amazing! I love Fair Trade chocolate!
I already follow Fair Trade on Facebook.
I follow Fair Trade USA on Pinterest – lpcraigchs
Shortbread – the best!