The Holidays the Holy Days,
from the kitchen to the table
VOLUME 25
WINTER 2023
Maybe the holidays are really and truly the high
holy days,
where we take off our shoes and dance in the kitchen, cook in the kitchen, create joy and beauty and love in the kitchen...
so people can taste and see that
Love Himself has come down,
and Love Himself is close and here right now, and God is always working good and you are always dearly
loved.
ITALIAN PASTA CHITARRA WITH ROLLING PIN RETAIL VALUE: $52 Made by Verve Culture in Italy Beechwood Chitarra: 15” x 7.75” x 3.25” Rolling Pin: 9.5’’ x 1” Prepare to make homemade pasta that any Italian grandmother would be proud of. All you need is flour, egg, and your Italian Chitarra Pasta Cutter—the pasta-making essential. Made of natural wood and strung like a guitar, the chitarra (pronounced key-tahr-rah) reflects the musicality and artistry that Italians bring to their cuisine. Care instructions: Hand wash only. Use a pastry scraper to remove any sticky pieces of dough. Treat wood and wires with food-safe mineral oil to keep your chitarra in prime condition. Never run through the dishwasher. Store in a clean, dry place. Over time, strings may become loose. To tighten, use a large flathead screwdriver to rotate the two silver screws until strings are taut.
About the ar tisan, Giovanni
The origins of the chitarra for pasta date back to the 1700s. My production of guitar frames for pasta began about 25 years ago when I started putting into practice the teachings of my father, who was also a wood craftsman and turner. The production of the chitarra requires a long process that begins with the cutting of the beechwood. Subsequently, the pieces of the boards are passed under a machine which eliminates defects on all four surfaces and leaves the smoothest surfaces possible. Then each beech board undergoes a different manufacturing process based on the component of the guitar it will become. Next, I assemble the guitar with the stainless-steel wire. The craftsman works these items by hand in a meaningful way, preferring the slow and meticulous work of the hands and the great attention to produce not only wellmade objects but also to send a message of simplicity which is at the same time full of sensations and memories of distant times, of the grandparents, of the youth lived in the almost forgotten small villages of our splendid region.
COLLAPSABLE PASTA DRYING RACK RETAIL VALUE: $22 Made by Verve Culture in Italy Beechwood 14” x 11” x 9.5” The secret to making homemade pasta is the combination of fresh ingredients and the right tools. This artisan-made Collapsable Pasta Drying Rack from Piedmont, Italy, provides space for drying all types of long noodles and homemade pastas. Built-in dowels are perfectly spaced for optimized hanging, so strands of pasta won’t stick together while they dry. It sets up quickly and folds down for easy, compact storage. Hang freshly cut pasta strands evenly on each dowel of the pasta drying rack. To keep its freshness, pasta doesn’t need to be dried for long—just long enough to harden, allowing it to keep its shape when cooking. The goal is to promote the even circulation of air around the pasta as it dries, ensuring that it dries all the way through so that it will not go bad while in storage. When drying pasta, all that matters is that it completely dries. Noodles dry faster hanging. Care instructions: Hand wash only. Wipe clean with a dry cloth or brush. This product is artisan-made, so slight variations may occur.
Whenever all of us who are weary and limping, hungry and tired and heavy-burdened, just come and gather ‘round a table, we are all on
holy ground.
WOODEN PASTA SERVING BOWL RETAIL VALUE: $48 Made by Noah’s Ark in India Mango wood
WOODEN PASTA SERVING SPOON RETAIL VALUE: $18 Made by Noah’s Ark in India Mango wood Elevate your dining experience with your exquisite Wooden Pasta Serving Bowl and Wooden Pasta Serving Spoon, hand-carved from mango wood by the skilled artisans of Noah’s Ark in India. Crafted with care and attention to detail, these elegant pieces bring a touch of authenticity to your table. Perfect for serving and savoring your favorite pasta dishes, the unique grain patterns and natural warmth of the mango wood add a distinctive charm. Embrace the artistry of handmade craftsmanship and enhance your culinary moments with this timeless duo. Care instructions: Hand wash with warm water and mild soap, then dry immediately. Never leave wood to soak, as it will crack and warp. Do not use in the dishwasher or microwave. Condition your items with board butter whenever they appear dull or feel dry to the touch.
Noah’s Ark
Noah’s Ark was established in 1986 with the sole objective of artisans’ welfare and education in Moradabad, India. They support artisans through fair trade practices and provide training in the production of quality products for overseas markets. Noah’s Ark uplifts the downtrodden of society, using their profits to invest back in their community with many social projects related to education, health, water, and sanitation.
About the artisan, Kalim
Kalim has been working with the Noah’s Ark workshop for eleven years. Initially, he started working as an entry-level employee, but he developed his skills in the workshop and rose to be a master crafter. Kalim believes that the only way to have a comfortable and successful life is through hard work. He is working efficiently to master his task so that he can support his family. Kalim’s keen interest lies in playing an indoor game called ludo. In his free hours, he likes to play ludo with his wife and father.
Every table is
holy ground
where all the wanderers and wonderers feast on grace, and savor belonging, and have second helpings of wilderness...
manna in their
and truly experience how the provision and presence of God is always
more than enough.
LEATHER FA M ILY TRADITIONS RECIPE JOURNAL RETAIL VALUE: $40 Made by 2nd Story Goods in Haiti and embossed by Local Hope in the USA Locally sourced goat leather 5.5” x 9”
Your handmade journal not only embodies the artistry of its creators but also carries the essence of Haiti’s daily life. In Haiti, goats are an integral part of the community’s sustenance, serving as a vital source of protein. Leather, a byproduct of this essential source of nourishment, is repurposed to create the beautifully textured covers of your journal. This reflects a commitment to waste reduction and a harmonious relationship with nature, showcasing how every part of the goat is valued in the intricate tapestry of Haitian life. As you document your family’s memories and recipes within these pages, you’re connecting with the artisans of Haiti who handcrafted the journal as well as those in the USA who embossed it. Each stroke of the pen becomes a thread weaving together stories of resilience, resourcefulness, and the shared spirit of communities across continents.
2nd Story Goods 2nd Story Goods is a nonprofit social enterprise based in Gonaives, Haiti. They are dedicated to creating living-wage jobs for makers to ethically handcraft goods from local and recycled materials. Creating these journals for The Grace Case created a total of 1900 hours of work for 22 people. This order had the significant impact of covering this year’s school fees for all of the artisans’ children.Because all of the materials were sourced in-country, the ripple effect is even bigger throughout the supply chain. Grace Case members can receive 15% off at 2ndstorygoods.com with the code MERCY2023. Offer expires Dec 31, 2023.
About the artisan: Benson
Benson Thermidor is the leader of the leather workshop for 2nd Story Goods. He has grown it from a one-man operation to a company employing nearly twenty people. Kathy “MK” Brooks, director of 2nd Story Goods, realized Benson was special when she witnessed him teaching his skill to others. He figured out how to explain the intricacies of fractions to women who had never learned about them in school. Benson recently explained to MK how grateful he is that she chose to empower him instead of simply giving him a handout. He asked “MK, do you know how to keep poor people poor? [You] give them everything they need. Give them food and clothes and houses. Give it to them and never ask them to do anything for it. Do this for a long time. Year after year. That way they never develop their own capacity. That way they never grow and they will always need you. They will stay dependent on you.” “MK, do you realize that when you met me as a young man, you saw that I came from a poor family with many brothers and sisters? You could have decided to help me by bringing us clothes and food and paying our bills each month. You could have just seen our lack, instead of seeing me as a young man with great capacity. If you had done that, where would I be today?” “Where would I be today?” Benson asked again. “I would not know my capacity to build a company and make beautiful products. I would not be who I am today, a leader in my community and a provider for my family.”
Local Hope Local Hope is an artisan group from Houston, Texas, comprised of vulnerable women, including refugees and survivors of human trafficking. The group receives support from Mercy House Global, an organization that offers skills training and employment opportunities to empower these women. Local Hope aims to provide a supportive work environment where women can rebuild their lives and gain economic independence. In addition to creating economic opportunities through job creation, MHG extends its support to the local refugee community through various programs. These initiatives include ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) classes and empowerment luncheons. The events not only foster fellowship but also provide skills training, empowering individuals to enhance their capabilities and integrate successfully into their new environment. MHG’s multifaceted approach goes beyond commerce, emphasizing community development and the holistic well-being of its members.
Every table is holy ground because every table is an altar, where the outcast is invited right in, where the forgotten feels how God is for her, where the weary and limping get to lean on a Love that holds and where the craving are served an abundance of grace that deeply fulfills.
Pull on an apron during these holidays—these holy days—and have an unforgettable pastamaking party that will be remembered for years to come.
Make a family book of recipes and memories around meals and jot down names and dates and conversations and note the heart-mending miracles that happened around tables and mark how Christ was seen when people gathered around the table.
Mercy House Global Not only did your purchase of The Grace Case provide dignified work for artisans around the world, but one hundred percent of the profits go toward funding the work of Mercy House Global.
Christ is the holy who meets you every day, who offers Himself around every table, who gives provision whenever plates are served, who fulfills every craving with His amazing grace.
Let the love start in the kitchen, invite more to gather ‘round the table, and celebrate these holidays with plates of holy joy!
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