The Giving Table ~ America Has an Eating Disorder ~ We Are in a Food Fight #takeyourplace -

Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry
Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in America

Ever have a cracker and mustard sandwich for lunch or crushed saltines in water for cereal? More than 16 million children live in homes that struggle to put food on the table. That is One in Five American children! Nearly 18 million children live in poverty in America. That is 22% of children! Schools play a vital roll in feeding these children. For some, that is the only food they eat each day. That is unacceptable!

Food Bloggers Against Hunger #takeyourplace

Today I am joining 200 other food bloggers who are determined to help change this by writing about Share Our Strength’s call to action! I am asking my readers to#takeyourplace and write letters to Congress about this problem. It is very easy. Just click the call to action link and fill in your address information. It takes less than one minute! It is all set up to send letters to your congressmen when you click ‘Send Message.’ Please join the me and the No Kid Hungry campaign in standing up for kids in need. Urge your members of Congress to protect federal nutrition programs that feed our nation’s hungry kids.

I am passionate about this cause. I have written about this here and here and here. When I last wrote about this in December of 2012 it was one is six children were food challenged…four short months later it is one in five! We are in the midst of a crisis. Children go to school hungry. Seniors go to sleep hungry. Hardworking Americans who have lost their jobs go without meals every day. People you know, perhaps neighbors and/or family members, could be suffering in silence at this moment.

Low Cost Recipe – Irish Soda Bread

This is a beautiful low-cost way to give the gift of food to someone you know who might be hungry.

You just layer the dry ingredients in a Mason Jar…print out the printable Gift Set at left…cut out the recipe and punch out the 2″ circular tag…decorate your jar lid and you’re all set. It is a great hostess gift for St. Paddy’s Day party throwers.

Just double click the recipe card and tag printable to the left and that will start the download. Once it is downloaded to your computer, open it and print it on cardstock. Cut out the recipe and combine the dry ingredients in a Mason jar. Try to make nice layers.

HINT: Place the flour mixture on the bottom. If you place it or even part of it on top of raisins, the flour will seep down into them and cover them. See the video above and you will understand!!!

Cove the jar lid with a cute green print fabric. I used a leather shoelace to tie it on. Punch out the round tag with a 2″ punch. I designed the tags with a little play in case you get a little off center. Punch a hole in the top of the tag and hang it from the shoelace. You could also glue it to the front of the jar as in the picture above.

This is a quick and easy low cost recipe. This is a great recipe to try for your first attempt at breadmaking…as it is almost foolproof!! The traditional recipe calls for raisins, but I often substitute semi-sweet chocolate shavings, craisins and a new fave is pomegranate craisins. So feel free to experiment.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup raisins

Combine dry ingredients into a bowl.
Cut in butter until it is thoroughly mixed with dry ingredients.
Spread mixture out on floured surface.
Make a well in center of the mixture.
Wisk egg and buttermilk together. Pour into the well in center of dry mixture.
Mix with your hands. It s sticky.
Knead for 1 minute adding small amounts of flour to make it less sticky.
Shape into a nice round loaf.
Place on greased baking sheet. Score the top with a cross shape with knife.
Bake and enjoy!!!

Tell Congress: Federal nutrition programs are crucial for hungry children

Current proposals in Congress include deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including efforts that would cause up to 9 million people to lose their benefits altogether. These cuts will have a harmful impact on millions of children across the country, causing them to lose access to the food they need every day. Today, nearly half of the 47 million SNAP recipients in our country are children. The program provides a critical role in making sure that, even when their families face tough economic times, children are still able to get the healthy food they need. SNAP is one of our nation’s most effective anti-poverty programs and cuts to the program will leave millions of children without access to the food they need to thrive. Additionally, SNAP Ed provides critical nutrition education to low-income families, empowering them to stretch their food dollars further to purchase and prepare healthy meals on a budget.

A Place at the Table

I encourage everyone to see A Place at the Table. A Place at the Table premiered March 1st and shows us how hunger poses serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation, and that it could be solved once and for all, if the American public decides—as they have in the past—that making healthy food available and affordable is in the best interest of us all.

What Else You Can Do

Join the Hunger Core Monthly giving club
Volunteer Volunteer at a Culinary Event
Advocate Take the No Kid Hungry Pledge
Spread Awareness Get your school involved in fighting hunger
Events Attend Taste of the Nation Palm Beach
Donate/Fundraise Make a Gift to Expand the Reach of No Kid Hungry

Engage on social media today:

The Giving Table on FaceBook
Twitter: Use the hashtag #takeyourplace to show your supports
Visit this Pinterest board for low cost recipes

The other bloggers:

The brainchild of Nicole of Eat This Poem and The Giving Table, 200 food bloggers unite today against hunger. Visit the food bloggers for more great information and recipes.

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Comments

Liz says

April 8, 2013 at 4:54 pm

Totally unacceptable! Thanks for joining in on this important cause.
Rebecca E. Parsons says

April 8, 2013 at 5:05 pm

Yes it is Liz. I am thrilled to be a part of this…my favorite cause!!!
Ellen says

April 8, 2013 at 5:31 pm

What a great cause. I have volunteered at our local food shelf many times and there really are people who go to bed hungry in your community.
Anne @ Webicurean says

April 8, 2013 at 5:34 pm

Awesome post–I feel honored to be participating in this event. And I love your idea for Irish soda bread mix–what a wonderful gift idea.
Jen @JuanitasCocina says

April 8, 2013 at 6:02 pm

I love it when bloggers use their platform for change. Thank YOU for spreading the message.
Rebecca E. Parsons says

April 8, 2013 at 6:38 pm

I was one of those a few years ago Ellen. TY for stopping by!!!
Evi says

April 15, 2013 at 11:42 am

Glad to have so many passionate individuals joining and participating this event! I’m glad to see that you’ve seen changes since talking about this cause! Best of luck in the future, and a great post to get more people talking about this!
Cindys Recipes and Writings says

April 17, 2013 at 9:53 pm

I’m proud we got to spread this message through so many blogs! Hunger is and should be an issue we can do something about.

DIY Decor

gatherings

Tablescapes

Recipes

Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in America