Food Revival

You've heard me mention West End Community Gardens many times on Food Revival, but there's one person in particular I'd like to highlight here: Program Director and Chef Ama Shambulia. Ama is many things –  chef, program director of WE Community Gardens, master gardener, urban gardener, teacher, listener, community member, and most important to me...my friend. To tell the truth, Ama and I make a great pair. I'm usually buzzing all around clapping my hands and talking ninety to nothing. Ama is usually listening very carefully, choosing her words wisely,  providing a calm, steady energy and guidance to our partnership. At the end of the day, our vision is united and our partnership is strong. Ama has taught me so many things about what it takes to withstand challenges that are thrown my way as I continue to make my way through the childhood obesity fight in Jefferson County (and West End in particular).

No matter where I go in West End, I hear the same thing. "Have you had Ama's Greens yet?" I'm pleased to say, "Yes, I have." Traditionally, greens (at least in the South) are cooked to death with pork, which tends to strip them of all of their nutrients. Ama's Greens on the other hand remain fully in tact and raw and tossed with a delicious, bright marinade that will knock your socks off. No salted pork needed. I'm not kidding, folks.

Though you'd normally need to attend one of her cooking classes in West End to get this recipe, I'm so very honored to have gotten her permission to feature her famous recipe here on Food Revival. I present to you, my wonderful Food Revival people, "Mama Ama's Marinated Greens Salad" Recipe:

mama ama’s marinated greens salad

1 bunch each fresh greens of your choice ( collards, chard, kale )
washed and finely sliced

1 rib celery 
finely sliced

½  red onion 
 sliced



1 sprig thyme 

freshly picked

cayenne chili

according to taste

½ cup lemon juice
 (amanda's note: fresh, please)
½ cup braggs aminos
¼ cup olive oil

love


combine all ingredients in your favorite salad bowl serve immediately as a side salad or as an condiment accompaniment on black-eyed peas

Couple of notes from me (Amanda):
Greens: Take your Kale, Swiss Chard, Collards and roll them up to look like a cigar (like you would do if you were slicing basil) and then slice to get thin ribbons of greens.
Celery: Thinly sliced is the truth... you should almost be able to see through your half-moon celery slice
Cayenne Chili: I used an actual chili (seeds removed) and sliced the chili extremely thin
Braggs Aminos: I found my bottle at our local Whole Foods Market. I'm assuming a soy sauce might work if you can't find the same product.

And as Ama would say on many of our emails...

"Endless Gratitude,
"
Amanda

If you live in Birmingham, Alabama and you haven't heard of West End Community Gardens, I am so pleased to introduce y'all. I am so proud to be connected to these wonderful folks and of the work they are doing in West End.

West End Community Gardens (affectionately known as WE Community Gardens) is a project of Urban Ministry, Inc and Community Church Without Walls. Forgive the formality, but I think it is important to understand how all of the work is connected. Urban Ministry, Inc., is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that has continued to meet the needs of residents in Birmingham since its founding in 1976. In 2008, building on its foundation as a strong community-based organization in West End and recognizing the lack of access to fresh and healthy foods, Urban Ministry partnered with Community Church Without Walls, a mission-based, United Methodist church that meets in the homes of its members, to create WE Community Gardens.  In a short period of time, WE Community Gardens (which is fully organic) has made a huge impact:

• 16 families had 4’x8’ community garden plots, all of which provided fresh and healthy produce to the childrens' families from Urban Ministry’s after school program and learned to garden and prepare healthy food grown in the youth garden area
• Hundreds of community residents participated in educational and nutritional classes once a month
• Juvenile offenders were able to learn about gardening and healthy eating habits thanks to an innovative program that allowed them to fulfill their court ordered community service while working in the Gardens.

But, the future is even brighter. In May 2010, Urban Ministry will start and staff a curb market in West End, meant to encourage youth engagement while offering produce from WE Community Gardens to the larger West End community.You will also see West End Community Gardens at Pepper Place Market each Saturday morning. Ama Shambulia, WE Community Gardens Program Director, will continue her educational and nutritional classes in an effort called "3 Days, 3 Ways," which will introduce one seasonal item and the budget-friendly solutions to each week's menu.

To support all of these efforts, Cafe Dupont will host a fundraiser banquet on Saturday, March 20th from 6-9 pm with proceeds benefiting the Gardens. Ingredients will be sourced locally and by Whole Foods Market. Tickets are $125 per person, $225 per couple and you are encouraged to purchase online:www.communitychurchwithoutwalls.com. Simply click on “give” at the top of the page and then send an email to rglyons@gmail.com indicating your gift is to reserve a spot at the banquet. Or send a check addressed to Community Church without Walls, 1229 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211.

Please click on the following links to find out about all of the partners associated with this event:
Cafe Dupont
Community Church Without Walls
Urban Ministry, Inc
Whole Foods Market

Yes, times are tough and we are all overstretched, but I am renewed by the movement that is happening in Birmingham. I hope to spend some time with you over dinner March 20th...