Candied Citrus Peel Recipe

Candied Citrus Peel

Around 2 lbs. citrus peels

2 cups sugar

Dipping chocolate (optional)

Put peels in a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and cook for two minutes. Strain (save water for irrigating plants, moistening compost or some such) and repeat this operation five times, or until bitterness is satisfactorily reduced. Fill pot with water again, add sugar and simmer for half an hour. Turn off heat and let cool. Remove peels and save syrup for any number of culinary uses (sauces, smoothies, etc.) Slice peels into equally sized strips. Spread them on drying racks and dry in sun oven, in dehydrating machine or in the sun. When dry, though not hard, cover them with sugar to prevent them from sticking together when stored. You can also dip them in chocolate!

 Don't throw away your citrus peels--save them and turn them into something delicious!

Food and Music Connects Students and Refugees

In January, we had a large group of volunteers with us from Nebraska Wesleyan University. They harvested hundreds of pounds of produce, made many new friends, and even introduced us to a few individuals they had met while dropping food off at apartment complexes. 

To celebrate their achievements, our talented volunteer, Roy, cooked a delicious dinner for the the end of their visit. I was very excited to be able to get to know some of the students better, and celebrate all the work they had done throughout the week. Since I wasn't involved in organizing the event, I was able to spend time with people. I was grateful for this change of pace, since I am often so busy with last minute details that I don't take the time to relax and enjoy people's company. I knew I was going to have fun, but I could not have anticipated the tremendous success of this event.

After spending time at dinner discussing New Years celebrations around the world (apparently a big deal in Burundi, and a time of year when everyone comes together), we moved into a common room and began making music. One of Iskashitaa's Burundian members can pick up just about any instrument and begin playing and singing along. Lots of students picked up drums, and one of our Iraqi friends, upon seeing that there were no more drums, began using two oranges as a percussion instrument. Soon everyone was singing. It was an incredible moment of people connecting through music, and it was especially dear to my heart since I studied music in college. I was also struck by the extent to which people had developed deep relationships with others from around the world. People had formed friendships across boundaries because of a shared love of gardening, for example, and Iraqi and Egyptian refugees were able to connect with a Sudanese refugee through their common language of Arabic. 

I left the evening thinking how profoundly simple that dinner was, and yet how it was exactly what we needed to be doing. And it all happened so organically. I am constantly amazed at how people will come together if we simply give them an opportunity to do so.

Heather Gerrish

Harvesting Coordinator

Iskashitaa Refugee Network

Community Food Bank Donates Van

The staff and volunteers of Iskashitaa Refugee Network extend our deepest thanks to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona for its recent donation of a cargo van.

This generous donation will dramatically increase our capacity to harvest and transport fresh fruits and vegetables from homeowners' backyards in and around Tucson, as well as from farms and orchards throughout southern Arizona.

We have worked closely with the CFB for many years to conduct joint citrus and pumpkin harvests, and have participated at their Santa Cruz Farmers' Market. We are grateful for this ongoing partnership, which allows us to better serve refugees and other food-insecure families throughout Pima County.

Iskashitaa Welcomes New Intern : Meet Emily

Emily is a graduating senior at the University of Arizona and looks forward to receiving
a Bachelor's of Science in Global Studies: International Development and Political
Economy, in May.

She has worked with various agricultural organizations and she hopes to one day 
focus her research on the problem of food insecurity in Latin America, which is 
her region of emphasis.

However, recognizing the food insecurity and hunger problem in her own backyard,
she has joined the Iskashitaa community to serve and be served as she finishes 
her undergraduate career. As a development major, she has never accounted for refugee
communities in her studies. She is therefore very excited to learn more about their
presence and role in our society, as well as their needs and abilities.