Jane Hendry knows how to cook—there was never any question about that. And she always had a good head for business, and a strong appetite for hard work that success in the restaurant industry demands.

What she didn’t have was access to capital … until she heard about FINCA. And for more than 13 years, we’ve been with her every step of the way as she’s built her talent for cooking into Jane’s Take Away, a bustling restaurant in the Upanga district of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

She used her first loan to acquire a freezer and refrigerator, allowing her to buy meat in bulk at wholesale prices. Her next few loans helped renovate the kitchen and buy a new stove. Then came a van to make deliveries … a plot of land to grow her own vegetables and herbs … an expanded seating area … All financed with FINCA loans.

Her restaurant has done so well, Jane has bought a plot of land to build a home for her family and paid for her children’s education, with one daughter attending university!

She’s grateful for your support—and hopeful you’ll enjoy one of her specialties, Tanzanian Winter Squash.

Tanzanian Winter Squash

• 2 tablespoon oil
• ½ small onion, medium dice
• ½ inch fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 14-ounce can coconut milk
• 1 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded, and sliced into rectangular planks 1/2″ inch by 2″ inches
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• dash cinnamon to taste

Heat oil in large pot and sauté onion until just starting to brown. Add ginger and cardamom, stir for one minute, add coconut milk and salt. Stir and bring to a boil.

Add squash and turmeric. Once liquid boils again, check the level and add additional water if you think it is too dry, up to 1 cup. Cover pan and turn heat to low, continue to simmer until squash is tender, about 15 minutes.

If you want nice large pieces of squash, try not to stir or bump the squash as it simmers. Once the squash is tender, serve pieces of squash with sauce. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of each dish to taste.

It’s a recipe you can make anytime. Just like the recipe to give more hardworking entrepreneurs like Jane the opportunity they need to build a better life for their families: supporting FINCA with your tax-deductible gift this holiday season.