As reported on the official website of the Master of Public Administration Program, the Master of Public Administration Study Program conducted a community service activity in the form of a training session in Mranggen, Magelang, Central Java (February 23rd). On this occasion, there were two training sessions. The first training targeted fathers and young men in Mranggen village, most of whom are salak farmers, focusing on organic fertilizer making. The second training targeted housewives, focusing on making salak brownies and utilizing salak peel waste for crafts.
Due to limited knowledge among the residents of Mranggen Village regarding the benefits of salak, many people consider salak as only a fruit and discard the peel. In fact, salak fruit can be made into brownies, which can increase the price of salak when processed into brownies. The people of Mranggen were very enthusiastic about this training, which invited competent trainers, namely Ibu Ari Erta Kumala H., S.S. as the owner of Omah Salak in Turi and Ibu Liya Budi H.
This brownie-making training, in addition to providing new skills for the mothers in Mranggen village, also aims to improve family economics. It is hoped that after this training activity, they can make brownies themselves and make it as one of the family’s income sources to support family economic independence.
“This brownie-making training is very beneficial for us who live in the village, because through this activity, we finally know how to make delicious and cheap brownies,” said Partinah, one of the residents who participated in the activity.
Ibu Liya Budi H explained that the process is not complicated. First, cut the salak fruit into small pieces. Then, melt the chocolate bar until it becomes liquid, after the chocolate melts, then add vegetable oil. After that, make the dry ingredients by mixing flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. The next step is to make a wet mixture by mixing eggs, sugar, vanilla, and ovalet. Then beat the wet mixture until it expands, after the mixture expands, the next step is to mix the dry mixture with the wet mixture. Then add the melted chocolate and stir until evenly mixed, add the chopped salak fruit. Then grease the mold, after that pour the batter into the mold and ready to be steamed.
In addition to making brownies, the community was also taught how to process salak peel to create a new economy in the village. This craft is very helpful if there are tourists who come to the village. This becomes a reminder for people of that village. The mothers of Mranggen village make keychains, pins, and tissue boxes using salak peel as the base material.
