Tag: University Mall

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Farmer’s Market Finds

As you’ve likely heard before, farmer’s markets are a great local shopping adventure. Some are practically one stop for your grocery needs. Even in winter months, the Carbobdale area is blessed to have a couple of farmer’s market options. The Community Farmer’s Market is open December through March from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the movie theater wing of the University Mall at Carbobdale. L.E.A.F. Food Hub is an online farmer’s market with pick up locations in Carbondale, DuQuoin, Carterville, Marion, Herrin, Cobden, and Tunnel Hill. Some home delivery is available.

Macarons

Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market

Herbal Teas by Mustard Seed Sowers. My favorite is the Holy Basil. Licorice Mint is also good. My daughter loves the Chocolate Mint.

Honey & Shrooms has local honey and beeswax.

Glacier’s End has many wonderful shrubs and products like hickory and elderberry syrups. The Mexican Mocha Hot Sauce is wonderful. Cordials such as their Honeysuckle are great additions to drinks.

Honeysuckle Cordial complements the flavors in a homemade sparkling raspberry spritzer.
A large variety of bison products are available.

If you have SNAP/Link, it can be used to double your buying power on eligible food products at the Farmer’s Market

If you have stayed away from Farmer’s Markets because you are concerned about prices, I can tell you that there are various price points. Some gourmet local items may run a bit more than you would spend but can be used sparingly to add flare to your dishes. Many things really don’t seem any higher than national chain store prices. For example, I actually paid less for cube steak at the Farmer’s Market than I would have paid at the larger chain store. Actually, there was a better variety of meat available at the farmers market than at the chain store . Please keep in mind that if you can’t find something on bare shelves at a larger store, you might find an even better local product through one of the local markets or stores.

Flyway Family Farms has a great variety of mushrooms like shiitake, oyster, and lion’s mane. They also have seasonings and Mushroom Jerky.

Warm potato and green bean salad made with a vinaigrette containing Glacier’s End’s Apple Butter Ginger Shrub. The Shrub helped to add a bit of acidity to the vinaigrette while echoing the freshly grated ginger root.

Gallo Pinto (Costa Rica’s national breakfast dish) made with brown rice by Cahokia Rice. They also have white rice. Both are available through L.E.A.F. Food Hub.

Baked Vegetable “Stir Fry” with shiitaki mushrooms from Flyway Family Farms.

Marinated shiitaki mushrooms (Flyway Family Farm) and chicken kabobs on Rosemary BBQ Skewers from Flora Bay Farm

Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market

L.E.A.F. Food Hub goodies delivered to our home.

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Watermelon radish from River to River Farm and Basil Microgreens from Autumn Ridge Farm kick this salsa garnish up a bit. Both were ordered through L.E.A.F. Food Hub.

Big Muddy Hogs in Hurst also carries many local items, such as bread from Baked on Division and Steam Shovel Coffee. They are located at 300 Adams Street. Many of the local farms and vendors give product updates and advise where you may find their products on Facebook and Instagram.

Links:

Big Muddy Hogs https://www.facebook.com/BigMuddyHogs/

Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/communityfarmersmarket/ http://www.carbondalemarket.com/

L.E.A.F. Food Hub https://www.facebook.com/LEAFFoodHub/ https://www.leaffoodhub.com/

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Adventures in Mall Ratting & More in the Dale

The super-talented A Slice of Southern Illinois interns and I spent a nice evening in The Dale (for the non-locals, that’s Carbondale.) Before we could do much else, we had to tend to a turn signal light that just had to quit working… Athough they claim to have never changed one before, the put their heads together and fixed it like pros.

Once we could safely turn left again, we headed to University Mall. My early childhood memories of visiting this mall include trips from Salem in the family Pacer and riding the escalator in Sears to shop for View Master disks. (Our younger readers may have to search some of things–unless maybe they saw the Pacer in “Wayne’s World.”)So, during our mall rat (some folks may have to search that term…) adventures, we walked a bit and perhaps shopped a bit too. Since interning is not a paid gig, some checked on job applications… The bonus: we visited a bit with friends while we were there.

After the mall, we headed to The Strip to get some evening photos. Mijo and I debated dinner options while Mija and Josh walked along the strip for photos. No surprise, they didn’t just take a photo of the same nostalgic Dairy Queen that my parents visited as SIU students before I was ever born. They returned to the vehicle with frozen treats.

Then we headed to New Kahala to eat. If you’ve not eaten there before, just know that they have very generous portions. Oh, and the food is good too, not just plate-filling. We started off with yummy crab rangoon. Two interns had vegetarian lo mein, one had shrimp lo mein, and I was the oddball with the beef with scallions and ginger and rice…

As we left, I asked Mijo to get a quick photo of The Towers. He managed to catch this awesome shot of a car he liked passing the dorms in the background on Grand Avenue.