The Weblog
The local foods movement is alive and well in Champaign County! Here are some updates on other projects while we finalize our virtual market:
Local Producers Map:
Our local producers map is ready for publication and you will soon be able to find it on gochampaign.com. Copies will be distributed around the community, in the local telephone book, and other “hangouts”. The guide lists the location and contact information for nearly 50 local producers within our county. The map was a project of the Local Food Council and printed with the help of some local sponsors including the Monument Square District, Champaign Bank, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and others. It is a great start to finding a local source for Champaign County’s finest!
Feed Your Head
Why reserve a day (or even a few hours) for meal prep?
•You’ll save time cooking throughout the week…
•You’ll have a healthy meal waiting for you when you’re experiencing fatigue or have an especially busy schedule….
•You won’t need to worry about stopping at the grocery store after work….
•You won’t need to worry about what you’re going to make for dinner – its already done!…
•You’ll save money by planning out meals and grocery purchases ahead of time….
•You’ll be more likely to reach your health goals (weight loss, muscle building, weight gain, etc.)…
One more note of love from your market manager…
I am, right at this moment, in my kitchen, with trays of local tomatoes all slow roasting in my ovens. Later, I will begin to sauté the rest of the ingredients for a few things this week.
Tomorrow, is the kick off for Cosmic Soup Season, at The Depot Coffeehouse. We rock the sandwiches and the soups in there!! The Depot has been my home away from home from the beginning of Cosmic Charlie. My breads are used for their sandwiches, and now, everyone gets excited for soup season!
Also, this weekend hosts another fun filled, great time of a local event…The Simon Kenton Chili Cook Off!!
Once again, I will be set up as a vendor with Oakview Farm Meats as we rock locally produced sandwiches, my breads, each of us sell chili, AND, you can even get a combo of Cosmic/Oakview chili!! It’s great fun, it’s an annual local event, and for many of us, it marks the end to a very long summer of multiple vending at various farmers markets, and festivals. Not all markets close down, but I am speaking from my markets…except for this year round lovely market.
ANYWAY…this time of year is when I turn back to the days when I was running my daughter to every activity, working a cool little part time gig, and making sure that when we arrived home, each evening, there was something healthy to pull out for dinner.
This is where I learned to make certain things, in larger batches, when items are in season, and then having them on hand for quick grab and go, give me a glass of wine, dinners…stress free, cost friendly, and super nutrition packed!
Back then, I wish this market had been in existence. I would have breezed through, placed my order, been able to race in, grab my order, feel good about shopping local, feel good about the cost friendly prices, AND, loaded up my pantry, fridge, and freezer, for quick, at home dinners…
Think about that as you get ready to place your orders before we close, this evening!
Right now, the trays of slow roasted tomatoes will come out of the oven, cool, go into containers for my fridge, and be ready to add to my Cosmic Soup of the Week, at The Depot, AND be ready when I am making Cosmic Veggie Chili to serve at this weekend’s event.
Do yourself a favor, show yourself some love, and do the planning/ordering/cooking to feed your head…
The market will close at 10pm, this evening…don’t be left with fast food options at the end of your busy evenings. Shop with us…let us be part of your evening dinner plans…
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam