Smarties, I’m excited to introduce you to one of our Smarty readers who I met recently. Meet Kris McKabe, one of the winners of our Mother’s Day Giveaway. When I met her to pass on her gift, I was intrigued by her passion, the Meeting Street Market. Kris VOLUNTEERS at this awesome little market nestled in the heart of Ballantyne, just because. Just because she believes in the farm to table concept. Just because she believes in feeding her family healthy options. Just because this is important to her. To me, that makes Kris super duper Smarty in my book, so I wanted to share her story with you today.
Kris’ Smarty Mom Stats
Mom of: Hannah Grace (8). We call her Grace or big G because her cousin is Gabe, little G.
Years married: 14
Years in Charlotte: Almost 20 yrs. Hard to believe.
‘Hood: SouthHampton
Hometown: Chatham, NJ
Occupation: stay-at-home-mom, volunteer at Elon Park Elementary School & volunteer market manager at Meeting Street Market (MSM)
Tell us how Meeting Street Market was born.
It started in an area that had almost nothing around it. It was a way to get people to the area to open shops and live. The proposed area was a live/work neighborhood. The gentleman that started it would also sell the space around it. When every thing was built up and sold, he moved to another job. So I decided to take it over because its important to me and my family to have local fresh produce. This year, in order to increase visibility, we moved the market to Elon Park Elementary School.
What does the schedule look like for the Summer at MSM?
We have regular produce vendors each week. We also have musicians on occasion, as well as spot light vendors that come to promote their business. We are also having Grow Charlotte come out and do activities for the kids.
We like to have vendors that give back to the community or nationwide. This month I have Fashion & Compassion. Fashion & Compassion is a non-profit with 100% of the profits reinvested back into the communities where the women who make our unique products are from. Fashion & Compassion work directly with artisans primarily in Africa and Charlotte. As such we help bring these beautiful products to caring consumers like you.
You are a huge proponent for the local farming movement. Tell us the importance of buying local.
Its quiet simple, Local grown food tastes better. The crops are picked at their peak, and brought to the market within a day or so. Unlike trucking in produce that by the time you eat it, most of the nutrients are lost. It has been off the vine for maybe weeks or sitting in warehouses. Livestock products are processed in nearby facilities and the farmer has a direct relationship with the processors, overseeing quality, unlike animals processed in large industrial facilities.
Moving on to the mom stuff…How has this business rubbed off on your family?
We eat much better than we used to. Fresh fruit, produce and grass fed meats help!!
What is your favorite thing to do with your family in South Charlotte?
Sit by our fire pit in our back yard.
What is your favorite summer activity with your family?
Vacationing.
What is the last meal you cooked?
2 cups salsa- I make my own from farmers market bounty
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Kosher salt
1 2 1/2-pound boneless pork butt or shoulder I get this from T & D Farms (http://www.tanddfarms.net/) at Meeting Street Market
18 corn tortillas
1/2 cup fresh cilantro sprigs
3/4 cup sour cream
1 lime, cut into wedges $
Preparation:
In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the salsa, chili powder, oregano, cocoa, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the pork and turn to coat.
Cook, covered, until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily, on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.
Twenty minutes before serving, heat oven to 350° F. Stack the tortillas, wrap them in foil, and bake until warm, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, using 2 forks, shred the pork and stir into the cooking liquid. Serve with the tortillas, cilantro, sour cream, lime, and extra salsa.
Smarty Tip: When using a slow cooker, resist the urge to lift the lid until the dish has cooked the minimum amount of time specified in the recipe. Each peek allows heat to escape and can increase cooking time by as much as a half hour.
Behavioral trait you hope your daughter doesn’t inherit from you.
Not sure, but I do hope Grace inherits my love for gardening & planting.
Favorite kids movie?
All the Toy Story’s
Favorite kids iphone app?
Funniest thing your daughter has ever said to you?
“Mom, can we go to Barns & No Balls for a book?”
Celebrity crush?
Matthew McConaughey
Guilty pleasure?
Anything salted Carmel mocha
Favorite CSP article?
Sept. 20th, 2011. And she would have been 40… (OK, Kris, this totally made me cry re-reading this again. Man do I miss her, that void doesn’t ever go away. Still and it’s now almost five years later:-)
You can find Meeting Street Market at:
Thanks, Kris, for sharing your Saturday with us. Smarties, remember to support local farmers this summer!
1 comment
Loved reading this!! Thanks for sharing!