When visiting other areas of the country, people don’t see the glamour of living in the Midwest. Hollywood seems to think we talk with a heavy accent and use phrases like “uff da” and “don’t cha know.” Not too many action hero-based films made here in southern Minnesota.

It seems everyone has a friend or relative who lives elsewhere, usually in a warmer climate, and every time you see him, he asks you how you can live up there in the cold, or with all the mosquitoes.

The fact is, yes it gets cold, and that’s why we have snowmobiles, ice fishing and hockey to occupy our winters. And yes, we sometimes have mosquitoes, but we all have mosquito spray handy. If anyone has spent some time outside in the evening the past few weeks, I challenge them to find a better portrait of God’s country than right here in southern Minnesota.

Living in the Corn Belt, we sometimes forget to notice the advantages of living here. I have spent time in other parts of the country, and it seems every time I am in a large metro area I notice more people are very concerned about the where, what, why and how of where their food comes from. It could be that the people in large cities are a long way from the farm, meaning it could be a few generations before their ancestors were on the farm. There is a hunger to learn more about what some of us take for granted.

In these large farmers markets, it’s unbelievable how many people are out purchasing locally grown products. These types of customers want to talk to the source, the people who grew the product. They ask a ton of questions regarding how it was raised or fed or processed. They are trying to educate themselves to make wise choices in the future and to eat healthy.

I have never met someone who bought a microwave from the person who made it or bought a car from the guy who built it. It would be humbling to purchase items that way. What would you ask the guy if you bought a computer from someone who designed and built it? I’m not sure, but if I did I bet I would be a lot more educated on how my computer works and how to use it.

Living in America’s bread basket means we have food professionals everywhere, and if you visit a farmers market you can purchase a product from the source.

Here are a couple grilling recipes — something easy but different from basic hamburgers and hot dogs.

.

Glaze and Grill Ham

1/2 cup creamy mustard blend (dijonaise)

1-1.5 cups pure maple syrup

1 tsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

2 smoked ham steaks (1-2 pounds)

In a large food storage bag, combine mustard, maple syrup, soy sauce and allspice. Add ham slices to the bag. Marinate overnight in refrigerator. Remove steaks from marinade and grill steaks over low to medium heat until warmed through, turning occasionally.

Marinated Sirloin Steaks

Sirloins are a great grilling steak, but can be more of challenge than a rib eye or New York strip to play it safe try marinating using this marinade, which can also tenderize.

2 lbs. (3-4) Sirloin steaks

1/4 cup salad oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. vinegar

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Mix together in food storage bag. Add sirloin steaks. Marinate overnight.

(This is also a great marinade for pork chops.)

The Albert Lea Farmers market has a lot of professional vendors every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Here are a few:

Baley Farms : produce

Bleckeberg: produce, homemade pies

Ulland: produce

Delablu Farm: produce, bird houses

Randy LaCore: maple syrup

Neal Garden: produce

Abrego’s Lefse: lefse, wood carvings, baked goods, crafts

Golden Sun Gardens: produce, eggs, perennial plants, herbs, chicken.

Dan Matz is a member of the Albert Lea Farmers Market.