PRAIRIE FIRE: BOOKS, GOURMET FOODS & GIFTS

Store Hours:
Tuesday - Friday 12-5
Saturday 10-4

Prairie Fire is Located at:
228 West Main Street
Decatur, Illinois
Click Here for Map!

Troy & Haven Taylor, Proprietors

Prairie Fire is home to Troy Taylor's Haunted Decatur Tours!
The Award-Winning Haunted History Tours of Decatur, Illinois depart from Prairie Fire from April through October each year! Tickets for the 2008 tours are available at the store!
Click Here for More About the Tours!

Troy & Haven Taylor's Prairie Fire is a unique gift & gourmet food store in downtown Decatur, specializing in items that can't be found anywhere else in the area, including bulk herbs & spices, a wide array of teas, pastas, hot food items, dips & cooking mixes, natural & organic soaps & foods, plus a complete selection of books from Whitechapel Press, one of America's leading publishers of books on haunted history.
Stop in, savor the aromas and check out our unusual selection of things
you won't find anywhere else!

Upcoming Events with Prairie Fire & Downtown Decatur

June 7: Shadows of Lincoln Festival -- Click Here for Info!

June 13: Haunted Decatur Tour -- 7:00 pm Click Here for Info!

June 20-21: 2008 Haunted America Conference at the Lincoln Theater (Hosted by Troy Taylor) Click Here for Info!

July 19: Haunted Decatur Tour & Overnight Ghost Hunt at the Lincoln Theater Click Here for Info!

August 1-3: Decatur Celebration

September 20: Tickets on Sale for the Halloween 2008 Season of the Haunted Decatur Tours -- On Sale at Prairie Fire, starting at 9:00 am

Prairie Fire offers both bulk (sold by the ounce) & packaged herbs and spices, including certified organic items from Mountain Rose Herbs, one of America's premiere herb & spice companies. We have a wonderful selection for professional & amateur chefs alike! Our selection includes:

* Chamomile
* Marjoram
* Ginger Root
* Cilantro Leaf
* Sarsaparilla
* Witch Hazel Leaf
* Lavender
* Licorice Root

* Thyme Leaf
* Oregano Leaf
* Fennel Seed
* White Sage
* Cinnamon
* Minced Onion
* St. Johns Wort
* Poppy Seed

* Lotus Leaf
* Catnip
* Basil Leaf
* Rosemary Leaf
* Chicory Root
* Peppermint
* Spearmint
* Clove Powder

And dozens & dozens more! Stop in and see for yourself what we have to offer -- and if we don't have it, we can order it for you!

Prairie Fire offers a unique selection of bulk & packaged teas, both in whole leaf and in bags, that you will definitely not find in your local grocery store!

We also offer tea accessories & gifts, from infusers to tea pots, gift packages and cups. Tea drinkers don't want to miss out on what we have to offer!

In addition to our bulk & specialty teas, we also offer selections from The Republic of Tea, Revolution Tea, English Tea Co., Harrisons & Crossfields & a wide array of Stash Teas, including their new Organic Line, iced teas & a wild assortment of flavors!

The Republic of Tea --
Now Available!

Check out our out-of-this-world selection of hot foods! We have everything from salsas to hot sauces, condiments, grilling sauces, barbeque sauces, hot mustards, queso, steak sauces, grilling spices, hot peppers & even whole chile peppers that you can use to make your favorite dishes! We have all of our favorite brands and dozens of recommendations, from the mild to the mouth-watering, sweat on the forehead, eyes-burning hot varieties!

One of our favorite sections of the store is the Zum Bars & other products from the wonderful folks at Indigo Wild! Zum Bars contain all-natural goats milk as the base. Goats milk is naturally homogenized. Plus, goats milk offers a pH level that's nearly identical to your skin, so Zum Bars won't leave you feeling oily or dry, but feeling just right. The bars are also made with pure essential oils and come in a wide array of scents that will leave you feeling truly, clean, refreshed and downright happy!

In addition to the fantastic Zum bars, we also offer:

* Zum Rubs (Great for Everything!)
* Zum Wash
* Zum Kiss Lip Balms
* Zum Scrubs
And Much More!

Prairie Fire is the only location in Illinois where you will find a complete selection of books from author Troy Taylor & Whitechapel Press, one of America's leading publishers of haunted history books!

Stop in for impromptu book signings with store owner, Troy Taylor!

Haunted Decatur & All of Troy's Current Books are Available at Prairie Fire!

Click Here to See the Complete List of Books from Whitechapel Press!

Our special, bulk potpourri blends are sold by the scoop and are mixed fresh with the scent of your choice at the time of purchase!

Prairie Fire features unique & novelty pastas, like chili pepper pasta, cat & dog lover's pasta, bicycle pasta & many others. We also feature special flavored pastas and pasta salad mixes for the summer!

We also offer gourmet mixes, dips, snacks, flavored popcorn from the Avon Theater, specialty items from Little House of Thyme & Many others!

Ideal Herbs for Vinegars:
* Basil
* Bay
* Cayenne
* Chives
* Lemon thyme
* Marjoram
* Mint
* Oregano
* Rosemary
* Thyme

Making your own gourmet vinegar:
Herb vinegars make wonderful marinades & salad dressings. They also make great gifts!

In a 1-quart glass jar, place at least 3 tablespoons of herbs, individually or in combination. Add vinegar (white wine, cider, or your choice) to cover. Secure lid and steep for 3 to 4 weeks in a cool, dark place. Strain vinegar through cone-shape paper coffee filters. Pour into clean, sterilized bottles and close tightly.

Sweet-Dreams Sachets:
Encourage a good night's sleep by making a dream pillow. Sew a 5x5-inch fabric (silk, organza, or cotton) envelope, stuff it with dried lavender flowers, and stitch it closed. Place the sachet near your bed pillow, and breathe the relaxing scent as you drift off to sleep.

Relaxing chamomile bath soak:
You will need 4 cups of powdered milk and 1/2 cup dried chamomile or chamomile tea bags. Draw about three inches of HOT water in the bathtub. Place the chamomile into a muslin bag (found in craft stores) or a washcloth and toss in the water. Let steep for 20 minutes. Add powdered milk and gently swirl to dissolve. Finish drawing your bath and enjoy!

Chamomile tea bags have many uses: For those who have dark circles and "saggy bags" under the eyes, eye allergies, or swollen tired eyes from a lack of sleep, many kind find relief from two cool chamomile tea bags. Much like cucumber slices, you can place cooled, still moist tea bags on each closed eyelid to ease discomfort.

Green Tea Salt Scrub:
Ingredients: 1 cup sea salt, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup baking soda, 2-3 tablespoons green tea
1/8 teaspoon vitamin E (or one capsule), 1/2 cup almond oil. Combine all of the dry ingredients together, mixing thoroughly. Place in a container of your choice. Mix the vitamin E and almond oil. Pour over the dry ingredients. This is a wonderful scrub that will invigorate blood flow to the skin's surface, exfoliate the dead skin cells, and leave your skin soft and sweetly scented.

Peppermint Foot Soak:

Bring water to a boil in a large pot; turn off heat. Add peppermint, cover with lid, and steep for 15 minutes. Transfer the brew to a small tub or bowl. Add warm or cool water to make a comfortable foot bath. For an extra treat, place marbles in the bottom of the tub and massage your feet on the marbles while the warm water releases the refreshing scent of peppermint.

Catnip Glove Fish:
Ingredients: dry catnip, a glove, yarn, and cotton. Make a special homemade gift for the family kitty cat! Simply cut off the fingers off the gloves. Take a pinch of catnip and stuff into the tip of the finger until you have the finger about 1/3 filled. Use cotton to fill up the remainder of the finger, then tie securely with yarn. Try adding a tiny bell to your fish to make it extra fun for your feline friend.

On Herbs,
There is Nothing to Resist.
With Nothing to Resist Them,
Harmony & Balance do not Hide.
Entering Harmony & Balance,
I Wash my Teacup.
- The Minister of Leaves

1. Fill the kettle with fresh, cold water and heat to a rolling boil (almost to boiling for green tea).

2. Warm the teapot by swirling steamy water inside of it. Pour it out.

3. Measure out 1 level teaspoon of tea per cup. Place into teapot or infusing basket.

4. Pour the water over the leaves, cover, and infuse to taste -- on average 3 to 5 minutes. Most green teas require a brief infusion, about 3 minutes; black and herb teas brew a bit longer.

5. Remove the infuser or use a strainer for the leaves. Pour into a cup and enjoy sip by sip.

Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns
can make the world a better place.
- The Wind in the Willows

Complimentary Flavor Families

Classic: basil, bay, oregano, and parsley

Herbal: basil, marjoram, rosemary,
& thyme

Hot: chili peppers, cilantro, cumin, & garlic

Pungent: chile peppers, cumin, curry, ginger, & whole black pepper

Sweet: allspice, anise, cinnamon,
cloves, & nutmeg

Mediterranean: rosemary, sage,
& savory

Italian: oregano, marjoram, thyme, basil, rosemary, & sage

Haunted Decatur Tours	The Avon Theater	Decatur Convention & Visitors Bureau	Decatur Conference Center & Hotel	Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce
Decatur City Centre	Decatur Herald & Review	Decatur Magazine	Blocks Brewery	Lincoln Square Theatre

Click on the Postcard to send messages to Prairie Fire, ask questions or make comments about the store!