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Sweet Prophecy shares family traditions with frgál cake

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By Julia Howard

 

Sweet Prophecy, one of the farmers’ market’s newest vendors, invites you on a culinary journey to the Wallachia region of the eastern Czech Republic. Wallachia is famous for its smoked sausages, slivovitz (plum brandy), and frgál cakes (a round cake with yeast-based dough and various toppings). It’s a unique area tucked into the Carpathian Mountains, where people speak in a traditional dialect.

Janek Palat is Sweet Prophecy’s main baker. His wife Katya helps to prepare smaller items, and his father-in-law Viktor specializes in apple pastries and strudels. Each week, they bring freshly baked confections traditional to Central and Eastern Europe; frgál cakes, apple strudels, apple sharlotkas, zucchini muffins, various cookies, and meringues (with gluten-free options, too). 

Frgál cakes attract attention amongst Sweet Prophecy’s display of European confections. The round, leveled cakes are layered with combinations of brilliant red currants, blueberries, and plums. Sweeter options of frgál cakes are topped with a poppy seed mixture, farmers’ cheese, and pears. Flavors dance with hints of fresh herbs that pair with the fruit.

“We hope this tradition of frgál cake will be recognized beyond the Czech Republic,” says Palat. “We think it’s a great and versatile dessert perfect for breakfast with coffee or tea or as a dessert at a large gathering. It has a beautiful rustic look, and there are choices from tart to sweet for varying tastes,” he adds.

Palat uses a 200-year-old recipe that has been held in his family for generations, and he and his wife Katya were trained to perfect the cake while living in Wallachia.

“We had done baking before this and thought about starting a food business with an experience for some time,” explains Palat.

When the couple moved to Saratoga Springs three years ago, they began regularly baking and cooking Czech foods to share with friends – reigniting their love of preparing and sharing traditional foods close to their hearts.

 

In addition to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Sweet Prophecy plans to attend more pop-up markets this spring and summer and expand its offerings to smoked meats and savory dishes from Palat’s home country. Follow them for updates and recipes on Instagram @sweetprophecybakery. Their Facebook page is coming soon!

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wilton Mall Food Court. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

 

Leavened Dumplings with Blueberries

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Leavened Dumplings with Blueberries

Recipe provided by Janek Palat, owner of Sweet Prophecy

Makes: 14 dumplings

Prep & cook time: 30 min

Ingredients:

For the dumplings:

  • 6 ¾ oz. (200 ml) lukewarm milk*
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast OR 4 ½ teaspoons of fresh yeast
  • 3 ¼ cups (400 g) flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 egg*
  • ¼ cups (40 g) sugar

For the filling:

  • blueberries (or any other fresh fruit: apples*, apricots, plums, peaches, etc.)

For the topping:

  • confectioners sugar
  • Farmers cheese (or substitute with chèvre*)
  • Melted butter 

*Ingredients available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

Instructions:

  1. Combine milk, yeast and a pinch of sugar in a bowl and cover it with a cloth. Allow it to set until it rises (about 10 min).
  2. Add all the other ingredients and mix together (by hand or using a mixer) until the dough has a smooth texture and does not stick to the spoon. Allow the dough to rest for a few minutes. 
  3. Divide the dough into 14 pieces. Process each piece into a flat round shape then add the blueberries (3-5) and close it from all sides, shaping into a ball. You will prepare 14 balls from this batch.
  4. The best cooking method for these dumplings is steaming – just remember to allow enough space between dumplings when placing them into a steamer. They will grow dramatically during steaming and almost triple their volume. You don’t want them to stick to each other, which is why it’s best to leave enough space between each dumpling.
  5. Steam for about 5-8 minutes, check the dumpling with a skewer to ensure that dough does not stick. 
  6. Once the dumplings are ready, you can serve them immediately. Add some farmer cheese on top of each dumpling, sprinkle it with confectioners sugar, melt some butter and pour over the dumplings for a delicious multi-dimensional taste. “Dobrou chuť!” or Bon appetit!

Note: Another way to prepare the dumplings is to cook them in boiling water. Make sure you have a pot full of water and don’t overfill it, so there is only 1 layer of dumplings in the pot. Cook for approximately 8-10 minutes.

Farmers’ Market Frittata

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Adapted from the recipe by M&A Farm

Serves: 6

Prep & cook time: 15 min

 

INGREDIENTS

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • 4 large eggs*
  • 4 egg whites*
  • 2 TBSP milk*
  • ½ tsp salt, divided
  • ¼ tsp pepper, divided
  • 1 cup mushrooms* of choice, sliced
  • 1 cup kale*, chopped
  • 1 cup bacon*, cooked and chopped
  • ½ tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 TBSP chopped parsley leaves (reserve some for garnish)
  • ½ cup chevre* (or another soft cheese*), crumbled into tiny pieces

 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat broiler and place top rack 4-5” from the element. Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk, ¼ tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper and set aside.
  2. On the stovetop, melt butter over medium-high heat in an iron skillet. Add vegetables and saute until they begin to soften for about 3-4 minutes. Add in the bacon, thyme, half of the parsley, 1/4 tsp salt, a pinch of pepper, and cook stirring for 1 more minute.
  3. Pour the egg mixture over the veggies and stir to evenly spread the veggies around. Let it cook, about 3-4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle cheese over the top.
  4. Place skillet under the broiler until eggs are slightly puffed and cheese begins to bubble and brown, 3-4 minutes. Watch carefully. Remove from the over, slide frittata onto a serving platter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Slice and serve.

Simple solutions to the dinner dilemma

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By Julia Howard

 

While there are usually easy meal solutions for breakfast and lunch, simple, healthy dinner ideas are challenging. Finding a recipe your family will enjoy is only a part of the struggle. We crave a quick fix for dinner, a wholesome meal that doesn’t take hours to prepare and cook and won’t require piles of dishes. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has meal motivation and locally sourced ingredients to get you through these dinner difficulties.

 

Sheet Pan Dinners

For an effortless, delicious meal with minimal cleanup, sheet pan dinners are one of our favorite approaches to dinner. Choose your favorite seasonal vegetable(s) and pair it with a protein like chicken, pork, or beef. Think steak with Brussels sprouts and potatoes, sausages with apples and carrots, or chicken with mushrooms and leeks. The internet has many ideas, and finding the right ingredients is super simple between your pantry and the farmers’ market.

Farmers’ Market Frittatas

Frittatas can be very easy to make and are a great way to clean out your refrigerator. Ingredients include eggs, vegetables, fresh herbs (optional, and returning to the market in Feb.), cheese, and bacon or sausage – or omit for a vegetarian option. Simply sautee the vegetables, add cooked bacon and herbs, pour whisked eggs over the mixture, top with cheese, and broil for 3-4 minutes. We love M&A Farm’s recipe, and remember that you can put just about anything in your frittata.

Carrot and ginger soup, photo by Pattie Garrett

Simple Soups

Soups are one of the most satisfying, healthy, and easy one-pot meals. Simply chop up your vegetables, sautee the aromatics (leeks, onions, carrots, garlic, but the list goes on), add chicken or vegetable stock and simmer, then puree or leave chunky depending on the soup and your preference of texture. Some ideas are vegetable soup, potato and leek soup, mushroom soup, and butternut squash soup.

Beef Stew

Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Meals

Slow cookers and Instant Pots have turned complicated, time-consuming meals into one-pot wonders. A quick Google search can reveal recipes from tacos to pot roasts to soups and stews. Once your ingredients are in the pot, you typically don’t need to pay attention to them until the meal is cooked and ready to serve. 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wilton Mall Food Court. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Chicken Spinach Salad with Butternut Squash

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Recipe by The Roasted Root, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table

Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the Vinaigrette:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 Tablespoons cider vinegar*
  • 1 Tablespoon honey*
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the chicken and butternut squash:

  • 1 pound boneless chicken tenders or breasts*
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 cups butternut squash*, peeled and chopped
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Salad:

  • 5 ounces of fresh baby spinach*
  • ½ cup raw pecan halves
  • ¼ cup golden raisins
  • 1 large green apple*, cored and sliced

Instructions

  1. For the vinaigrette: Whisk all the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small bowl until smooth.
  2. For the chicken and butternut squash: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.Place chicken in a casserole dish. Drizzle with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, and sprinkle with oregano, and paprika. Place the squash on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons olive oil and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Roast the squash and chicken in the oven for 25 minutes or until the squash is tender and golden brown. Continue to cook the chicken until cooked through.
  3. For the Salad: Place spinach in a bowl or on individual plates. Top with pecans, raisins, squash, chicken, and apples. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad.

 

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

Connecting businesses with the community since 1978

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By Julia Howard

 

Running a small business can be both liberating and challenging. While new and established businesses have different priorities, knowing and understanding customers’ needs is always at the center. Vendors at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market observe this first-hand. 

Sarah Avery of Moon Cycle Seed Co., photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

“In my opinion, it’s the best place to incubate new products and ideas,” said Shane Avery in an interview on his businesses Junbucha and Earth to Mind. “You get instant feedback, and customers’ reviews are honest, accurate, and high-quality.” 

Many business owners at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market share Avery’s sentiments. Customer interactions provide an excellent opportunity to create a positive experience and build relationships that are the foundation of a successful business.

Lovin’ Mama Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Lindsay Fisk of Owl Wood Farm shared similar feedback in a past interview. “We like the idea of farmers’ markets because we get to meet the customers and get to know them, and they get to know us,” said Fisk. “We also decided on farmers’ markets as an outlet when we started because we felt we could have more flexibility with what we could bring and not feel the pressure from pursuing wholesale outlets.”

This year marks the Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s 45th anniversary, an achievement that can be attributed to the diverse business community with that they have had the opportunity to grow. They hope to inspire new and established businesses to explore vendor opportunities in their markets.

The online application for the summer season of outdoor markets on Wednesdays, 3-6 pm, and Saturdays, 9 am-1 pm, at High Rock Park is currently open. These markets will run from May through the end of October. The Clifton Park Farmers’ Market, their affiliate, is also accepting applications for Mondays, 2-5 pm, at the Shenendehowa United Methodist Church parking lot. The application for these three markets is open until January 31, 2023.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is known for hosting various businesses. Local farms, artisans, crafters, and specialty and ready-to-eat food makers are welcome to apply. Businesses must be within a 50-mile radius of Saratoga Springs, and all products must be made or grown locally.

For more information, visit saratogafarmersmarket.org/vendor. You will find detailed information on the farmers’market, seasonal application dates, and a link to the vendor application.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wilton Mall Food Court. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.