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Baked Goodies

Baker’s Passion Leads to Creation of His Own Business

June 20, 2017 By marketeditor

Middlegrove Bakehouse

By Courtney Kramer

Photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Throughout his nomadic life, one thing has remained consistent for Mark Gallucci: his love for baking.

That passion drove him to start his one-man operation, Middle Grove Bakehouse, originating in the town of the same name, just west of Saratoga Springs. Gallucci is among the new Wednesday vendors at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, where he offers an array of homemade baguettes, sourdough and whole wheat breads, as well as a sour cream coffee cake.

Gallucci has been a baker with the Mouzon House, a popular farm-to-table restaurant located near the farmers’ market’s summer location at High Rock Park. He grew up in the Capital Region but spent his 20s traveling the West Coast. While living in Seattle at age 25, where his friend’s family ran a bakery, he learned how to make and bake bread. From there, Gallucci’s dream to start his own bakery emerged.

About a year ago, his dreams came to fruition when Middle Grove Bakehouse was born. Gallucci finds comfort in the community aspect of the farmer’s market, between both the customers and the vendors. He appreciates that the market creates relationships that provide him with direct feedback from those who purchase his products.

For example, when I was interviewing him for this piece, a customer expressed, “That wheat bread was great with dinner last week, thank you.” Such moments of validation add to the enjoyment that Gallucci already finds in owning his own business.

Although his best-selling products have varied over time, Gallucci especially loves making sourdough bread, partly because it evokes his years of traveling the West Coast and living for a time in San Francisco, which he describes as “the sourdough epicenter.”

But that’s not to say he doesn’t appreciate the wide range of culinary options that the East Coast offers. He especially praises The Country Corner Café in Saratoga (another vendor at the Wednesday market), the Village Pizzeria in Galway, and his former employer, The Mouzon House, where his wife currently works. In addition to baking and selling bread for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Gallucci is also a stay-at-home father to his 14-month-old daughter.

Come and visit Mark at Middle Grove Bakehouse on Wednesdays at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market at the High Rock Park Pavilions.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is held 3-6 p.m. every Wednesday and 9a.m. – 1p.m. every Saturday at the High Rock Park Pavilions. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


 

Recipe photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett
Recipe photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Summer Bruschetta

Mark has provided a recipe for an easy summer appetizer, bruschetta, which begins with one of his baguettes. The rest of the ingredients can be purchased at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Serves 5-6

Ingredients:

• 5 chopped tomatoes
• 2-3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 10 finely chopped basil leaves
• A dash each of parsley, oregano, and salt & pepper
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Mix above ingredients in small bowl.
2. Slice baguette and place pieces on baking sheet.
3. Melt butter and garlic and brush over baguette slices.
4. Broil bread for 1-2 minutes.
5. Spoon the mixture on warm bread and enjoy!

Filed Under: Featured Article, News Tagged With: Baked Goodies, Saratoga Farmers' Market Recipes, Wednesday Market

Baker Adds a Sweet & Sassy Touch to the Market

July 5, 2016 By marketeditor

Sweet & Sassy Confections by Pattie Garrett

By Sarah Morin

Sweet & Sassy Confections“I can’t play favorites with my sweets,” confesses Julie Paul. “Everyday it changes. If something isn’t a favorite, I work tirelessly to make it that way.”

Paul is the owner of Sweet and Sassy Confections, one of the newest vendors at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. She bakes homemade cookies, biscotti, buttercream cookie sandwiches, and mini cakes out of her home, and sells the items at the farmers’ market on Saturdays. She also will be part of the Taste NY group of vendors at the Saratoga Racetrack during the track season, and fills orders via her web site, sweetsassyconfections.com.

As someone who grew up in the area, she says she always has loved the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, and strives to offer her customers the highest quality of products possible. She bakes in small batches from scratch and does not use processed ingredients, preservatives or pre-made mixes or fillings. Paul also uses fresh and local products whenever possible.

“People that visit the market appreciate the quality of product they find there and the time spent producing it,” said Paul, adding that Saratoga is an area where she’d like her business to grow.

Paul says she began baking as therapy. “It started as just an outlet for stress while I was in school and quickly became an obsession,” she said. She began Sweet and Sassy Confections in 2010, and is licensed to bake out of her home. As her business continues to grow, she continues to love the fact that she gets to be creative every day and taste all of the finished products to satisfy her sweet tooth.

“I love how happy a sweet treat can make people,” Paul says. “As someone with a huge sweet tooth, I know how just a single cookie or piece of cake can brighten your day. That’s why dessert is always used in celebration, I loved being a part of that for people.”

Even if Paul refuses to play favorites with her sweets, she does have a recommendation for first-time customers: One of her cookies, an item she calls the “World’s Best Chocolate Chip!” “I’ve been told it’s the best people have ever had,” said Paul, adding that she gave the item its name for that reason.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays May through October at High Rock Park.


Cherry Almond Scones at the Saratoga Farmers Market

Cherry Almond Scones

Recipe courtesy of Julie Paul
Makes 8 scones

Ingredients

*Ingredients found at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

Scones:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 oz cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks
• 1 cup fresh Farmers Market cherries, pitted and cut into quarters * (measured after cut)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds (and more for topping)
• 11/4 cup heavy cream *
• 2 tsp almond extract

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp Almond Extract

Directions

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium sized mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or by hand until it resembles a very coarse meal, with large chunks of butter still remaining.

Mix in cherries and almonds and place bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle some flour on a wooden surface and remove mix from the freezer. Combine heavy cream and almond extract in a measuring cup. Add 1 cup to the mix. Combine with a fork until it comes together, dough will be sticky.

Using your hands, form the dough into a large ball and place on the floured surface. Sprinkle a little more flour on top and form into a large flat disk with your hands.

Using a large knife or bench scraper, cut into 8 equal triangles. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with remaining cream.

Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes. Cool completely.

Whisk together confectioner’s sugar with water and almond extract until it is a thick drizzle (may need more water), drizzle over scones.

Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Featured Article, News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: Baked Goodies, Saratoga Farmers' Market Recipes

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We have plenty of heirloom tomatoes, green beans, We have plenty of heirloom tomatoes, green beans, and sweet corn at this week’s market! Perfect for a summer salad, or roasted with zucchini for a fresh pasta dish. 🍅🌽🥬

Flowers are in abundance here too, and make the perfect gift for anyone 💐🌼🌻

Stop by and grab a breakfast sandwich, coffee, scone, and hash brown while strolling in this gorgeous weather! We’ll be here from 9-1 🍃⛅️
Connecting our community with locally produced foo Connecting our community with locally produced food is a priority of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. While this connection supports the local economy, it also ensures that people of all economic levels have access to fresh, locally-sourced food. With this purpose, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has partnered with the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), CDPHP, Comfort Food Community, the FreshConnect program, and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for WIC participants and Seniors (FMNP). Check out this week's article to learn more at: https://www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/category/featured-article/

Photo: Summer melons from Gomez Veggie Ville

#saratogasprings #freshconnect #healthyliving #communityfirst #saratogafarmersmarket #agriculture #nonprofitorganization #farmtotable
Join us this Wednesday, 8/9, for a musical scaveng Join us this Wednesday, 8/9, for a musical scavenger hunt and farmers’ market song! Hosted by Caffe Lena, we’ll have plenty of fun activities for our awesome POP Club members 🤩🎶

Be sure to get a stamp on your POP Passport and a $2 POP coin!

We hope to see you tomorrow, rain or shine 🌤
Meet our newest Clifton Park farmer, Suzanne Fishe Meet our newest Clifton Park farmer, Suzanne Fisher! Our Clifton Park market runs every Monday, 2-5pm, at the Shenendehowa Methodist Church parking lot 971, Route 146 🌾🌽🍅 Today we will be joined by the Saratoga Office for the Aging! They will be passing out FMNP coupons for people that are 60+ and on a limited income. Hope to see you there!

#cliftonpark #farmersmarket #upstateny #agriculture #farmtotable #dinnerideas #shopsmall

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