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Shop Local, Eat Fresh

Ballston Lake Apiaries

Farmers and producers share their favorite holiday foods

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by Julia Howard

 

The farmers’ market considers farmers and producers to be the ultimate foodies. They are on the pulse of what’s in season, follow food trends (and sometimes start them), and have a wealth of cooking knowledge for the foods they make and grow. At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, vendors and farmers share their favorite foods to eat during the holiday season.

“During the holidays, I love eating struffoli, also known as honey balls, topped with colorful sprinkles,” says Jessica Arceri, owner of Saratoga Peanut Butter. “My mom makes them every year, and I just love her recipe and the tradition,” Arceri adds. “I’m also partial to Saratoga Peanut Butters Mistletoe and Catch Me peanut butter.”

Saratoga Peanut Butter, photo by Pattie Garrett.

“During the holidays, I love eating desserts and sweets,” says Laurie Kokinda of Kokinda Farm. “My family made pierogies during the holidays, but I was always interested in the pies, chocolate, and cookies – I’m a sweetaholic!” Kokinda adds with a laugh.

Kokinda Farm, photo by Toni Nastasi

“During the holidays, I love eating mac and cheese,” says Max, the salesperson for Yankee Distillers. Comfort foods are often at the center of our cravings this time of year. Between the sentiments of the holiday season and the dip in temperatures, cream sauce and carbohydrates are just the things to warm our hearts and fill our stomachs.

Sean Dean of Nettle Meadow & Ballston Lake Apiaries, photo by Pattie Garrett

“During the holidays, I love a good beef roast,” says Sean Dean, the salesperson for Nettle Meadow and Ballston Lake Apiaries. “It’s the time of year to make something special that you wouldn’t typically make for a weeknight meal.” Beef roasts make for a memorable holiday feast that doesn’t have to be complicated. Just prepare it with garlic and herbs. 

“During the holidays, I love eating chickories,” says Himanee Gupta, co-owner of Squashvilla Farm. Chickories are bitter greens like frisée, escarole, and radicchio varieties that grow in the spring and fall. Pairing rich sides and hearty meats with a fresh, healthful salad offers balance to a heavy meal and aids digestion. 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturday, December 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Stop by for fresh ingredients for your favorite holiday staples.

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.

Sweets, Meats, and Easter Treats at Saratoga Farmers’ Market

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By Julia Howard

This weekend holds much significance in celebrating Passover, Good Friday, and Easter. Traditions may be cultural, spiritual, or simply individual, and this Saturday, Saratoga Farmers’ Market invites you to shop for your holiday feasts, festivities, and Easter baskets. We will also be giving away an Easter basket full of local goodies!

Kokinda Farm’s eggs, photo by Toni Nastasi.

Let’s begin with an Easter staple: eggs. Lovin’ Mama Farm, Kokinda Farm, Squash Villa Farm, and Elihu Farm have fresh, delicious, multi-colored eggs perfect for your Easter brunch and for dying in various colors—dying multi-colored eggs results in deep, earthy hues. You can even make natural dye using kale, beets, and onions. All are available at the farmers’ market. 

Saratoga Chocolate Co., photo by Toni Nastasi.

For those highly-anticipated Easter baskets, Saratoga Chocolate Co. makes Easter easy with pre-made baskets filled to the brim with their locally-made Easter-themed chocolates and sweets. They also have an assortment of chocolate bunnies in dark, milk, and white chocolate and in salted caramel. Ballston Lake Apiaries has honey sticks, and Slate Valley Farms has various maple candies. Brighten up a basket with crisp apples and apple chips from Saratoga Apple. 

The Food Florist, photo by Toni Nastasi.

Balancing breakfast preparation and egg hunts while pulling together a feast for later in the day can be challenging, but The Food Florist can help. Their Easter brunch menu includes a variety of take-and-bake quiches and ready-to-go breakfast casseroles like sausage, egg, and cheese; add a side of our homemade blueberry french toast.

For the main course, Bob and Mary Pratt from Elihu Farm are still taking orders for lamb cuts for Easter or Passover. Send your order to elihufarm@yahoo.com or call 518-744-3947. Other options include whole chicken from Ramble Creek Farm and Squash Villa Farm or brisket from Longlesson Farm. Pork & Greens and Hebron Valley Veal also have specialty cuts.

Goodway Gourmet, photo by Toni Nastasi.

For the desserts and sweets, Goodway Gourmet will have carrot cakes, rum cakes, cookies, brownies, and macaroons. Parchment will have a selection of their Scandinavian pastries, cookies, and bread. 

Don’t forget local bread, artisan cheeses, spirits and beer, seasonal produce, and more!

While you’re out shopping, be sure to stop by the Market Information booth to enter to win an Easter basket full of local products. There will also be live music and an activity for children and families to enjoy.

This week’s recipe: Roast Lamb

Making the most of Super Bowl-Valentine’s Day

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By Julia Howard

Whether you’re shopping for Super Bowl snacks or scrambling to find a thoughtful gift for Valentine’s Day, or maybe both, Saratoga Farmers’ Market vendors are prepared to meet all your needs at tomorrow’s market. 

Southy Sweets’ assorted Valentine’s Day special, photo by Toni Nastasi.

First, let’s talk about sweets. Our favorite chocolatiers at Saratoga Chocolate Company ask, “What’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate?”. Shop for their Valentine’s Trio, a variety of dark and milk chocolate infused with organic cacao nibs, passion fruit, and sugared violets. Southy Sweets has decadent chocolate and vanilla cake, chocolate-covered strawberries, and chocolate-covered pretzels. Our friends at Boozy Moo! encourage you to show your love with their Red Velvet Valentine ice cream cake made with Bailey’s Red Velvet liqueur, vodka, red velvet cookie crumble, and whipped cream frosting.

Now for snacks. Argyle Cheese Farmer, Nettle Meadow, and R&G Cheesemakers have a variety of cheeses for your Super Bowl spread or to share with your love on Valentine’s Day. But buyer beware, these local cheeses are so good that we won’t blame you if you decide to keep them for yourself. Muddy Trail Jerky Co. has dip mixes, sweet potato chips, and a variety of jerky suitable for snacking and gifting. And, Pork and Greens has a special that includes 1lb of tenderloin, bacon-pork rillettes, and a bag of pea shoots for $32.50. The kit also features cooking tips, recipes, pairing suggestions, and P&G stickers. Pre-order by emailing thisisporkandgreens@gmail.com.

Ballston Lake Apiaries, photo by Toni Nastasi

For Valentine’s Day gifting, Kim Dolan of  Kim Dolan Designed Jewelry says, “Why break tradition when it’s something as timeless as handcrafted jewelry?”. Shop her selection of silver and gemstone jewelry. Ballston Lake Apiaries has various hand-poured beeswax candles.

Something’s Brewing, photo by Toni Nastasi

Last but certainly not least, Something’s Brewing understands the ultimate gift is a great cup of coffee. Try their chocolate fudge-flavored coffee for Valentine’s Day. And, don’t forget to stock up on beer from Mean Max Brew Works – perfect for the Super Bowl and your favorite beer enthusiast.

There are no rules for snacking or gifting, so if you feel like indulging in chocolate-covered strawberries during the half-time show or giving yourself a beautiful piece of jewelry, follow your happiness and shop local.

This weeks’ recipe: Raspberry Crumble Bars

 

 

Food for Good Health at the Farmers’ Market

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By Julia Howard

Squash Villa Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

The best way to stay healthy during cold and flu season is to take preventative steps before you feel that first sniffle. If you become sick, resting, staying hydrated, and getting proper nutrition are some of the most important things you can do to feel better and recover faster. Many locally grown and sourced foods can alleviate and support you during the healing process.

Pasture-raised chicken and grass-fed beef bones are available at the farmers’ market and can be boiled down to make nutrient-dense stock. Bone broth is rich in minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids and has many health benefits. To get started, place 1 gallon of water, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2-4 pounds of animal bones, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a large pot or slow cooker. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 12-24 hours. The longer it cooks, the better it will taste and the more nutritious it will be.

Vitamin C is largely associated with a strengthened immune system and may help to reduce cold and flu symptoms. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, tomatoes, and fresh herbs like parsley and thyme are high in vitamin C and currently available from local farms.

Gomez Veggie Ville, photo by Pattie Garrett

Freshly harvested leafy greens like spinach and kale can also help boost your immune system as they contain vitamins E and C. A green smoothie or a raw salad can offer a daily dose of essential, health-building vitamins.

Ballston Lake Apiaries, photo by Pattie Garrett

Whether you’re looking to alleviate a cough or boost your immune system, honey is the perfect food to consume on its own or in a cup of tea. Honey is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Bee products such as propolis and bee pollen, available at Ballston Lake Apiaries, are high in zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins.

Garlic has been used in alternative medicine for centuries. Scientists have found that plant compounds in garlic are immune-supportive and anti-inflammatory even when consumed raw in small doses.

While no food alone can cure sickness, eating the right foods may help support your immune system and offer relief from certain symptoms.

This week’s recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup

Home for the Holidays Calls for Local Decorations

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Scotch Ridge Berry and Tree Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

By Emily Meagher

The cold, dark month of December calls for bright, warm decorations to make all that time spent indoors cozier and more enjoyable. At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, local farmers and artists bring Christmas greenery and other seasonal decorations that you can cherish through the winter season.

If you celebrate Christmas, Scotch Ridge Berry and Tree Farm should be your first stop at the market. Charles Holub sets up outside the Wilton Mall and has tabletop trees, wreaths, kissing balls, and door swags available every Saturday through December 18. Their Norwegian and blue spruces, noble fir, and white pine varieties are naturally grown at their farm in Duanesburg.

Lovin’ Mama Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

For a less traditional wreath, Lovin’ Mama Farm offers ones made from dried flowers they grow on their land. “We plant rows of flowers interspersed between our veggies for diversity and pollinator habitat and bring fresh bouquets to summer markets and our handmade dried wreaths during the holidays,” says owner Corinne Hansch.

Feathered Antler, photo by Pattie Garrett

To brighten up any room, stop by Feathered Antler’s stand. Gretchen’s colorfully painted items include wooden ornaments to go in your tree, cards and stockings you can display on your mantle, and decorative throw pillows for on your sofa. Or grab a painted plant pot and add a poinsettia plant from J. Adkins Cultivation.

Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff, photo by Pattie Garrett

Lastly, add some smaller items to spruce up your home during the holiday season. Ballston Lake Apiaries makes candles from their beeswax in shapes like bears and Faberge eggs. Gather around their warm light on a dark night. Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff’s holiday soaps, including snowflakes, gingerbread men, and many more options, will add some holiday cheer to your bathroom.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market offers three more opportunities to shop local before Christmas: on Saturday, December 11th and 18th, markets will run as usual. On Wednesday, December 22nd, a special market will run from 1:30 pm until 5:30 pm for a last-minute grocery and gift shop.

This week’s recipe: Peak-of-the-Season Salad with Walnut Oil Vinaigrette

Finding the unexpected at the farmers’ market

By

By Emily Meagher

Stevia plant from Green Jeans Market Farm, photo by Madison Jackson

When you take a trip to the farmers’ market in August, what do you expect to find? Surely, fresh produce comes to mind. Sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers. Maybe eggs, bread, or meats. While those are all certainly a big part of the market right now, keep an eye out for these more unexpected products the next time you visit the farmers’ market.

Plant power
The lush array of plants and herbs at Green Jeans Market Farm include some unusual items that you might have never thought to grow yourself. Take the stevia plant: rather than the powdered white substance found at the grocery store, the plant’s lush green leaves add a hint of natural sweetness to tea or baked goods. Or pick up a catnip plant to use for your cat to enjoy, or, avid gardeners: plant it between rows of vegetables to deter certain pests and animals.

Cyser from Ballston Lake Apiaries, photo by Madison Jackson

Adult beverages, done differently
There are several great distillers and cider makers at the farmers’ market. If you’re looking to try something new, consider “cyser” from Ballston Lake Apiaries. Cyser is a honey apple wine, a sweeter and tarter type of mead made with the apiary’s honey and New York apples.

Canned wine from Old Tavern Farm, photo by Madison Jackson

A new vendor this season, Old Tavern Farm, offers 4-packs of canned wine. Choose between rose and chardonnay, and be forewarned: each can contains half a bottle of wine! Ideal for bringing to the track if you’re looking to pick up some beverages before the Travers.

Sip your way to wellness

A2 milk from Argyle Cheese Farmer, photo by Madison Jackson

Argyle Cheese Farmer has a product for you if you enjoy farm-fresh milk but have noticed digestional discomfort after drinking it. Using only milk from a specific type of cow, their “Just A2” kinds of milk don’t contain the A1 protein associated with some cases of indigestion. A gentler way of drinking milk without sacrificing taste.

Moon Cycle Seed Company knows all about being gentler with your body. The wellness brand offers “moon milk”: a soothing drink blend derived from ayurvedic traditions. Grab any of three flavors: cherry beetroot, lavender cardamom, or golden turmeric, and brew with warm milk and honey for a heart-warming concoction.

The next time you visit the farmers’ market, spend some time visiting vendors off the beaten path and uncover an unexpected item that might become your new favorite.

This week’s recipe: Stress Relief Smoothie