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Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Simply Scratch, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 6

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● sea salt for the pasta water
● olive oil spray for baking dish
● 16 ounces dry pasta, rigatoni, or your favorite pasta
● 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
● 1 large shallot*, finely minced
● 2 cloves of garlic*, minced
● 10 fresh sage leaves, minced
● 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
● 1 cup chicken broth
● 1½ cups half and half
● pinch of kosher salt, plus more or less to taste
● freshly ground black pepper to taste
● ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
● 1½ cups homemade roasted butternut squash* puree
● 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
● 1¼ cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese*, divided

Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add in the shallot and garlic. Sauté until soft, about 2 – 3 minutes. Then add the fresh sage and stir, cooking for 1 minute.
3. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk, cooking the flour for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Next whisk in the chicken broth and half & half. Season with a small pinch of salt, lots of freshly ground black pepper, and nutmeg. Heat over medium-low, whisking occasionally until the sauce has thickened about 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Reduce the heat to low and add the butternut squash puree, parmesan, and ¼ cup of the cheddar cheese. Whisk until smooth.
6. After the pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and transfer it to the cheese sauce. Toss to combine.
7. Move the oven rack to the highest position in the oven and preheat the broiler to high.
8. Pour the pasta into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with the remaining cup of cheddar cheese. Slide the pan under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and is light golden brown in spots.

Notes: To make butternut squash puree, you need 1 butternut squash, olive oil, and kosher salt. Wash and pat dry the squash. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. With a sharp knife, trim off the ends and cut in half lengthwise. Brush with olive oil. Place the squash halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast on a rack placed in the middle of the oven for 40 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool enough to handle. With a spoon scoop out the flesh and place it in the food processor. Puree until smooth.

Mushroom Quiche

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen featured on Epicurious and shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves 8 servings, one 9-inch quiche

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 1 pie crust for a 9-inch pie
● 2 Tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter*
● ⅔ cup chopped shallots* (about 3 medium)
● 5 cups sliced assorted mushrooms* (for example: oyster, cremini, button)
● 4 large eggs*
● ⅔ cup half and half
● ⅓ whole milk*
● ½ teaspoon salt
● ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
● ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
● 1½ cups grated Fontina cheese (about 7 ounces), divided

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place pie crust in a 9-inch glass pie dish and bake until light brown about 17 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
2. Melt butter in a large heavy skillet, over medium-high heat. Add shallots. Sauté until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, and sauté until mushrooms are tender and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to plate and spread out to cool slightly.
3. Whisk eggs, half and half, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl to blend. Stir in 1 cup Fontina cheese and sautéed mushrooms. Pour filling into crust. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheese over quiche.
4. Bake at 325 degrees until puffed, golden brown and just set in the center, about 45 minutes or longer. Cool for 30 minutes.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

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AdobeStock

Recipe by Two Peas & Their Pod
Prep & assembly time: 15 mins
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

For the Dressing:
● ⅓ cup olive oil
● 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
● 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar*
● 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup*
● 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
● 1 clove garlic*, minced
● Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

For the Salad:
● 1 lb Brussels sprouts*, ends trimmed
● 1 large Honeycrisp* apple, chopped (or 2 small apples)
● ½ cup dried cranberries
● ½ cup sunflower seeds
● ⅓ cup shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese*
● Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions
1. First, make the maple mustard dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, mustard, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
2. Next, shave the brussels sprouts. Use a food processor with the slicing attachment and pulse until the brussels sprouts are thinly sliced. You can also use a mandoline or sharp knife if you don’t have a food processor.
3. Place the shredded brussels sprouts in a large bowl. Add the chopped apple, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle the salad with the dressing and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

One-Pot Bunker Hill Mac

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Photo by Sarah Buschynski

Recipe by Sarah Buschynski
Serves: 8
Prep & cook time: 15 min

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 6 cups of Bunker Hill Organic Creamery Whole Milk*
● 1 lb pasta (I like to mix and match – elbows, shells, etc.)
● 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese*, shredded
● Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Instead of cooking your pasta in water, you are going to cook it in milk. In a large pot, bring the milk to a boil over high heat. Babysit it, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
2. Add the dry pasta to the pot and reduce to medium heat, cooking until the noodles are tender. Continue to stir often.
3. Once the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes, remove from heat. No draining necessary. Slowly add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and the pasta is coated evenly.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Note: If you want to add more flavor to the dish, try ¼ tsp garlic powder. For some heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Experiment and have fun!

“I absolutely love sharing my culinary adventures and supporting local, all while feeding my family food made with love.” – Sarah Buschynski

Fall Favorites at the Farmers’ Market

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By Madison Jackson and Emily Meagher

Before the farmers’ market moves back indoors, we spend one last month with our tents up and our coats on to share fresh, local products with our community. Summer produce makes way for the fall harvest; a time for comforting food and drinks and festive seasonal products. Here are ten fall favorites you can find at our markets in October.

1. Apple cider and cider donuts
Saratoga Apple and Slyboro Cider House both operate their own orchards. Try their fresh apples, pressed apple cider, hard cider, and cider donuts. A real Upstate NY treat!

Saratoga Peanut Butter Company, photo by Madison Jackson

2. Pumpkin Pandemonium Peanut Butter
The name says it all. This Saratoga Peanut Butter Company creation is chock-full of rich pumpkin and peanut flavors. A guilt-free treat at only 2 grams of sugar per serving, it’s great on sandwiches, apples, ice cream, and more.

3. Hand-painted hats
Artist Gretchen Tisch, owner of Feathered Antler, gives hats a fall makeover. Pick up a leaf-accented fedora or hand-knit beanie at the market.

4. Hot chocolate cheesecake
Grandma Apple’s Cheesecakes’ flavors vary with the season. Our current favorite is hot chocolate cheesecake. It’s perfect for when you have company, but perfectly acceptable to eat all by yourself! Also available are apple and pumpkin cheesecakes and cheesecake filled apples dipped in chocolate.

5. Apple cider fromage frais
Nettle Meadow does cheesemaking with a creative touch, and it shows with their seasonal favorites. Back at the market are the soft apple cider fromage frais, pumpkin spice and maple chevre, and the brie-like Early Snow.

6. Local wool
Elihu Farm’s sheep produce award-winning wool, sold as washed and unwashed fleeces at the market. Pick up a fleece to do some cozy fall crafting!

Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff, photo by Emily Meagher

7. Spooky soaps
At Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff, no shape of soap is too crazy. Their fall mineral soap collection includes ghosts, pumpkins, black cats, acorns, leaves, and owls.

8. Ornamental corn
Fresh summer corn is making way for ornamental fall corn. Pick up some calico or broom corn from local farms for fresh seasonal home decor.

9. Hand-ground cinnamon
Saratoga Spicery’s fresh-ground spices and spice mixes include hand-ground cinnamon. Give your baked goods an extra fresh flavor!

10. Pumpkins!
Farmers’ markets in October wouldn’t be complete without fresh gourds and winter squash. Local farms have a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes in stock – you can even find some hand-painted mini pumpkins.

Photo by Madison Jackson

This week: not a recipe, but a craft… how to make felt balls with wool roving!

Summer Squash Pasta Bake

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Recipe by the Smitten Kitchen, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 4 large portions

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

Photo by Pattie Garrett

● 8 ounces pasta*, use your favorite
● 1 Tablespoon olive oil
● 1 pound summer squash*, halved lengthwise and sliced thin
● salt and pepper
● pinches of red pepper to taste
● Juice of half a lemon
● 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter*
● 5 scallions*, sliced thin and white parts and green tops in separate piles
● 2 cloves garlic*, minced
● 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
● 1½ cups milk*
● 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
● ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley*, divided
● 1 Tablespoon finely chopped mixed herbs* of choice (thyme, oregano, mint, basil)
● salt and pepper to taste
● ¾ cup finely grated Parmesan (or similar hard rind)* cheese, divided
● 4 ounces of mozzarella* cut into small cubes

Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in a 3-quart oven-safe deep skillet. Otherwise use a large pot. Cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Prepare the squash by heating the skillet used for the pasta on high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil and allow to heat until very hot. Add squash and season with salt, pepper, and pepper flakes. Let it sear underneath, unmoved until golden brown. Continue to saute until browned. Transfer to a bowl and squeeze lemon juice over the cooked squash. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
4. To make the sauce, heat the now empty skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter. Add scallion white parts and garlic and let sizzle for 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and stir until all has been dampened and absorbed. Add milk in very small splashes. Stir the entire time. Make sure each splash has been fully mixed into the butter/onion mixture. Scrape the bottom of the pan and all-around before adding the next splash of milk. Repeat until all the milk is added then add the lemon zest, salt, pepper to taste. Let the mixture simmer together for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce will thicken. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in half the parsley, all the herbs, and reserved scallion greens.
5. With the skillet off the heat, add the drained pasta, summer squash, ½ cup Parmesan and all of the mozzarella. Stir to combine. If the skillet is oven proofed, bake it the skillet. Otherwise, transfer to a 2 to 3-quart ovenproof baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until edges are golden brown. Sprinkle with reserved parsley and serve hot.