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Pumpkin Dip

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Nicole Cunningham, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Makes: 5½ cups

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
● 1 teaspoon nutmeg
● 1 teaspoon cinnamon*
● 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
● 2 cups pumpkin puree (see puree instructions below)
● Apple slices*, graham crackers, ginger snaps, or tea cookies* for serving

Instructions
Mix together the sugar and spices. Whip together with the cream cheese and pumpkin puree. Refrigerate until firm. Serve with apple slices, graham crackers, or ginger snaps.

Notes: Sift the confectioners’ sugar to avoid lumps.

To make your own pumpkin puree: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut a medium-sized pumpkin in half from top to bottom, remove the seeds and pulp. Place the halves cut-side down on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Roast until easily pierced, 45 to 60 minutes. Turn over the pumpkin and continue to cook for another 30 minutes. Allow to cool enough to handle. Scoop out the flesh and puree in a food processor. Drain puree in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl for 1 hour or more. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Cheddar & Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

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Recipe courtesy of Marcie Place, owner of The Chocolate Spoon

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese* – the sharper the better
● 1 tsp salt
● 2 1/2 cups flour
● 2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
● 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary*

Directions
1. Sift together salt and flour; set aside. Cream together cheese and butter until well blended.
2. Gradually add dry ingredients with care not to overmix. This is shortbread so you don’t want to activate the gluten too much. Divide dough in half and shape into rounds. Wrap well in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour or freeze for later.
3. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1/4″ thick sheets and cut with a small cookie cutter.
4. Bake until slightly golden, about 15-20 minutes. Bake 9-11 minutes for smaller cookies. Remove from baking sheets and cool. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later.

The Chocolate Spoon Brings Goodies to the Farmers’ Market

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By Mary Pratt

Marcie Place, owner of The Chocolate Spoon, photo by Pattie Garrett

Marcie Place returns to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market this Saturday, after a three-month break. She concentrated on her family, especially her son Ted who has joined middle school. “I started my baking business as a way to work from home after the surprise arrival of my third son,” she said. During this so-called break, Marcie filled corporate orders and developed several new recipes for the Farmers’ Market.

Marcie noted how she benefitted from the Farmers’ Market by moving from routine recipes to being more creative. “I never experimented until I joined the Market and met great vendors. I realized how important it is to use fresh, local ingredients such as rosemary from Otrembiak Farm for the rosemary butter cookies. And, eggs from vendors which make shortbread good, golden, and gorgeous.”

But there are no chocolate spoons among her goodies. “I chose The Chocolate Spoon as my business name because I wanted something memorable and something unique,” Marcie explained. “Once a customer thought I literally sold spoons dipped in chocolate!”

The Chocolate Spoon, photo courtesy of Melodic View Photography

Can we hope that maybe someday she’ll make chocolate lollipops with wooden spoon handles? Meanwhile, we have to try her new products. “Look for treats like speculoos, pecan sandies, Norwegian butter cookies, pistachio cranberry shortbread cookies, and raspberry pie.”

Marcie explained, “Speculoos is a traditional Belgian spice cookie, sometimes referred to as Biscoff.” Its origin goes back into the 1650s when bakers were already making biscuits along with their bread. Her Norwegian butter cookie, “is a simple cookie with few ingredients but the combination is memorable.”

For Valentine’s Day, The Chocolate Spoon will feature ‘pink’: strawberry marshmallows, raspberry Linzer cookies, cookie bouquets, and pink snickerdoodles. The latter obtains its pink color from pureed beets.

The Chocolate Spoon, photo courtesy of Melodic View Photography

In addition to the Farmers’ Market, The Chocolate Spoon caters to special events such as weddings, baby and bridal showers, care packages, book clubs, fundraisers and cookie party favors for birthdays or out-of-town guests.

On Marcie’s table at the Farmers’ Market, you’ll notice a money jar, but it’s not a tip jar. She accepts donations for “Project Cupcake,” her free community outreach project. “It’s a way for me to give back after receiving wonderful guidance and support while my son Ted was in grade school.” Project Cupcake, now in its second year, “provides birthday treats in the classroom for kids whose families may not otherwise be able to provide one,” Marcie explained.

After you read this article, be sure to overwhelm The Chocolate Spoon this Saturday, and every Saturday after that.

 

This week’s recipe: Cheddar & Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Exploring the Sweet Side of the Farmers’ Market

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By Julia Howard

The Chocolate Spoon, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Beneath a dozen eggs and some carrots with sprawling greens lay some of the most delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookies I have ever tasted. The Chocolate Spoon was the last stop on my list this past Saturday, and the farmers’ market crowd was beginning to swell. Once the cookies were safely tucked away in my basket, I headed for my car.

Indulging in a sweet treat has become a part of my Wednesday or Saturday shopping ritual – a reward for working hard all week. The rewards vary. Last week, it was applesauce from Saratoga Apple. The apples, slowly and gently cooked, have the perfect chunky consistency and balance of sweetness and tart. With no sugar added, I felt like I was doing something good for myself. The week before that, my treat was Mrs. London’s famous buttery almond croissant. And, the week before that, I fondly recall rich, creamy chocolate milk from Battenkill Valley Creamery.

Slate Valley Farms, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Whatever farmers’ market sweets I choose to indulge in, they are always fresh, delicious, and an ode to quality, local ingredients. Perhaps that’s why they have become my shopping tradition. And, they are treats that I don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen preparing myself.

Argyle Cheese Farmer, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Market sweets come in a variety of sizes to accommodate any desire or occasion. Satisfy a small craving with a honey stick from Slate Valley Farms or personal-sized Sweet Greek yogurt from Argyle Cheese Farmer. Looking for a larger quantity to share? Perhaps a pie from The Food Florist or cheesecake from Grandma Apples Cheesecakes. Tiramisu from Giovanni Fresco is some of the best you’ll try, and baklava from Euro Delicacies is authentic and sweetened with local honey. Dickinson’s Delights’ Nutella crepes are filled with seasonal fruit and make for a decadent and gooey dessert that could be eaten for breakfast.

Looking for gluten-free or dairy-free options? Farmers’ market vendors have those too.

What about the unique chocolate craving that we all succumb to? Saratoga Chocolate Company has a variety of handmade cocoa creations to satisfy that specific desire that must be met.

The next time you’re shopping at the farmer’s market, make time for something on the sweeter side. You’ll be glad you did.

For this week’s recipe, I leave you with chocolate chip zucchini muffins. They are cake-like, sweet, and satisfying with a healthy touch.