gift ideas

Indulge in Artful Delights with Pam the Baker’s Custom Decorated Sugar Cookies

March 31, 2023 By marketeditor

Graciela Colston

If you’re looking for a unique and delicious gift for your next special occasion, look no further than Pam the Baker’s custom-decorated sugar cookies.

Pam Sissons is a lifelong baker whose passion has always been baking bread, muffins, cookies, baklavas, and all sorts of goodies ‘just like Mom used to make.’ Once she started custom decorating cookies, the obsession took hold, and today she is a registered NY State home food processor. “My kitchen has always been my ‘happy place’!” Pam says fondly.

To Pam, every cookie she makes is a mini work of art. She uses high-quality ingredients and pays attention to detail to create custom cookies that are not just a statement for your next event but also a gift that is equally satisfactory for the giver as it is for the receiver. Sugar cookie designs begin with creative cookie cutters to create one-of-a-kind shapes. They are then baked and hand-decorated with royal icing.

Farmers’ Market Cookies by Pam the Baker

Pam’s decorated sugar cookies are perfect for any occasion, from birthdays and baby showers to weddings and christenings. Elegant and ornate cookies will please your hosts at a fancy holiday party, while vibrant colors, shapes, and characters are perfect for a child’s birthday party. Pam can even brand cookies for company events in a unique way. When asked about some of her most memorable orders, Pam recalls “I made several dozen very ornate baby shower cookies for an event in New York City. I packed every single cookie so carefully for shipping…it was quite an undertaking! It was all worth it when I was told the mother-to-be was in tears when she saw the cookies.”

Cookies are perfect for fun and meaningful edible art! Pam’s cookies come in all flavors, including vanilla, lemon, almond, and chocolate. She even offers ‘Paint Your Own Cookie kits’ that include a palette with four colors of edible food coloring, a brush, and a delicious home-baked custom cookie ready to paint with a fun image.

Paint your own cookie kits by Pam the Baker

You can find Pam the Baker and her cookies at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market or submit a cookie quote to her website. And if you’re looking for something extra special this Easter season, try Pam’s Bunny Butts! These cute little treats are available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market this weekend. And for all you chocolate lovers out there, they’re also available in chocolate.

In the Saratoga area, you can find Pam the Baker at the farmers’ market every Saturday. Pam also accepts custom orders on her website at pamthebakerny@gmail.com.

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.

The Sweetest Time of the Year

December 8, 2022 By marketeditor

by Graciela Colston

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked desserts to make you feel at home during winter. From ready-to-bake cookie dough to specialty cheesecakes, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has something for everyone.
Introduce your friends and family to the beloved Icelandic “Loftkokur” cookie from Parchment Bakery. These delicious dark chocolate and rosemary “air cookies” are traditionally made during Christmas, perfect for teatime or a light dessert. Parchment regularly launches new items and offers samples you won’t want to miss.

This time of year, Kokinda Farm’s stand is the perfect destination for jams and jellies with seasonal favorites such as cranberry or raspberry-peach jam. Add them to thumbprint cookies, ice cream, or a warm baked brie for a delicious treat.

Pop by Saratoga Chocolate Co. for their coveted chocolate bars. Their peppermint chocolate bark is a holiday classic, the perfect gift for friends and neighbors. This year, they’re offering three hot chocolate flavors, Mayan spice, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. We’re looking forward to their chocolate Santas in the upcoming weeks.

Saratoga Chocolate Co., photo by Graciela Colston

For those days when all you need are freshly baked cookies, Pork and Greens has you covered. Stock your freezer with ready-to-bake lard chocolate cookie dough logs. Pair the cookies with A2 milk from the Argyle Cheese Farmer. Their milk comes in four flavors: chocolate, java, strawberry, and plain. You can find both vendors next to each other at the Trusco Bank entrance.

Bring something special to the party with a box of cookies or rich fudge brownies from Cookie Lab Confections. These adorably wrapped treats are available in seasonal flavors: “Holiday Funfetti” or “Molasses.” Val’s other signature flavors, like her Puerto Rican Mantecaditos, are a must-try.
Trouvaille surprises us every week with new specialty cheesecake slices – they’re the perfect treat to share with a loved one or enjoy on your own. Looking to share with the whole family? Preorder a Christmas cheesecake on their website. Trouvaille will only be at the market through December, so make sure you don’t miss them!
A house full of guests calls for a house full of goodies! Come by for some last-minute shopping and holiday cheer. We’ll be open on Christmas Eve with our regular hours, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.
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.

Trendy Empress brings fun and functional kid’s clothes to the farmers’ market

December 1, 2022 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

Parents know that every stitch matters when it comes to clothing for children and babies. Trendy Empress Boutique, a new children’s clothing company based in Fort Edward, introduces a clothing line focusing on functional, wearable goods made with high-quality fabrics with fun prints.

Jessica Gerber, owner and creator of Trendy Empress Boutique, started the business one year ago when she received a sewing machine as a Christmas present. “I sewed so much that the machine broke in two months,” Gerber laughs. This happening did not deter Gerber from her love of creating clothes.

“Ever since I was little, I have always loved fashion,” explains Gerber. A busy mother of two young boys and an engineer by day, Gerber works at designing and creating clothes in her free time.

“I wanted to make comfortable and sturdy clothes for my kids because there isn’t very much variety for boys in stores,” says Gerber. Even though she is new to sewing, she dedicates herself to the task. Gerber enjoys the process so much that she brings her handmade creations to the community as a new vendor at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

Gerber primarily makes kid’s clothing, hats, scarves, and hair accessories for newborn to teen sizes. Her designs include dresses, rompers, shirt and pants sets, toddler underwear, boxers, and briefs.

Her styles vary; some are simple, classic pieces, while others have fun character prints like Bluey. Gerber also makes gender-neutral clothes with charming patterns and prints for babies and toddlers.

Trendy Empress Boutique offers festive children’s holiday outfits emphasizing wearability, function, and comfort. The holiday line includes red velvet dresses with faux fur trim, Santa shirt and pants sets, and dresses and tops made with festive Santa and reindeer patterns paired with black pants.

Trendy Empress, photo by Graciela Colston

For Gerber, the quality of the material she works with is crucial to the integrity of Trendy Empress clothing. “I try to source most of the material from small, women-owned businesses,” says Gerber. She works with cotton, bamboo cotton, and some cotton-poly blends – all breathable, soft materials that wash and wear well. “It’s important that my clothes are functional for parents, too,” Gerber says.

You can find Trendy Empress Boutique on Saturdays at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, and Gerber accepts custom and upcycle orders by email at trendyempress@gmail.com. Trendy Empress Boutique’s website is under construction, but you can find the company on Facebook and Instagram @TrendyEmpress.

Top Fathers’ Day Finds at the Farmers’ Market

June 15, 2022 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

Dads take the spotlight as we prepare for Father’s Day on Sunday, June 19. If you’re looking for the right gift, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has a variety of giftable items for the foodie in your life. There are also practical gifts, local libations, ready-to-eat foods, and so many ideas that we’ve compiled a gift guide to help you.

Food for the Foodie

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is an agricultural hub best known for its incredible variety of locally produced foods. A gift bag or basket with strawberries, cheese, bread, jams and jellies, marinades and rubs, and even a steak may be just the thing to make dad feel appreciated. And there is so much more!

Muddy Jerky Trail Co., photo by Graciela Colston

Muddy Trail Jerky Co. has grilling rubs, seasonings, and jerky galore for all the dads out there. Ballston Lake Apiaries makes a delicious honey balsamic marinade. Puckers Pickles award-winning pickles and fermented products always make great gifts. Nettle Meadow has a variety of cheeses that pair amazingly with NightWork Bread or Saratoga Crackers. Rum cakes from Goodway Bakery make a giftable sweet treat, as do goodies from Happy Cupcake. Not to overlook any plant-based dads, seasonal vegetables are aplenty, and several local farms bring bountiful harvests to the farmers’ market every Wednesday and Saturday.

Functional and Practical

For the dad that appreciates function and practicality, Feathered Antler has buttoned-down shirts with handpainted flair. Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff has handmade soaps like exfoliating ‘True Grit’ or ‘Rub a Dub Scrub.’ And Sweetbrier Farms has a variety of useful, handcrafted salves, tonics, and topicals. Plan a visit to Mister Edge Sharpening at the Wednesday market, and have his favorite knives and tools sharpened.

Saratoga Suds N Stuff, photo by Graciela Colston

Local Libations

If beer, wine, and spirits will make Father’s Day more festive, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has a variety of local wines from Old Tavern Farm and Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery. Springbrook Hollow and Yankee Distillers bring high-quality local spirits from bourbon to gin. And, Mean Max Brew Works has beer to satiate any beer-lovers palette.

Galaway Rock Wine and Vineyards, photo by Graciela Colston

Among all the products and possibilities to show dad your love, perhaps plan a trip to the farmers’ market together. Enjoy the morning or afternoon, sharing the farmers’ market experience: live music, lunch in the park, and local festivities.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Father’s Day Gifts from the Market

June 18, 2020 By marketeditor

Compiled by SFM interns, Madison Jackson and Madeline McCarthy

Still searching for the perfect Father’s Day gift? The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has you covered!

With Father’s Day just around the corner, we have put together a list of six great gift ideas that he is sure to love. Plus, you can mix and match any of these items to fill all your Dad’s needs. Show him how much you care while also supporting these local businesses in your area. Stop by our market on Saturday, June 20, to pick up some of these locally produced gifts for Dad!

For the meat lovers:

If Dad loves to grill, we have a variety of meat for him to throw on the barbecue, including beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Or maybe he’s more of a seafood fiend? Listed below are some of our vendors that provide an array of meat options:

Spirited gifts:

Our market features several local distilleries and a cider house to cater to all tastes from Bourbon to Moonshine to Hard Ciders. Stop by the following vendors to take a look at all of their options:

For the chefs:

Meat rubs and seasonings make the perfect gift for the Dads who love to cook. Check out these vendors for all your seasoning needs:

For the cheese connoisseurs:

For the Dads who appreciate gourmet cheese, be sure to shop around at our local cheese vendors for an assortment of hard cheeses, feta, cheese curds, and more:

Spicy Lovers:

If Dad is a fan of spicy foods we have a couple options that are sure to impress. Shop at these vendors to try some delicious hot sauce, extra spicy beef jerky, or spicy pickled foods to top your burger:

Power of choice:

Finally, if you’re stuck on what type of meat or cheese your Dad would like, we offer Gift Certificates! These certificates can be used with any vendor and there is no expiration date, giving Dad the ability to shop at our Wednesday and Saturday markets whenever works for him.

Stuffing Stockings with the Local and Good

December 20, 2017 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

A monk, Nicholas, learned of a man who was broke. Late in the night, Nicholas crept by the man’s home and threw through the window a sock loaded with gold. He did this three times, which helped make Nicholas a saint and let the man support himself and his daughters.

We fill stockings today in honor of that generous act. And with Christmas Eve approaching, we invite you to fill them at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market with sweets, treats, and gifts grown, raised, and made by our farmers and other vendors.

Need ideas? Here are a few, based on some shopping that market photographer Pattie Garrett and I did at the market last week:

Children: For those who believe in Santa – as well as those who might have some doubts – one must start with cookies. Marcie Place of the Chocolate Spoon has everything from gingerbread men to decorate-your-own sugar cookies. Try her chocolate dipped candied citrus strips, which evoke the oranges said to symbolize the gold that Nicholas left.

After cookies, think future farmers, and connecting them with our farms. We added a Saratoga Apple Cortland, honey from Ballston Lake Apiaries, sweet Greek yogurt from Argyle Cheese Farmer and a hedgehog shaped soap from Saratoga Suds.

Pets (and pet lovers): A walk in the park accompanied by pets is part of many market regulars’ Saturday ritual. For them, we found a Saratoga Farmers’ Market water bottle and a packet of dog treats from Something’s Brewing. We added a Kokinda Farms catnip pillow, a Feathered Antler pet portrait, and from our special holiday market, a dog collar and leash from Meg Kennen’s Spot On Soaps & Collars.

Newlyweds: Just about everything at the market is also a gift of romance. We chose a wine from Northern Star Vineyard paired with a wine holder made by holiday vendor William Herrington. In the holiday market, we also found hot chocolate from Saratoga Chocolate, a ring holder by ceramicist Zoe Burghard, and a dressing from Momma’s Secret Salad Dressing that features sea salt, maple syrup, and chocolate. Owl Wood kale and Puckers’ Gourmet olives created our final flourish, along with a Gomez Veggie Ville brussels sprouts stalk.

Visit the Saratoga Farmers’ Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths Building in Saratoga Spa State Park; follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; and contact friends@saratogafarmersmarket.org for volunteer opportunities.

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