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Shakshuka

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Recipe by Suzy Karadsheh, The Mediterranean Dish

Prep time: 10 min

Cook time: 30 min

Makes 6 servings

 

Shakshuka is made with gently poached eggs in a simmering mixture of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and garlic.

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion*, chopped
  • 2 green peppers*, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves*, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 6 medium tomatoes*, chopped (about 6 cups chopped tomatoes)
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 6 large eggs*
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley*
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint*

Instructions

  1. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large cast iron skillet. Add the onions, green peppers, garlic, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the tomatoes and tomato sauce. Cover and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Uncover and cook a bit longer to allow the mixture to reduce and thicken. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
  3. Using a wooden spoon, make 6 indentations, or “wells,” in the tomato mixture (make sure the indentations are spaced out). Gently crack an egg into each indention.
  4. Reduce the heat, cover the skillet, and cook on low until the egg whites are set.
  5. Uncover and add the fresh parsley and mint. You can add more black pepper or crushed red pepper if you like. Serve with crusty bread of your choice.

Notes

  • Leftovers will keep for 1 to 2 days if stored properly in the fridge in tight-lid glass containers. Warm over medium heat, adding a little more liquid to the shakshuka sauce if needed.
  • If you want to add meat, cook about ½ ground beef or ground lamb in some extra virgin olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Once fully cooked, remove the meat from the skillet, wipe the skillet well and follow steps #1 and #2 to make the shakshuka sauce, only this time, add the cooked ground meat to the skillet to simmer with the tomatoes for 15 minutes or so before adding the eggs.

 

Trouvaille Eats & Sweets Brings New Flavors to the Farmers’ Market

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By Caroline Moran

 

“Trouvaille in French means a positive, unexpected find.” For Courtney and Andrew Howe, this word perfectly sums up both their professional endeavors and the entirety of their journey together. After leaving behind 16- and 12-year-long careers in the restaurant industry, respectively, Courtney and Andrew first explored the idea of starting a food truck.

“When the pandemic hit, our ideas began to shift,” Courtney explained when discussing how the pair instead chose cheesecakes as a vessel in which to channel their culinary creativity. From basil and sage whipped creams to graham cracker and cinnamon bun crusts, the couple has no shortage of dreamy flavor combinations–certainly enough to satisfy any palate.

Pulling inspiration anywhere they can, Courtney is constantly jotting down flavor ideas when ingredients and products catch her eye. “We want each layer of the dessert to bring out different flavors that pair together perfectly,” she explained. The separation of flavors between the toppings, fillings, and crusts created a “layered experience,” resulting in an ideal bite.

Each week, the pair selects their most seasonally appropriate flavors and carefully crafts each component of their cheesecakes. “We make our sauces, jams, [and] graham crackers,” said Courtney. They individually garnish and package up each slice, knowing that customers can “taste the love and effort” poured into the process. 

This coming July marks two years of Trouvaille’s decadent desserts, with Courtney and Andrew looking forward to reintroducing gluten-free and vegan cheesecakes and experimenting with other cheesecake-based desserts.

“We truly enjoy working from our commercial kitchen for the time being,” the couple said. “We will keep running new flavors weekly to ensure our customers continue to have unique desserts to brighten up their weeks.”

Customers looking to enjoy a mouthwatering slice of Trouvaille’s cheesecake outside of the SFM’s hours can find them at the Schenectady Greenmarket and the Colonie Farmers’ Market, along with several local restaurants (the Mohawk Taproom, 10 McGillis, and Pinhead Susan’s) for a treat any day of the week. Pre-ordering options are also available on trouvailleeats.com, with options for both pick-up and delivery.

One of Courtney and Andrew’s favorite aspects of the business? “…converting people from non-cheesecake lovers to cheesecake lovers!” If you’re not yet convinced, stop by the SFM to check out this week’s flavors—we’re certain you might just find a new favorite dessert.

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. 

*Parking available in the City Center Parking Garage- free for the first hour then $1/hr after that*

Out of the frying pan and into the Instant Pot

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By Madeline McCarthy

Healthy Gourmet Kitchen, photo provided

“What are we having for dinner?” This daily asked question requires a different answer each time, but the response must always sound delicious, nutritious, and most of all, be easy to make.

These exact requirements crossed Mary Song’s mind before she started Healthy Gourmet Kitchen. Prior to opening her business, Song worked as a business analyst designing large scale computer applications. She helped improve life for people around the world, but she never met any of them. She was working long hours and found it challenging to cook healthy dinners. This inspired Song to create her business selling packaged seasoning blends, dips, soup mixes, and meal starters that can be made in a slow cooker, pressure cooker, or simmered in a saucepan for those who are too busy to spend much time cooking.

“I’ve loved to cook my entire life,” says Song, recalling how living in the Middle East and France influenced her cooking style. In the Middle East, she lived in an international expat community, where cooking was “like an art with a lot of heart.” While in France, she was taught traditional French cuisine and to use the freshest ingredients, stating that the process was “a bit fussy – but this was the 1980s after all!”

Healthy Gourmet Kitchen, photo provided

Song learned to combine the Middle Eastern and French food cultures and not to be afraid of spices, herbs, and flavor. She advises her customers to step outside their comfort zone when it comes to food, so rather than offering bland mixes, Healthy Gourmet Kitchen invites you to make flavorful and exciting dishes like a “Coconut Curry Chickpea Stew” or “Chicken Marengo”.

Everything is blended and mixed by hand and packed into clear packaging so customers are able to see the ingredients they are buying. Plus, there are no unnecessary added ingredients like you find in store-bought mixes. “When I first started Healthy Gourmet Kitchen there were few or no low sodium, low-fat options that also tasted great,” says Song, “I felt there was an opportunity to create healthy, delicious meal starters that didn’t rely on salt, sugar or chemicals for flavor.”

When she created her business, Song knew she wanted to participate in the Saratoga Farmers’ Market to finally be able to meet the people she helps. Healthy Gourmet Kitchen attends the market on Saturdays and will be back at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market on July 11!

This week’s recipe: Instant Pot Bolognese

Love Found at the Farmers’ Market

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By Emily Meagher

Photo courtesy of Something’s Brewing

This time of year, the farmers’ market is inspired by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Health and Wellness Week. Meanwhile, our vendors are also preparing for Valentine’s Day. The result is a special market focused on gifts from the heart as well as food that is good for the heart and overall health.

Tomorrow, prepare for Valentine’s Day by finding gifts that are meaningful and tasty. The Chocolate Spoon will have memorable homemade strawberry marshmallows that are perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. Pucker’s Pickles will have a limited supply of their very special fermented cherries. And, of course, there will also be chocolate in various forms – like velvety chocolate cheesecake at Grandma Apple’s and a Valentine’s Day trio special (including passion, violet, and cacao nib bars) at Saratoga Chocolate Co. Or, say ‘I love you’ with a gift bag of chocolate coffee and toffee from Something’s Brewing.

Mangiamo, photo by Pattie Garrett

Is a romantic dinner more your style? The farmers’ market has the region’s freshest ingredients. Mangiamo will have pasta rolled and cut to order. The Vermont Spätzle Company will have gluten-free spätzle. You will find the finest cuts of meat from local farms along with the best cooking instructions. Take your pick of beef, chicken, pork, lamb, goat or even fish and seafood. Local farms will have leafy greens like bok choy, swiss chard, microgreens, and kale. And, tables will also be stocked with apples, beets, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, winter squash, and much more. After dinner, share some local cheese or maybe sip some locally distilled spirits.

While shopping for the person on your heart, consider heart health too. Eating fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables is crucial for a healthy lifestyle.

Pleasant Valley Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

We invite you to share the love and to experience the love at tomorrow’s farmers’ market. Eat Smart NY will have healthy snack samples and recipe ideas. There will also be free Valentine cards to write and take and toe-tapping music by Craic Agus Ceol.

Our close-knit community of vendors and customers, weekly musicians and guests make for a joyous place full of friends. So bring your date, family, or friends with you to enjoy a shared outing at the farmers’ market.

 

This week’s recipe: Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta

Hummus Toast

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Recipe courtesy of My Saratoga Kitchen Table

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

All ingredients are currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

  • 1 slice of thick whole grain bread
  • 1 garlic clove
  • hummus
  • 2 thin slices of fresh tomato
  • 3 thin slices of red onion
  • balsamic dressing
  • baby greens
  • micro greens and arugula

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Before toasting the bread, lightly rub a peeled garlic clove over the toast. Toast until browned.
  2. Spread a layer of hummus on the toasted bread.
  3. Place tomato slices and red onion slices on top of the hummus. Drizzle a little balsamic dressing.
  4. Top with baby greens and micro greens and enjoy!

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers Day at the Farmers’ Market

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By Kristin Cleveland

Popular Peanut Butters. Photo by Pattie Garrett.

“I wonder how many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I’ve eaten in my life?” my spouse often asks as he smears a thick layer of nutty goodness onto a slice of bread. Considering he has eaten one for nearly every lunch since he had a full set of teeth, and he’s now in his early 50s, I calculate approximately 17,167, though I do know that some of those sandwiches were PB & honey. I think that still counts.

Joe is one of the many people for whom March 1 was designated National Peanut Butter Lovers Day; according to the National Peanut Board, about 94% of American homes contain at least one jar of peanut butter. And it makes sense — whether eaten on toast for breakfast, in a sandwich for lunch, as a savory sauce for dinner, or with celery or apple slices for a snack, peanut butter is not only delicious, it’s also packed with protein, healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, folate, and a variety of minerals, which combine to make it a particularly heart-healthy high energy food. 

Saratoga Peanut Butter owner Jessica Arceri.

And here in Saratoga Springs, we have even more reason to celebrate: our very own Saratoga Peanut Butter Company! As a young adult Jessica Arceri, a physical education and nutrition expert and health-conscious parent, began crafting nut butters for her family and friends. In 2005 she started selling her creations at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market and in local groceries. Now Saratoga Peanut Butter is in stores throughout New York State and can be ordered online. But with over a dozen flavors, including some seasonal specials, it’s particularly fun to go to the Saratoga Peanut Butter table at the Farmers’ Market and enjoy a sample.

Combining easily with many flavors, peanut butter is a versatile food. On Arceri’s website, yopeanut.com, you’ll find recipes for entrées such as Pad Thai and spicy sauté sauce, sweet treats including three varieties of peanut butter cookie, and a range of breakfast foods like low sugar, high energy granola bars, smoothies, pancakes and oatmeals. Because of Arceri’s focus on fitness, all of her nut butter ingredients are sourced in the USA, she never uses palm oil, refined sugars, or other additives or preservatives, and she uses no or low amounts of sodium.

Sydney Robyck shares some SPB favorites.     Photo by Pattie Garrett.

Stop by the Farmers’ Market on Saturday to celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers Day. In addition to samples of freshly made local peanut butter, you can pick up regular or gluten-free peanut butter cookies from The Chocolate Spoon, Grandma Apple’s peanut butter cheesecakes and cheesecake pops dipped in Saratoga Chocolate Company’s Velvet chocolate, and recipes and ingredients for more delicious meals and treats!