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Roasted Beet and Apple Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

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Recipe by Marisa Kerkvliet

Yields: 4 servings 

Ingredients 

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market 

For the salad: 

  • 3 medium-size beets or 1 large beet* 
  • 1 apple, thinly sliced* 
  • 1 bag baby lettuce* 
  • 1 handful pea shoots or microgreens* 
  •  ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese* 
  • ¼ cup toasted walnuts 

For the vinaigrette 

  • ¼ cup olive oil 
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 
  • 2 tablespoons minced red or yellow onion* 
  • 2 teaspoons honey* 
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard 
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

Instructions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Trim the stem end off of each beet, wrap in a piece of aluminum foil, and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast beets for 1-2 hours or until they are tender when pierced with a paring knife. 
  2. Allow the beets to cool and gently rub off the skin. The beets can be used at this point or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
  3. When ready to serve, slice the beets into ¼ inch slices and arrange them on a serving platter. Layer on the sliced apple, baby lettuce, pea shoots, feta cheese, and walnuts and set aside. 
  4. To make the dressing combine the olive oil, white wine vinegar, minced onion, honey, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in the jar or a small blender and blend on high for 15-30 seconds or until completely smooth. If you do not have a blender small enough for this quantity, simply whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl. 
  5. Pour dressing over the plated salad and serve immediately.

Eating Fresh and Flavorful in the Winter

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By Marisa Kerkvliet

We probably all have memories of the farmers’ market during the summer months. Tables stacked full of brightly colored fruits and vegetables and bustling isles full of customers. During the winter, the farmers’ market might not be the first place you think to go on a Saturday morning. If you have yet to venture into the winter market, you may be surprised that there is far more fresh produce than you think! Not to mention the booths full of other kitchen staples like honey, meat, and fresh bread.

Gomez Veggie Ville, photo by Marisa Kerkvliet

Root crops such as beets, potatoes, turnips, and carrots are hearty and do well in cold storage many months after the fall harvest. Winter squash can be kept for months and is still delicious when roasted or baked, even in the early spring. Brassicas such as kale and cabbage are also available. Did you know that kale leaves become sweeter after they withstand frosty weather? You can find fresh, sweet greens like lettuce, spinach, pea shoots, and microgreens.

Saratoga Apple, photo by Marisa Kerkvliet

This week’s recipe features sweet roasted beets and fresh apples complemented by salty feta cheese and a tangy honey dijon vinaigrette. The salad is rounded out with the freshest of greens. The recipe can easily be adapted with ingredients available at the market. If pea shoots are not available, use microgreens instead or stick with the baby lettuce. If beets aren’t your thing, pour this dressing over the greens, apple, and feta to make a light side salad.

Photo by Marisa Kerkvliet

Roasting beets in foil is an excellent way to cook them while retaining flavor and sweetness. After roasting, the skin should easily slip off. The exact cooking time for the beets varies greatly depending on the size. Medium size beets, about 3 inches in diameter, will typically take about an hour to fully cook. Winter beets at the market are often much larger, about 6 inches, and can take up to 2 full hours to cook. Roasted beets keep well in the fridge, so consider roasting more than you need so you can use the rest throughout the week. 

I am a freelance recipe developer and food photographer with a background in Nutrition and Culinary Arts. I focus on sharing seasonal whole-food recipes for the whole family. You can find me and see more of my work on my Instagram @lemon.thyme.kitchen.

This week’s recipe: Roasted Beet and Apple Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

A smorgasbord of open-face sandwiches

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Recipe by parchment

Top thinly sliced pieces of Rugbrød with local produce, spreads, cheeses, or other products to prepare Scandinavian-style open-faced sandwiches.

Suggested pairings

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • Lightly salted potatoes* with sour cream and chives
  • Pork rillettes with pickles*, mustard, and pea shoots*
  • Goat cheese* with roasted root vegetables*, herbs*, and pepper
  • Hummus* with red onion* and capers
  • Butter and jam* or honey*
  • Tomato with mozzarella* and basil and a dash of flavorful olive oil
  • Olive tapenade with arugula and roasted peppers
  • Honey* with apple* and cinnamon
  • Nut butter spread* with dried fruit

Green Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

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iStock

Recipe courtesy of Diane Whitten, Food and Nutrition Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County
Makes 2 1-cup servings

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market
● 1 cup spinach leaves*
● 1 tsp honey* or maple syrup*
● 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter*
● 1 cup milk*
● 1 ripe banana, peeled and frozen overnight
● dash of cinnamon*
● 2-4 ice cubes as desired
● Optional additions: frozen berries*, ground flaxseed, raw cacao powder

Instructions
Place all ingredients and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Taste and check consistency. If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more milk.

Ginger Sesame Salmon Salad

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Photo provided

Recipe courtesy of Leaning Birch Farm

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
For the salmon:
● 1 lb salmon fillet*
● 5 oz bag “Zesty Mix” salad greens* (Leaning Birch Farm)
● large handful pea shoots* (Leaning Birch Farm)
● A small handful of micro cilantro* (Leaning Birch Farm)
● 2 tbsp neutral flavor high smoke point cooking oil
● Fine sea salt

For the dressing:
● 2 oz soy sauce
● 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
● juice from 2 lemons
● 2 tsp local honey*
● 1 tsp hoisin sauce (optional)
● 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated or finely minced
● 3 cloves garlic, crushed, grated or minced

Instructions
1. Add all ingredients for the dressing to a tall, slender jar or measuring cup. If available, use an immersion blender until well emulsified. Otherwise, mix vigorously with a fork. Set aside.
2. Pat salmon fillet dry with paper towels. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. We prefer a well-seasoned cast iron or carbon steel pan, otherwise use a nonstick pan. Add the 2 tbsp of neutral cooking oil to the heated pan. Generously salt both sides of the salmon. Once oil is shimmering and rippling, add salmon fillet to the pan, skin side down, and do not disturb. Cook 8-10 minutes on the skin side, or until bottom 1/3 of its thickness begins to lighten and turn opaque and brown, crisp edges appear.
3. While fish is cooking, add the Zesty Mix and pea shoots to a large mixing bowl. Add roughly 2/3 of the salad dressing and toss well to evenly coat.
4. When salmon has finished cooking on the skin side, give the pan a subtle but affirmative shake to see if the fish frees from the pan. If so, slide a very thin fish spatula under and flip the fish to its other side. If not, first gently lift the corners and edges from the pan with the spatula, and then flip. Cook 5 minutes longer on medium-high. Remove from heat and allow to rest in pan for 5 minutes.
5. Serve salad into large dinner bowls. Once salmon has cooled somewhat but while still warm, transfer to a cutting board and cut into two equal portions, skin side up. We found a very sharp bread knife to work very well for this. Top each salad bowl with salmon, and pour evenly over both servings the remaining third of dressing. Garnish salmon with a generous pinch of micro cilantro. Serve immediately.

Pumpkin Muffins with Honey Butter

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Tieghan Gerhard, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 16

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

For the muffins:
● 12 Tablespoons (3/4 cup) salted butter, melted
● ¾ cup packed brown sugar
● 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
● 2 eggs*
● 1 cup pumpkin puree*
● ¼ cup milk*
● 2½ cups all-purpose flour
● 2 teaspoons baking powder
● ½ teaspoon baking soda
● 1 teaspoon cinnamon
● 1 teaspoon nutmeg

For the streusel:
● ¾ cup all-purpose flour
● ½ cup packed brown sugar
● 1 teaspoon cinnamon
● 6 Tablespoons cold salted butter, cubed
● 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 16 cubes

Cinnamon honey butter:
● 4 Tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
● 2 Tablespoons honey*
● ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
1. For the muffins: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 16 muffin tins with paper liners. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Add the pumpkin and milk. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix on low speed until just combined, being sure the batter is completely mixed.
2. To make the streusel: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the butter and use your fingers to mix the butter into the flour until crumble forms.
3. Divide the batter among the prepared pan. Push 1 cube of cream cheese into each muffin. Evenly sprinkle the streusel over the batter. Transfer to the oven, bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Meanwhile, make the cinnamon butter. In a small bowl, combine the butter, honey, and cinnamon.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature smeared with cinnamon butter.