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Kim Dolan Designed Jewelry

Festive Foods and Flavors for St. Patrick’s Day

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By Julia Howard

  In the United States, Saint Patrick’s Day has ventured from authentic Irish traditions. However, Irish emigrants transformed the holiday into the celebration we know today; prominent displays of green, festive eating and drinking, and numerous parades. 

You can find the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. With the approach of spring, there will be plenty of green there for you, too! This Saturday at the Wilton Mall, local producers have all the goods to help you prepare for your Irish-infused festivities.

Gomez Veggie Ville, photo by Madison Jackson.

If you’re preparing corned beef, your beef brisket should be bathing in spice-filled brine. But it’s not too late to pick up locally grown essentials like cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. You can find the products you need at Gomez Veggie Ville.

Something’s Brewing, photo by Toni Nastasi.

Something’s Brewing recommends Sumatra roasted beans to make the best Irish coffee. Pour one and a half ounces of Irish whiskey and one teaspoon maple syrup into a mug, and fill the rest of the way with freshly brewed coffee. Stir, taste, and adjust the sweetness. Then top with whipped cream.

Pork & Greens has nutritious microgreens for fresh and festive greens. Lovin’ Mama Farm has returned with microgreens and potted herbs. And J. Adkins has a variety of succulents and houseplants to add a touch of green to your living space. 

Suppose you’re looking for other flavors with a St. Patrick’s Day flair. In that case, Saratoga Chocolate Company’s Matcha Bar has the perfect balance of white chocolate and brilliant green Wakatake matcha (green tea powder with an earthy flavor). Junbucha will have green Japanese Matcha Kombucha, a tart yet sweet fermented beverage made with high-quality matcha, tea, and honey. Goat Scape cheese from R&G Cheesemakers offers savory goat cheese flecked with green garlic scapes.

Mean Max Brew Works has a diverse selection of handcrafted beers. And Kim Dolan Designed is hosting a drawing to win a lovely, handmade, green cloak.

For this week’s recipe, we share the main course that’s even more authentic to the Emerald Isle than corned beef and cabbage. Shepherd’s pie with lamb is a hearty dish with Irish roots. We enjoy Wolfgang Puck’s version that features many seasonal vegetables.

This weeks recipe: Shepherd’s Pie with Lamb

Making the most of Super Bowl-Valentine’s Day

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By Julia Howard

Whether you’re shopping for Super Bowl snacks or scrambling to find a thoughtful gift for Valentine’s Day, or maybe both, Saratoga Farmers’ Market vendors are prepared to meet all your needs at tomorrow’s market. 

Southy Sweets’ assorted Valentine’s Day special, photo by Toni Nastasi.

First, let’s talk about sweets. Our favorite chocolatiers at Saratoga Chocolate Company ask, “What’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate?”. Shop for their Valentine’s Trio, a variety of dark and milk chocolate infused with organic cacao nibs, passion fruit, and sugared violets. Southy Sweets has decadent chocolate and vanilla cake, chocolate-covered strawberries, and chocolate-covered pretzels. Our friends at Boozy Moo! encourage you to show your love with their Red Velvet Valentine ice cream cake made with Bailey’s Red Velvet liqueur, vodka, red velvet cookie crumble, and whipped cream frosting.

Now for snacks. Argyle Cheese Farmer, Nettle Meadow, and R&G Cheesemakers have a variety of cheeses for your Super Bowl spread or to share with your love on Valentine’s Day. But buyer beware, these local cheeses are so good that we won’t blame you if you decide to keep them for yourself. Muddy Trail Jerky Co. has dip mixes, sweet potato chips, and a variety of jerky suitable for snacking and gifting. And, Pork and Greens has a special that includes 1lb of tenderloin, bacon-pork rillettes, and a bag of pea shoots for $32.50. The kit also features cooking tips, recipes, pairing suggestions, and P&G stickers. Pre-order by emailing thisisporkandgreens@gmail.com.

Ballston Lake Apiaries, photo by Toni Nastasi

For Valentine’s Day gifting, Kim Dolan of  Kim Dolan Designed Jewelry says, “Why break tradition when it’s something as timeless as handcrafted jewelry?”. Shop her selection of silver and gemstone jewelry. Ballston Lake Apiaries has various hand-poured beeswax candles.

Something’s Brewing, photo by Toni Nastasi

Last but certainly not least, Something’s Brewing understands the ultimate gift is a great cup of coffee. Try their chocolate fudge-flavored coffee for Valentine’s Day. And, don’t forget to stock up on beer from Mean Max Brew Works – perfect for the Super Bowl and your favorite beer enthusiast.

There are no rules for snacking or gifting, so if you feel like indulging in chocolate-covered strawberries during the half-time show or giving yourself a beautiful piece of jewelry, follow your happiness and shop local.

This weeks’ recipe: Raspberry Crumble Bars

 

 

Shop Local at the Farmers’ Market this Season

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J. Adkins Cultivation, photo provided

By Julia Howard

Supporting small businesses is always a must in our eyes, and this year it’s as important as ever. Not only does it give our local economy a boost, but you’re more likely to find unique gifts for your loved ones.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market offers a spacious shopping environment featuring 50+ local businesses. The variety of vendors is sure to rekindle your excitement for shopping and finding the perfect gifts – all in one place.

J. Adkins Cultivation is a local, organic grower of classic and hard-to-find organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, perennials, and annuals. For the holidays, they have beautiful poinsettia arrangements as well as numerous giftable plants.

Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff, photo by Pattie Garrett

Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff makes soap the “old fashioned” way – “by hand, in small batches, using fat and lye and some essential oils to scent it.” For the holidays, find soaps in the shape of gingerbread men, Christmas trees, and other fun seasonal shapes alongside their traditional soaps.

Scotch Ridge Berry & Tree Farm has handmade wreaths, kissing balls, holiday swag, and tabletop Christmas trees all this month. Gorgeous greenery makes a memorable and personal gift, and even more so when it’s locally made.

For the spirits connoisseur on your list, Yankee Distillers proudly to stands out as an NYS Farm Distillery, where they use 100% unmalted New York State Grain to produce outstanding bourbon, rye, and vodka. For the beer enthusiast, Mean Max Brew Works makes distinctive craft-brewed ales and lagers fermented naturally without additives.

Saratoga Chocolate Co., photo by Pattie Garrett

Sweet treats are undeniably a part of the holiday season, and Saratoga Chocolate Co. specializes in gourmet craft chocolate bars, handmade truffles, unique chocolate confections, and chocolate tastings and pairings. Their gift sets, hot chocolate mix, and chocolate Santas make perfect stocking stuffers.

Kim Dolan Designed Jewelry and Feathered Antler have a giftable wearable art selection, from handmade jewelry to custom clothing. Kim Dolan makes unique tie-dyed shirts and jewelry made from gold, silver, and gemstones. Feathered Antler creates jewelry, knitwear, customized flannels, and more.

Many holiday season vendors offer pre-ordering for easy pickup as well as online ordering. Find their website and ‘like’ them on social media to stay up-to-date on their products and specials.

This week’s recipe: Shepherd’s Pie

Thoughtful Gift-Giving During a Pandemic

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By Julia Howard

As challenging as 2020 has been so far, the holiday gifting season feels like a bright way to end a dark year. Perhaps more than ever, gift-giving is a means of reconnecting with friends and family, some of whom we haven’t seen in person for nearly a year. We also get that gift-giving can be a source of stress even in the best of times, so we have some strategic ideas to make gifting during a pandemic a little more seamless, meaningful, and even enjoyable.

● If you prefer shopping from the comfort of home, find our vendor directory and shop locally online. Find links to local businesses’ websites, Instagram, and Facebook pages. Use the DM functions or pick up the phone to ask for suggestions and place orders.
● This year, some of the most thoughtful gifts are things that make time at home more enjoyable for your friends and family. Think practical and useful.
● Get creative with whatever budget you have. A great gift does not have to cost a lot of money.

Now let’s get gifting with local businesses at the farmers’ market!

Home Decor
These days we work, exercise, relax, and even attend school at home. We recommend Feathered Antler’s original paintings and framed prints of animals and landscapes to define and decorate living spaces. Feathered Antler also has hand-painted wooden fence posts adorned with positive sayings and nature scenes that can function as leash hangers, key hooks, and jewelry organizers.

Pendants & jewelry from Big Breath Wellness, photo by Laura Kenny

Local Libations
Wine, hard cider, and spirits always make great gifts – and local vintners and distillers make the very best. Slyboro Cider House and Saratoga Apple makes hard ciders from apples grown in their orchards. For wine-lovers, Fossil Stone Winery makes memorable wines from grapes grown on their farm. And, spirits enthusiasts will love everything from Yankee Distillers and Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery.

Gift Certificates & Subscriptions
Give the gift of something to look forward to, like Saratoga Farmers’ Market gift certificates. Elihu Farm offers a subscription for flavorful and nutritious eggs from their “hens on pasture.” Moon Cycle Seed Co. sells subscriptions for nutrient-dense seeds for hormonal balance. The 2021 CSA season will be here before we know it, so check with local farmers at the market to purchase a subscription for a friend or family member.

Jewelry
Is there a more classic holiday gift than a beautiful piece of jewelry? Kim Dolan Designed Jewelry makes unique, handcrafted silver and gemstone rings, necklaces, and earrings. If you’re looking to make someone feel special and promote wellness, Big Breath Wellness has various holistic healing jewelry. For nature lovers, Feathered Antler has
handmade jewelry with quartz, charms, and tassels.

Earth To Mind, photo by Laura Kenny

Self-care
Self-care means something different to everyone. Perhaps it’s cozying up to a cup of hot chocolate from Saratoga Chocolate Co. or making Earth to Mind’s CBD oil and rubs a part of the daily routine. There are many items at the farmers’ market to nourish and encourage self-care, like bee balm from Ballston Lake Apiaries and tinctures from Sweetbrier Farms.

 

Stocking Stuffer Ideas from Small Businesses
*Starred items are perishable and should be put into stockings just before gifting.

Saratoga Chocolate Co. photo provided
Cookie boxes from The Chocolate Spoon, photo by Laura Kenny