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Meat Pies

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Recipe courtesy of Sabreen Samman

 

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available a the farmers’ market

  • 1 pound ground beef*
  • 1/2 pound ground lamb* (or add another 1/2 pound of ground beef instead)
  • 1 while onion*, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil*
  • 3/4 cup pine nuts or slivered almonds
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 egg*, beaten
  • 2 packages frozen puff pastry, thawed (or can use homemade or store-bought pizza dough)

OPTIONAL:  a pinch (less than 1/8 tsp) of each of the following spices:  allspice, clove, ginger & cinnamon

 

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef and ground lamb, chopped onion, pine nuts, cinnamon, and salt and black pepper (plus the optional spices if desired). Cook and stir until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
  2. Let the meat mixture cool.
  3. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
  4. Roll out the thawed pastry sheets to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a sharp 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out at least 9 rounds per sheet. Lightly brush the inside edges with a little water, and place about 2 teaspoons of filling into the middle of each round. Fold the pastry round in half to cover the filling and seal the edges well. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough circles.
  5. Brush each pie with a little egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Delicata Squash and Onions

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Adapted from Eating Well Magazine and shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table

Ingredients:

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

2 large delicata squash* (2 pounds)

1 medium red onion*, sliced

3 Tablespoons olive oil*, divided

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary*

1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup*, to taste

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. Cut crosswise into ½ inch half circles. Toss with onion, 1 Tablespoon oil and salt in a large bowl. Spread in an even layer on baking sheet. 

Roast, stirring once or twice, until tender and beginning to brown about 30 minutes.

Combine the remaining 1 Tablespoon of oil, rosemary, maple syrup, and mustard in a small bowl. Toss the vegetable with the dressing. 

Simply Applesauce

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Adapted from the recipe in Cook’s Illustrated, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table

Makes 4 cups 

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • 3 pounds McIntosh apples*, peeled and cored, peels and cores reserved 
  • 1 ½ cups water 
  • ¼ cup maple syrup*, plus extra to taste 
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of cardamom 

Instructions

  1. Bring reserved peels and cores and 1 cup of water to boil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook, mashing occasionally with potato masher, until mixture is deep pink, and cores have broken down, about 15 minutes. 
  2. While peels and cores cook, cut apples into quarters and place in large saucepan. Add maple syrup, cinnamon, cardamom, and remaining ½ cup water and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook, stirring occasionally with rubber spatula until all apples are soft and about half are completely broken down, about 15 minutes. Using potato masher, mash apples to desired consistency.  
  3. Transfer peel and core mixture to fine mesh strainer set over saucepan of mashed apple mixture. Using rubber spatula, stir and press peel and core mixture to extract pulp, discard solids. Stir to combine. Sweeten with extra syrup to taste.

  

Note:  If you can, find Boiled Cider and add ¼ cup to boost the apple flavor.  

 

Alexander’s Bakery Makes Allergen Free Treats Its Focus

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By Mariah Rankin

 

Vicki Brignati always loved to bake. But when her son Alex was diagnosed with severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and peas, her baking took on a different meaning.

“Her life became devoted to learning everything there was to know about food allergies and keeping him safe,” says Kristen Poulin, who co-owns Alexander’s Bakery with Brignati. “Alexander’s Bakery was created with a simple premise – everyone should be able to enjoy baked goods safely.”

Brignati and Poulin brought Alexander’s Bakery to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market this year. At their stall, located on the north end of High Rock Park on Wednesdays, they offer a range of baked goods, all of which are free of such allergens as peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, egg, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. They also sell at the market’s Clifton Park location on Mondays.

Alexander’s Bakery’s goods also are vegan and gluten-free. In this sense, Brignati and Poulin represent a small but growing group of prepared food businesses that are dedicated to creating foods anyone can eat.

“We quickly realized that we were filling a gap,” say Brignati and Poulin.

“We have been so warmly received by people with food allergies and sensitivities. They have told us many times how happy they are that we exist. We’ve also been well-received by many people who do not have food allergies or sensitivities. They simply love our products.”

Among the favorites is a whoopie pie that also is vegan, gluten-free, and made without the major allergens that plague many residents of the Capital area and others nationwide.

In addition to eliminating allergens, Brignati and Poulin try to take advantage of local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. They debuted an iced blueberry lemon cookie at the market’s blueberry festival in late July. As fall approaches, they’re looking forward to unveiling iced pumpkin spiced mini muffins and apple cinnamon granola. The latter features locally grown apples that Brignati and Poulin dry themselves.

The pair describes the summer and their decision to sell at three farmers’ markets as a big step. They look forward to continued growth through the fall and next year.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at High Rock Park. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and check us out on the FreshFoodNY app. E-mail friends@saratogafarmers.org for volunteer opportunities.

Roasted Garlic

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Recipe courtesy of Squashville Farm

Serves 2-4

 

This recipe is perfect for the grill or the oven.

 

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • One bulb garlic*, cleaned and peeled of outer layers
  • Olive oil

 

Instructions

  1. Peel off the outer layers of a fresh bulb of garlic so that only 1-2 layers remain between the skin and fresh cloves.
  2. Place the bulb in a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil. (Other seasonings or herbs can be added if desired).
  3. Place on grill and roast for about 20-30 minutes, until the cloves are soft.
  4. Remove from heat and when cooled, break the bulb into cloves.
  5. Enjoy as is, or smash the softened cloves onto bread or crackers.

 

PB Banana Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats

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Recipe shared by Jamie Kelley, owner, and creator of Mugzy’s Barkery

 

Ingredients

*Ingredients available at the market

  • 32 oz. organic plain Greek yogurt *
  • 3 Tbsp organic peanut butter *  (make sure it contains only peanuts and no xylitol)
  • 1 organic banana
  • 1 Tbsp local raw honey *

 

Instructions

  1. Blend all ingredients together in a food processor
  2. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze for 2 hours or until solid. 

Your pup will enjoy a nice cold and nutritious treat on a hot summer day!