Shop Local, Eat Fresh at the Saratoga Farmers' Market | Food, Crafts, Music in Saratoga Springs

Shop Local, Eat Fresh

mushroom

Know Your Farmer – and Get to Know a Few New Ones, too

By

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

We get it. It’s January. It’s cold. It’s COVID, year three. 

And while you might love the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, you feel it has changed.

You’re right. We’ve changed. Some longtime, well-established vendors are gone. Their owners retired or chose amid the COVID-19 pandemic to shift their operations toward online, home delivery, or mail-order sales.

But we are still the same market in many ways. We still offer some of the best locally grown, raised, or made foods and craft items. We’ve continued to do so by shifting our definition of local away from the six counties that traditionally defined our vendor base toward a more inclusive idea. That shift has helped bring in vendors from other counties, from anywhere within 50 miles of Saratoga.Our new vendors give our market a new face. But they value good products that are local. Stop by and say hello. In time, they’ll be quite familiar to you. 

Here’s the lowdown on a few:

  • Pork & Greens. This farm hails from the Hudson Valley and is woman-owned. Isabel Buenaga started the farm in July 2020, with a mission to create healthy soil, reduce food waste, and produce high-quality pork and nutrient-rich greens. Her pigs “graze and laze” on 15 acres of woodlands and receive a carefully monitored diet of repurposed foods. Foods that would otherwise be trashed or composted become nutrition for the pigs and yield nicely flavored pork chops, sausages, ham steaks, and other pork items. As for the greens, they are chosen for their ability to withstand our region’s bitterly cold winters and sweltering summers. Check out Buenaga’s kale, pea shoots, and lettuces.
    Pork and Greens, photo by Pattie Garrett.
  • The Mushroom Shop. This farm, based in Salem, is run by Jacob Howard and Elise Olsen. They joined the Wednesday market last spring and are continuing through the winter to offer gourmet specialty mushrooms for culinary and medicinal uses. Check out their oyster, beech, and cinnamon cap offerings.
    The Mushroom Shop, photo by Pattie Garrett
  • Boozy Moo. Yes, ice cream in winter. Boozy Moo, based in Albany, is the brainchild of Leila Kiosse. Kiosse had opened a craft cocktails bar and games house in early 2020. Like so many retail outlets, hers was shuttered amid the pandemic. Kiosse began experimenting with craft ice creams, infusing them with alcohol, and realized she had a great new approach to a popular dessert on her hands. Ask for a sample and let Kiosse’s cool treats warm your soul.
    Boozy Moo!, photo by Pattie Garrett

 

This week’s featured recipe: Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Farmers’ Market Frittata

By

Adapted from the recipe by M&A Farm

Serves: 6

Prep & cook time: 15 min

INGREDIENTS

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • 4 large eggs*
  • 4 egg whites*
  • 2 TBSP milk*
  • ½ tsp salt, divided
  • ¼ tsp pepper, divided
  • 1 cup mushrooms* of choice, sliced
  • 1 cup kale*, chopped
  • 1 cup bacon*, cooked and chopped
  • ½ tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 TBSP chopped parsley leaves (reserve some for garnish)
  • ½ cup chevre* (or another soft cheese*), crumbled into tiny pieces

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat broiler and place top rack 4-5” from the element. Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk, ¼ tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper and set aside.
  2. On the stovetop, melt butter over medium-high heat in an iron skillet. Add vegetables and saute until they begin to soften for about 3-4 minutes. Add in the bacon, thyme, half of the parsley, 1/4 tsp salt, a pinch of pepper, and cook stirring for 1 more minute.
  3. Pour the egg mixture over the veggies and stir to evenly spread the veggies around. Let it cook, about 3-4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle cheese over the top.
  4. Place skillet under the broiler until eggs are slightly puffed and cheese begins to bubble and brown, 3-4 minutes. Watch carefully. Remove from the over, slide frittata onto a serving platter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Slice and serve. 

Simple Solutions to the Dinner Dilemma

By

By Julia Howard

While there are usually easy meal solutions for breakfast and lunch, simple, healthy dinner ideas are no easy feat. Finding a recipe that your family will enjoy is only a part of the struggle. We crave a quick fix for dinner, something that doesn’t take hours to prep and cook, and something that won’t take an hour to clean up. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has meal motivation and locally sourced ingredients to get you through these dinner difficulties.

Photo from iStock.

Sheet Pan Dinners

For an effortless, delicious meal with minimal cleanup, sheet pan dinners are one of our favorite approaches to dinner. Choose your favorite seasonal vegetable(s) and pair it with a protein like chicken, pork, or beef. Think steak with Brussels sprouts and potatoes, sausages with apples and carrots, chicken with mushrooms and tomatoes (tomatoes will return to the market in Feb.). The internet has many ideas, and finding the right ingredients is super simple between your pantry and the farmers’ market.

Photo from iStock

Farmers’ Market Frittatas

Frittatas can be very easy to make and are a great way to clean out your refrigerator. Ingredients include eggs, vegetables, fresh herbs (optional, and returning to the market in Feb.), cheese, and bacon or sausage – or omit for a vegetarian option. Simply sautee the vegetables, add cooked bacon and herbs, pour whisked eggs over the mixture, top with cheese, and broil for 3-4 minutes. We love M&A Farm’s recipe and remember that you can put just about anything in your frittata.

Photo of carrot and ginger soup by Pattie Garrett.

Simple Soups

Soups are one of the most satisfying, healthy, and easy one-pot meals to make. Simply chop up your vegetables, sautee the aromatics (leeks, onions, carrots, garlic, but the list goes on), add chicken or vegetable stock and simmer, then puree or leave chunky depending on the soup and your preference. Some ideas are vegetable soup, potato and leek soup, mushroom soup, and butternut squash soup.

Photo from iStock.

Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Meals

Slow cookers and Instant Pots have turned complicated, time-consuming meals into one-pot wonders. A quick Google search can reveal recipes for anything from tacos to pot roast to soups and stews. Once your ingredients are in the pot, you typically don’t need to pay attention to them until the meal is cooked and ready to serve. 

This weeks recipe: Farmers’ Market Frittata

Spring Pitta Balancing Carrot Ginger Soup

By

Carrot Ginger Soup, photo provided by Sarah Avery

Recipe provided by Sarah Avery, DPT, PYT, RYT-200, Founder of Moon Cycle Seed Company
Serves: 2-3

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● ½ onion*
● 1 lb mushroom* of choice, stems removed and chopped
● 2-3 TBSP coconut oil
● 1 TBSP Golden Turmeric Moon Milk Powder*
● 4 carrots* peeled and sliced thin
● 1 lb collard greens* roughly chopped stems removed
● 1-2 Quarts water
● Garnish with goat cheese*
● Garish with parsley*

Instructions
1. In a soup pot saute onion and mushrooms in coconut oil. When they begin to brown add the golden Turmeric powder, stir until spices become fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add carrots and collard greens; stir to coat with the oil and spices.
2. Cover vegetables with water. Bring to a boil on high heat. Lower heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until tender.
3. Garnish with Goat Cheese and Parsley if desired.

Mushroom Quiche

By

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen featured on Epicurious and shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves 8 servings, one 9-inch quiche

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 1 pie crust for a 9-inch pie
● 2 Tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter*
● ⅔ cup chopped shallots* (about 3 medium)
● 5 cups sliced assorted mushrooms* (for example: oyster, cremini, button)
● 4 large eggs*
● ⅔ cup half and half
● ⅓ whole milk*
● ½ teaspoon salt
● ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
● ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
● 1½ cups grated Fontina cheese (about 7 ounces), divided

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place pie crust in a 9-inch glass pie dish and bake until light brown about 17 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
2. Melt butter in a large heavy skillet, over medium-high heat. Add shallots. Sauté until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, and sauté until mushrooms are tender and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to plate and spread out to cool slightly.
3. Whisk eggs, half and half, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl to blend. Stir in 1 cup Fontina cheese and sautéed mushrooms. Pour filling into crust. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheese over quiche.
4. Bake at 325 degrees until puffed, golden brown and just set in the center, about 45 minutes or longer. Cool for 30 minutes.

Exclusive Farmers’ Market Favorites

By

By Julia Howard

Despite cloudy skies, daylight poured into the Wilton Mall illuminating tables filled with locally produced goods this past Saturday. Amongst boxes of carrots, piles of cabbages, and stalks of Brussels sprouts are distinct, yet lesser-known fruit and vegetables. These varieties have unique flavors and unusual patterns and colors. They reflect the variety that grows in our region and they can’t be found in grocery stores – making them exclusive farmers’ market favorites.

Romanesco from Gomez Veggie Ville, photo by Pattie Garrett

Romanesco, a relative of broccoli and cauliflower, is chartreuse in color and has a striking fractal pattern. When compared to a traditional cauliflower, its texture is far more crunchy and its flavor is delicate and nutty. Romanesco can be blanched and added to salads, veggie trays, and cold pasta dishes. It may also be roasted or sauteed in olive oil.

Kohlrabi from Owl Wood Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Kohlrabi is another unfamiliar brassica. With a taste and texture that is similar to a broccoli stem or cabbage heart, it’s flavor is milder and sweeter. The young stem can be as crisp and juicy as an apple, although much less sweet. The bulbous part of this vegetable may be used raw in salads or slaws. Even the leaves are edible and can be used in place of collard greens and kale.

Lion’s Mane from Mariaville Mushroom Men, photo by Pattie Garrett

Lion’s mane is one of the most interesting-looking and beautiful mushrooms. Its flavor and texture are similar to crab or lobster meat: a sweet-savory flavor, and meaty texture. To prepare, tear the whole mushrooms into bite-sized wedges. Heat a large skillet and dry sauté the mushroom pieces until the edges begin to brown. Add a pat of butter and a clove of finely chopped garlic to the skillet and toss to coat. Cook the mushrooms until they are golden brown and finish with a pinch of sea salt.

Yellow tomatoes have thick skin and are succulent and meaty in texture. Yellow varieties of tomatoes are rather sweet, and often taste milder and less acidic than red tomatoes. Yellow tomatoes are exclusively available at Shushan Valley Hydro Farms throughout the winter.

On your next trip to the farmers’ market, shop spontaneously and try something new. Ask your farmer about these lesser-known fruits and vegetables and how to prepare them – it’s easy!