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

Shop Local, Eat Fresh

November

Pumpkins from fall decor also make delectable food

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By Julia Howard

Otrembiak Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett, 2018

In the fall, pumpkins adorn everything from front steps to tabletop centerpieces. Unfortunately, while an uncarved pumpkin can remain edible 8-12 weeks after being picked, many decorative pumpkins end up in the trash, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many great uses for whole pumpkins in the kitchen.

Pumpkins are versatile to cook and bake with and offer a world of culinary exploration. They are eaten year-round in different cultures across the globe. In America, pumpkin is famously used in pumpkin pie. But a quick Google search will reveal a variety of recipes worthy of exploration: soups and stews, dips, pancakes, gnocchi, dessert bars, pasta dishes, bread, muffins, cakes, ice cream, smoothies, pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds), and many more.

Squashville Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

When cooking and baking with pumpkin, many recipes call for pumpkin puree. Before you add canned pumpkin puree to your grocery list, try making your own. It’s easy and requires little effort with a big return. Roasting 1-2 small pumpkins can yield 5-6 cups of puree.

Also, wonderful on their own – are pumpkin seeds. Simply scrape out seeds, rinse and remove major chunks of flesh, boil for 10 minutes in salted water, drain, and coat with olive oil and seasonings. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Pumpkin seeds are a fun and healthy snack.

If you don’t have leftover pumpkins you can buy them directly from farmers at the farmers’ market, ask them which pumpkin works best for your needs.

This week’s recipes: Easy Pumpkin Puree & Pumpkin Muffins with Honey Butter

Saratoga Farmers’ Market Winter Season Opens this Saturday

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By Julia Howard, Market Administrator

photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

As our clocks fall back and our days become shorter, it’s time for another seasonal transition. Tomorrow, our farmers and other vendors will kick off the winter season for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market by moving indoors to the Lincoln Baths Building in Saratoga Spa State Park.

We look forward to our winter locale. Being indoors gives us a cozier space. It also creates an opportunity to host special events that showcase our region’s fresh foods and local artisanal products.

 

This winter season marks our 40th year of operation as a farmers’ market. Opening day kicks off at 9 a.m. with a ribbon cutting. We’ll feature music by Running the River, a series of special guests and community tables, and a free children’s activity hosted by The Children’s Museum of Saratoga Springs.

One major change is underway: We are doing away with our market tokens, the traditional “wooden nickels.” We are making this change in an effort to reduce operating costs and will have an ATM machine available on site. Please give us your feedback as we will have a trial period before making the change permanent. We will continue to offer tokens to SNAP/EBT recipients and will continue to accept Fresh Connect coupons as part of our partnership with New York state to make local food more available and affordable to our entire community.

We also will offer an expanded Holiday Market in November and December on the second floor of the Lincoln Baths Building. The holiday market will include local artisans, craftspeople, and specialty food and beverage makers. It offers a great opportunity to support local people by buying their uniquely crafted items as holiday gifts.

As one of the oldest farmers markets in the area, we want our regular shoppers, weekend visitors, and area newcomers to have a space filled with amazing local produce, meats, dairy products, prepared foods, and crafts. We invite you to come to the market weekly and, if you can, to stay the whole morning. Have breakfast with us, fill your bags with your food needs for the week, dance with our musicians, and craft something cool with your children.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through April at the Lincoln Baths Building at the Saratoga Spa State Park. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.