Saratoga Farmers' Market

steak

Farm to Pantry: Making meals with ingredients on hand

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By Julia Howard

Pleasant Valley Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Our responsibility, by direction, is to stay at home and only head out for essentials when absolutely necessary. As we settle in safely for the weeks to come, many are looking to foods that store well, foods that are easy to prepare, and, most importantly, foods that are available right now.

While food bloggers hail smart and savvy ‘pantry meals’ that utilize canned goods, rice, and beans, the farmers’ market offers an expanded palette of foods that are easy to store and last longer than most produce found at grocery stores.

Vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots are often at the core of savory, hearty meals. They are durable and have a good shelf life, and these vegetables work well in diverse meals depending on preparation methods and seasonings. Please note that garlic is currently unavailable at market.

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Milk, butter, cheese, and eggs are staples that most of us keep in constant rotation in the refrigerator. These binding ingredients are often what pulls the meal together. Milk may be used to create a creamy finish to soups and sauces like a classic roux – which is made from butter, flour, and milk. Eggs can be used to create satisfying omelettes and frittatas with endless possibilities for fillings. Cheese is essential for homemade pizza, quesadillas, baked ziti, and numerous other dishes.

Saratoga Apple, photo by Pattie Garrett

Shelf-stable vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, and turnips can last for several weeks when kept in a cool, dry place. These vegetables can be the main stars of any meal, soup, or salad, and they are high in nutritional value. Even fruits like apples can keep for 2-3 weeks. Having a variety of these long-lasting fruits and vegetables inspires cooking that’s creative, comforting, and simple.

Meat and poultry are necessities for most, and they can be bought directly from farmers. Ground beef, whole chickens, and steaks and roasts can be kept frozen and thawed under refrigeration once you are ready to prepare them. Leftovers from a large roast or a whole roasted chicken may be used in a variety of dishes and soups as well.

While shopping at the farmers’ market, please remember to follow universal precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19. Please try to send one member of the household to shop and give 6’ space while shopping. Only touch products that you commit to buy and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after shopping.

If you plan to shop for something specific, please check our website and social media pages for updates. These are changeable times and we are working to keep you up to date with vendor and product availability each week.

 

This week’s recipe: Pantry Pot Pie

Cooking Advice for Farm-to-Table Meats

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By Julia Howard

I consider myself to be a decent cook but I will confess that I have always felt insecure preparing dishes with meat. So whenever I want to prepare lamb, beef, goat, or pork I look to the experts; the farmers who raised the animals and know the cuts and flavors best.

Steak from Longlesson Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

An upcoming dinner with friends prompted me to visit the farmers’ market for the right meat and cooking instructions for my visionary main course. First, I visit Christophe Robert of Longlesson Farm. “Keep it simple and cook the meat (steak) at a low temperature and finish with a sear,” Robert advises.

Caroline from Lewis Waite Farm gave similar advice. She explains that pasture-raised, 100% grass-fed meats cook differently. “They have less fat so you need to adjust how you approach cooking it with lower temperatures and less time,” she explains. Caroline recommends flat iron steaks, which are from a tender part of the shoulder. “Just a few minutes on each side on a low-heat pan works great,” says Caroline. The meat may be sliced up for fajitas and soups, or served as a steak.

Mary Pratt of Elihu Farm has a variety of cuts of lamb that may be bought fresh year-round at the farmers’ market. Pratt recommends a lamb shoulder roast or shoulder chops, bone-in neck, and shanks which make excellent stew. “You can use lamb stew cuts in recipes from many cultures,” explains Pratt. One of her favorite recipes is for lamb osso bucco, which can be found in the cookbook From the Earth to the Table. In addition, Pratt recommends lamb recipes from Paula Wolfert’s cookbooks and USA Grilling.

Goat is another meat option available at the farmers’ market. Jim Gupta-Carlson of Squashville Farm recommends goat rib chops and loin chops. “They are flavorful and quite simple to prepare,” says Gupta-Carlson. Simply season with salt and pepper and sear the chops on both sides on either a grill or skillet. Then let them cook at a lower temperature until they are medium-rare. Gupta-Carlson recommends letting the chops rest for a few minutes before serving.

The farmers’ market will move indoors to the Wilton Mall on Saturday, November 2 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. There, customers may peruse offerings of goat, lamb, beef, and pork, and gather cooking advice from Elihu Farm, Lewis Waite Farm, Longlesson Farm, Mariaville Mushroom Men, Moxie Ridge Farm, Ramble Creek Farm, Slate River Farms, and Squashville Farm.

Strip Steak with Salsa Verdi

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Adapted from the recipe by Milk Street Magazine, shared by Pattie Garrett of My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 1 cup lightly packed flat leaf parsley leaves*
● ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted and cooled
● ¼ cup drained capers, rinsed
● 3 anchovy fillets, rinsed
● 1 Tablespoons minced fresh rosemary*
● 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest, plus 2 Tablespoons lemon juice (1 lemon)
● 1 garlic clove*
● ground black pepper
● ½ cup olive oil*
● kosher salt
● Two 14 to 16 ounce strip steaks* (about 1½ inch thick), halved crosswise and patted dry
● 1 Tablespoon grapeseed or other neutral oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a food processor, combine the parsley, half of the almonds, and the capers, anchovies, rosemary, lemon zest, garlic and ½ teaspoon pepper. Process until finely chopped, about 1 minute. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and process, scraping bowl as needed, until the mixture is smooth.
  2. Add the remaining almonds and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 10 pulses. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. In a 12 inch skillet over medium-high, heat the oil until beginning to smoke. Add the steaks reduce to medium and cook until well browned on both sides and 120 degrees at the center for medium-rare, 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Transfer the steaks to a wire rack and set over rimmed baking sheet and let rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice the steaks, arrange on a platter or plates and pour over any accumulated juices. Serve with the salsa verde.

    Note: Janet Lampman of Lewis Waite Farm recommends giving the meat time to thaw completely. Before preparing the thawed steak, give it 30 minutes on the kitchen counter to come to room temperature. Then, dry it with a paper towel and then seasoning.
Steak from Lewis Waite Farm with Salsa Verdi, photo by Pattie Garrett

(One Pan) Steak and Veggies with Garlic Herb Butter

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Adapted from the recipe featured on www.damndelicious.com
Serves 4
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

*Ingredients available at the farmers’ market
● 5 tablespoons unsalted butter*, divided
● 1 clove garlic*, minced
● 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley* leaves
● 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme* leaves
● 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
● Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
● 2 (1 1/2-inch) thick New York strip steak*
● 1 shallot*, minced
● 1 pound fresh asparagus*, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
● 8 ounces mushrooms* (we used Namekos), sliced

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons butter, garlic, parsley, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper; set aside.
  2. Season steaks (room temperature) with salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Place the steaks in the middle of the skillet and cook until a dark crust has formed, about 4-5 minutes. Using tongs, flip, and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until desired doneness; set aside and keep warm.
  4. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet. Add shallot, asparagus, and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally until mushrooms are tender and browned and asparagus is crisp-tender and bright green, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Serve immediately with steaks and butter mixture.
Photo by Pattie Garrett