Summer

Smoothie maker blends tried-and-true recipes with a new touch

June 21, 2023 By marketeditor

By Marie Sova

Three years ago, Haley Gerarde would visit The Smoothie Shoppe each Saturday at the Spa City and Saratoga Farmers’ Markets. She had loved the vibe that surrounded the stand and the flexibility it provided the family that owned it. She had also dreamed of following in the footsteps of her parents and becoming an entrepreneur. But she was raising two children and working part-time jobs on and off while doing so. There wasn’t much time (or energy!) left to do more than dream.

Dreams, however, have a funny way of coming true. Last year, Gerarde heard that The Smoothie Shoppe owners were looking for a buyer. With the encouragement of her husband, She jumped at the chance. Now, she makes smoothies at the farmers’ markets as the owner of Jenny Jo’s Smoothie Bar, LLC.

“It honestly fell into my lap,” Gerarde says. “And I’m so glad I took the leap.”

Her stall sits near the same spot at the Spa City and Saratoga farmers’ markets as The Smoothie Shoppe had in years prior. Although she has rebranded, the recipes remain the same, she notes, “it’s hard to want to fix something that’s not broken.”

But there are some special touches. One is the business name Jenny Jo’s. It’s in honor of Gerarde’s daughters, Genevieve and Josephine. They’re the main reason why she wanted to take the business. “I want to show them an example of hard work paying off, and give them a job opportunity in their future if they decide to take over” explains Gerarde.

Jenny Jo’s Smoothie Bar offers a variety of flavorful smoothies made with wholesome ingredients. The all-fruit smoothies have no added sugar and are dairy and gluten-free. Each smoothie includes a superfood (goji berries, chia seeds, or fresh ginger) to boost health benefits, and Jenny Jo’s also uses local ingredients when possible.

Customers can select from a menu including smoothie options like Righteous Red, Purple Power, Mean Green Machine, and Rhymes with Orange. Jenny Jo’s also offers blended shakes made with an almond milk base, like Mochaspresso and Muscle Monkey with peanut butter. New this summer, Jenny Jo’s is freezing smoothies and bringing popsicles!

Gerarde admits there’s much to learn about running a business. Still, she enjoys the early morning vibe of setting up for the market and the ability to trade smoothies for produce and other food items sold by other vendors. “Each market has amazing options for a good lunch when we have the time”, she adds.

In addition to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Gerarde offers her smoothies at popup Zumba events, employee appreciation days, food truck events in Glens Falls, and area farmers’ markets.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at High Rock Park and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at High Rock Park. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Celebrating Christmas in July

July 12, 2022 By marketeditor

By Stephanie Duscher

It may be consistently reaching temperatures of eighty degrees and higher, but somehow it seems like the perfect time to celebrate Christmas (in July!). Recently, my family and I put together a small Christmas in July party with decorations, a movie marathon, and lots of yummy, festive food! If you’re interested in throwing a Christmas in July celebration, we have many ideas to get you started (including a recipe using fresh raspberries from the farmers’ market!).

Decorations
Decorations are one of the most important elements of a Christmas in July celebration. To make our living room temporarily feel like Christmas, we put up an artificial tree, which we decorated with pairs of sunglasses, shells, starfish lights, and topped with a sand bucket. We also strung some garland and lights around the room.

Activities
A Christmas tree doesn’t look quite complete without gifts underneath. A gift exchange game (like the White Elephant Game) is perfect for a party. Christmas trivia is another fun activity; the addition of prizes can make the game even more fun (and add a competitive edge). However, no party is complete without Christmas movies. We set up a projector and played a few of our favorite festive films. To ensure maximum coziness, turn off all lights when playing the movie except for the lights on your Christmas tree!

Christmas in July, photo by Stephanie Duscher

Food
Food is an essential part of any party. Christmas in July is extra special because it allows you to use all the fresh ingredients that summer offers without any of the restrictions of a traditional Christmas in December.
In making our Christmas cookies, I knew I wanted to use a fresh, in-season ingredient, and what better place to find that than at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market. I found some absolutely delicious raspberries from Scotch Ridge Berry Farm, so I decided to make raspberry tassies from Kate Dean’s recipe at I Heart Eating. However, I made Sugar and Soul’s fresh raspberry filling rather than using canned raspberry pie filling. It was a delicious, festive treat that also incorporated all the goodness of summer!

Other ideas for holiday foods made with local in-season ingredients are festive tossed salads with local cheese, savory tarts with beef or mushrooms, roasted chicken, and baked or mashed potatoes.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Eating the Rainbow

July 7, 2022 By marketeditor

By Caroline Moran

“Taste the rainbow” applies to more than just Skittles! Every color of produce provides a unique selection of beneficial nutrients, meaning that incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables can be an easy and delicious way to ensure that your body receives all of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it needs to keep you energized and healthy.
While we don’t want to put you to sleep with too many nutrition facts, let’s recap some of the benefits of the different colors of the rainbow. Red produce is an excellent source of antioxidants, while orange foods support your vision (ever heard the old saying that carrots are great for your eyesight? It’s true!). Your microbiome will benefit from incorporating yellow veggies, and your heart will thank you for adding some blueberries with breakfast. Green fruits and vegetables are a great source of fiber and antioxidants, and even the “colorless” brown and white foods (think onion, garlic, ginger, and parsnips) can serve to strengthen your bones.

Gomez Veggie Ville, photo by Graciela Colston

The best part of “eating the rainbow” is the wide variety of foods that fall under each category, allowing for flexibility in food choices and more satisfying meals and snacks. Don’t love kale? Try eating more green apples, asparagus, cucumbers, or kiwi. Looking to switch up your favorite mango smoothie? Toss some peach, nectarine, or orange into the blender instead.
Here’s a fun challenge for your next trip to the farmer’s market (that kids will love too): try loading up your basket with items featuring each color of the rainbow. Beets from Green Jeans Market Farm and yellow squash from Gómez Veggie Ville are a great place to start. Bonus points if you grab a bundle of rainbow chard from Owl Wood Farm!

Turning over to this week’s recipe, author and registered dietitian Erica Baty is a huge proponent of maintaining a colorful diet. Her nutrient-dense orzo dish can be customized with any fresh vegetables of your choosing, though she offers up several great suggestions. Combine some freshly roasted local veggies with orzo pasta, a bright lemon vinaigrette, and, of course, crumbled feta or goat cheese for a quick, balanced weeknight meal.

Celebrating Summer

June 28, 2022 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

For many, ninety-degree weather and the end of the school year are hallmarks of summer. We plan for gatherings with family and friends, schedule vacations, and fill the calendar with activities. Ultimately, summertime hits full speed once the Fourth of July is upon us.

But sometimes, the simplest things make summer most memorable—like fresh flowers on the table, snacking on sun-ripened berries, or the smell of dinner on the grill. Time slows as we absorb natural flavors, colors, and scents straight from the earth.

Photo by Caroline Moran

Summer cooking doesn’t need to be complicated—a vinaigrette of vinegar and olive oil can dress thinly-sliced cucumbers, grated carrots, and crisp greens. Snap peas and yellow squash may be sauteed lightly with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, maintaining their taste and crunchy texture. Beets and potatoes may be boiled until soft, then sauteed with onions. Add fresh herbs for a burst of flavor.

Photo by Graciela Colston

Local meats and poultry also call for a simple preparation as the meat’s flavor lies in its quality. For grilling cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and goat, bring the meat to ambient temperature (let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes), rub with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then grill. Cook meats to the proper temperature and try not to rely on time. Once cooked, cover tightly with aluminum foil and let rest for approximately five minutes.

When entertaining or picnicking, a loaf of artisan bread paired with local cheeses can quickly satisfy a group. Add pickles, honeycomb, jam, chocolate, crackers, or fresh fruit for an array of delectable flavors that compliment one another and make for a sweet and savory summertime meal.

Beverages are always necessary for backyard barbeques or just enjoying time in your backyard. Limoncello, whiskey iced tea, and other spirits make cocktail hour easy. Locally brewed beer brings new flavors to the table. Or maybe Junbucha or lavender lemonade is best to quench your thirst.

Visiting the summer farmers’ markets reminds you of the bounty that comes from this region. We realign with nature and slow down to enjoy the pace—smelling flowers, and savoring flavors, and it’s all available here.

Nine Pine Soup & Design shares the benefits of white pine

August 30, 2021 By marketeditor

By Madison Jackson

Nine Pine Soup & Design, photo by Pattie Garrett

On Wednesday afternoons under the shade of the south pavilion in High Rock Park, you can find Janine Stockin, also known as Jai, owner of Nine Pine Soup & Design, behind a table of thoughtfully displayed products.

Nine Pine Soup & Design, photo by Madison Jackson

Pine cones adorn a table with jars of white pine needles, teas, and oils. Homemade soup broth gently steams nearby. Tree branches, carefully woven with colorful yarn, are placed around the space. The art of decorating these branches is known as Ojo de Dios or God’s Eye; a traditional Mexican craft that symbolizes peace, protection, and prosperity. Jai handmakes each piece in various sizes and colors meant to inspire meditation and a sense of calmness.

The main focus of her business is the needles of the white pine tree, a conifer traditionally used for lumber and sap. In this case, Jai uses the pine needles to brew tea and oils rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Jai sought a spot as a vendor with the Saratoga Farmers’ Market to share the many benefits of white pine needles with the community. She has been studying plants since age 14 and pursued an education, earning a degree in Botany and Earth Science. In January 2019, Jai became inspired by information on white pine from well-known herbalists like Susan Weed and Dina Falconi.

White pine has a rich history with Iroquois roots and is known as the “Tree of Peace” for helping to end a conflict between the Five Nations. White pine needles are rich in compounds linked to better health, and, historically, they have had many uses as natural remedies. They are high in antioxidants, Vitamin C, calcium, and potassium.

Jai makes a healing massage oil infused with white pine oil and almond oil, which deeply conditions the skin. She notes the uplifting aromatherapy of the tea and oil, which soothes and nourishes the body. Jai also makes white pine broth and white pine iced tea.

Stop by the Wednesday market to speak with Jai about her products and sample her fresh white pine needle tea and broth. For more information on her products, contact Jai at 9pinedesigns@gmail.com.

This week’s recipe: Pine Needle Vegetarian Broth

Summer

Blueberry compote recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Ways to enjoy blueberry compote with cornbread cookies:

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