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three sisters

Squash – Almost too pretty to eat, too delicious not to

November 11, 2019 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

The days before Thanksgiving call up turkey, stuffing, gravy, casseroles, and pie – namely pumpkin pie.

Pie is delicious. But there are a wide variety of other squashes, too: acorn, carnival, spaghetti, sweet dumpling, butternut, kabocha, hubbard.

Squashville Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

These squashes weigh down tables of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market squash growers. They represent the beauty of the holidays and the abundance of our region’s agriculture.

Squash is part of the Native American three sisters plants, with beans and corn. Along with beans and corn, it was grown for its sweetness, versatility in cooking, high nutrition content, and ability to be stored for long-term use.

While squash vary in size, shape, and color, they generally all can be roasted, steamed, or made into soups or desserts.

The dark green acorn, yellow dumpling, and multi-colored carnival squashes are easy to roast. Use a sharp knife to cut them in half, scoop out the seeds from the center, wrap the halves in foil, and roast them in a 375 degree oven for about 45 minutes. When they can be sliced through easily with a knife, they are ready for eating. Savor them, as is, or add some melted butter, maple syrup, or walnuts for added flavor. Use leftovers to create a soup or hearty stew.

If cutting the squash is too hard, try steaming them whole until they have softened. Once cooled, they can easily be cut and seeded.

Squash varieties, photo by Pattie Garrett

Bigger spaghetti squashes make a delicious substitute for pasta. Roast these squashes in halves wrapped in foil for 45 minutes, then remove from the oven, unwrap and allow to cool. Use a fork to create spaghetti-like strands. These strands can then be simmered for a few minutes in a tomato sauce or pesto.

New England pie pumpkins are the classic ingredient for pumpkin pie. Butternut squash makes a nice pie, as well. Kabocha, and hubbard varieties can be substituted.

Some squash varieties – spaghetti, delicata, sweet dumpling, acorn, and carnival, among them – can be stored through early Christmas. Others such as pie pumpkins, kabocha, hubbards, and butternut will last well into late winter or early spring if kept in a cool dark area.

Recipe: Squash Pie

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: fall, pumpkin, Squash, Squashville Farm, Thanksgiving, three sisters

Three Sisters Chili

September 16, 2019 By marketeditor

Recipe courtesy of Squashville Farm
Serves: 4

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 1 onion*, peeled and diced
● 1 tablespoon olive oil*
● 1 lb ground venison or beef*
● 3 cloves garlic*, minced
● 2 tsp chili powder
● 1 tsp cumin
● ½ tsp dried oregano
● 1 ear corn*
● 1 carnival squash*, seeded and cut into one-inch pieces
● 1 green pepper*, seeded and diced
● 3-4 fresh tomatoes*, cut into chunks
● 3 cups vegetable broth
● 8 oz dried red beans
● salt and pepper to taste
● Optional garnishes: fresh chopped cilantro*, toast pumpkin seeds, cheddar cheese*, plain yogurt*

Preparation

  1. Wash and soak dry beans for 30 minutes. Rinse and place in 1 cup of water until ready to use.
  2. Remove kernels from corn cob.
  3. Heat oil in a pot, and add onions and a pinch of salt. Saute until onions are translucent.
  4. Add ground meat and brown.
  5. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  6. Add squash, corn, and green pepper. Stir in broth, beans with water, and tomatoes. Simmer until squash is soft and ingredients have combined to create a thick, chunky soup.

    Note: This chili tastes better if it is refrigerated overnight and reheated the next day.

Filed Under: News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: beef, cheese, chili, cilantro, corn, garlic, olive oil, onion, pepper, Squash, three sisters, three sisters chili, tomatoes, Yogurt

A versatile trio for fall meals

September 16, 2019 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

The three sisters method of interplanting corn, beans, and squash is an Iroquois practice that helped sustain the soil that farmers in our region use today.

It was rooted in long-term sustenance: By planting beans as companions to corn, the nitrogen that corn plants deplete is restored and bean vines receive a climbing pole in the corn stalks. Meanwhile, low-to-the-ground squash leaves create shade which prevents the soil from drying out. At seasons end is a harvest of three foods that one can eat immediately or store for winter use.

Squashville Farm, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

In market farming, three sisters gardens are hard to find. Most farmers plant in rows, separating crops from one another. Yet, many of those rows produce corn, squash, and/or beans – all of which are abundant now at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Each makes a delicious dish by itself. The three also can be combined to create soups, salads, stir fries, and casseroles.

I first encountered the three sisters method in a gardening guide in the 1980s as a young adult trying to create a garden. On paper, planting corn with beans and squash seemed easy. You first plant corn kernels in a mound of soil. After the corn sprouts, you add beans, around each shoot of corn. Once the beans are established, you add squash. You weed while the plants are young and then leave them until it’s time to harvest.

Burger’s Marketgarden, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Creating such a garden is easier said than done, as I quickly learned while trying not to step on squash or uproot corn as I snipped bean pods. Still, I use the three sisters as a template for growing food and eating it. This lets me cook with corn and a wide variety of squashes and beans.

I adapted the accompanying chili recipe from a basic ground beef and vegetable chili. I used fresh corn from the Gomez Veggie Ville but chose Squashville Farm’s carnival squash over the butternut squash that the original recipe suggested. I also used dried red beans over canned, and ground venison instead of beef. The result was a mildly spiced chili filled with the three sisters at the center.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: beans, chili, corn, fall, Gomez Veggie Ville, Squash, Squashville Farm, three sisters

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This Saturday will be a great one: Owl Wood Farm's This Saturday will be a great one: Owl Wood Farm's fresh veggies are back! Plus find discounts on @nettlemeadowfarm cheeses, new flavors of infused maple syrup at @slatevalleyfarms, and more. Stop by the market 9:30am-1:30pm - we'll be outdoors again in the Bon-Ton/Bow Tie parking lot!

📸: @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #eatfresh #shoplocal #518
We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best Farmers’ Markets in the Saratoga Region for Saratoga Today’s Best of 2021! Thank you to everyone who continues to shop local and show their support!

You can vote for us once a day daily until 4/22 under the “Fun & Leisure” category using the link below:
 https://www.saratogatodaynewspaper.com/best-of-2021#//
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#saratogatoday #saratoga #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #bestfarmersmarket #shoplocal #shopsaratoga #upstateny #saratogany #supportlocal
Welcome back to another MCM (Market Crush Monday)! Welcome back to another MCM (Market Crush Monday)! This week we talked to R&G Cheesemakers🧀

1. What kinds of cheese do you make?
We offer a full line of artisan cheeses, both cow and goat’s milk, as well as yogurt. Some of our cheeses include mozzarella, ricotta, cheddar, manchego, feta, a variety of spreadable flavored goat cheeses and more! Then we have goat milk greek yogurt and jersey greek yogurt in strawberry and plain.

2. What is your best seller?
Our burrata is really popular and the soft goat cheeses are also a customer favorite which come in flavors like apple cinnamon, garlic and herb, maple chipotle, orange ginger, honey and more!

3. Do you have any favorite products from around the market?
Yes, so many! I’m a big fan of @junbucha365 , the vodka sauce from @giovanni_fresco , @longlesson meat and anything from @saratogachocolateco just to name a few. 

Be sure to stop by R&G Cheesemakers Saturday from 9:30-1:30 at Wilton Mall, we will be outside in the parking lot weather permitting! 
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarketfresh #farmersmarket #saratoga #wilton #randgcheese #cheese #randgcheesemakers #eatlocal #artisancheese #upstateny
We are moving outside this week! We couldn't bear We are moving outside this week! We couldn't bear to be indoors while it's so nice out, so find our vendors in the Bon-Ton/Bow Tie parking lot this Saturday, 9:30am - 1:30pm. All our current COVID guidelines still stand, so grab your mask and meet us outdoors at the market!

📸 by @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #spring #nofarmsnofood #518

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