Author: Jodie Fitz

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is celebrating the last week of the Indoor Winter market at the Wilton Mall on Saturday, April 26th.  It is located in the food court and takes place from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. It’s been a great season for the market with 45 vendors sharing the best of the best in locally grown and produced goods.  The market wants to extend their appreciation to the community for supporting and shopping local throughout the year and looks forward to celebrating the last indoor Saturday with the community.  Live entertainment will be on site provided by Starlit Generation.

NNOUNCEMENT: The Market makes its move outside on Saturday, May 3rd at High Rock Park to launch it’s 47th year serving the community of Saratoga.  The market hours make a slight sift with the market opening at 9 am and closing at 1 pm.  The markets will be full with both returning and new vendors for the 2025 outdoor season.  Saturday’s market will be boasting 76 vendors expanding it’s reach on the North Lawn.  

The Wednesday outdoor market begins on Wednesday, May 7th and is also at High Rock Park and takes place 3pm to 6pm.  The Wednesday market pavilions will be filled with 26 vendors this season including an increased list of ‘ready to eat’ vendors so that shoppers can take that midweek break and grab dinner at the park to bring home!

There will be live music at both outdoor markets weekly throughout the season and there is already a list of scheduled festivities and activities soon to be released including our popular Wednesday Kids Club at the Market.

Stay tuned next week for more details and vendor releases.  Plan to join the market at 8:45 am for their ribbon cutting ceremony at High Rock Park to launch the outdoor season on May 3rd.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court ; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs.  The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.  

Visit www. saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on on Facebook and Instagram. Please note a new website is being released May 1st.

Are you looking for a main dish for your upcoming Spring holidays?  Consider making a Honey Maple Glazed Ham! It’s very simple.  

Step 1: Purchase a fresh, local ham from the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

Step 2: Melt 1/4 cup of butter.  Whisk it together with 1/4 cup of real Maple Syrup*, 1 tablespoon honey*, I tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon sriracha and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.

Step 3:  Baste the ham and bake it in a 350 degree, preheated, oven for 90 minutes.  Glaze the ham with any additional glaze and/or drippings from the pan and cook for another 30-60 minutes (time depends on the size of the ham).  Baste a third time and cook for the final 15 minutes.

Note: Check the size of your ham and the cooking time before glazing and baking so you can determine the intermittent glazing needed to make this delicious main dish.  The items marked items (*) can be found at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.  If you cannot find them on your own, you are always welcome to stop by the main table at the entrance and the onsite staff can guide you.

Last week we shared a full list of Winter Market Vendors for your holiday prep.  If you missed it, or are making your shopping list for sides, desserts and festive cocktails and need to peek again; simply visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and tap the menu line item marked news.  It can be found under featured articles where you can bring all things local to your table.

After you have glazed, baked and served your delicious ham, don’t fret about the leftovers.  This week’s recipe share will give you a way to create an entirely different dinner bite with Ham Leek Pies.  They are like a delicious pot pie, filled with comfort food warmth and whole lot of flavor all baked in one little dish.  Of course, you could adapt the recipe and make one large ham leek pie as well.

Reminder: The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is in Wilton Mall through Saturday, April 26th.  The market’s outdoor season begins at High Rock Park on Saturday, May 3rd.  Hours of the outdoor market are as follows;

* Saturday Market at High Rock Park- begins May 3rd (9 am to 1 pm).

* Wednesday Market at High Rock Park – begins May 7th (3 pm to 6 pm).

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court ; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs.  The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.  

Visit www. saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on on Facebook and Instagram. 

The recipe in this article was adapted from The Kitchen.

As you prepare for the upcoming Passover and Easter celebrations, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is the perfect place to begin your menu planning.  With a vibrant selection of locally grown and produced goods, the market offers everything you need to create a fresh, festive, and meaningful holiday table.  From farm-fresh vegetables and pasture-raised meats to artisan baked goods and handmade treats, you’ll find a wide array of seasonal offerings to inspire your holiday meals.

Here is a quick overview of some items to consider at Saturday’s market;

Baking Supplies: Argyle Cheese Farmer and Muddy Trail Jerky Co. (vanilla extract) 

Breads and Baked Goods: Bakery Suzanne, Goodway Gourmet, Katie Bakes GF, Night Work Bread, Parchment Baking Company, LLC, Sweet Treats by Jennifer LLC

Coffee: Nally Coffee

Condiments: Puckers Gourmet and Muddy Trial Jerky Co.

Chill before the chaos: Radiant Living Healing Arts and Massage

Flowers: Halfmoon Harvest, Lovin’ Mama

Fresh Produce: Gomez Veggie Ville, Lovin’ Mama, Saratoga Apple, The Mushroom Shop, LLC

Honey and Syrup: Ballston Lake Apiaries and Slate Valley Farms

Peanut Butter & Jams: Kokinda Farm and Saratoga Peanut Butter Co.

Meats & Eggs: Grazin’ Acres FarmHepatiac Farm LLC, Jireh Organic Farm & Live Stock of NY, Kokinda Farm, Longlesson Farm, May-K-Mark, Thymeless Homestead

Ready to Eat: Daily Fresh, Euro Delicacies, La Capital Tacos, Great Northern Pantry, Perogi, Pierogi, Pyroogi

Snacks and Hors d’oeuvres: Back to Zero Foods, Tyromance Fine Snacks

Yogurt, Cheese and More: Argyle Cheese Farmer and Nettle Meadow 

Cocktails: Albany Distilling Company, Autumn’s Harvest Vineyard, The Bull and Bee Meadery, Yankee Distillers LLC

Seasoning: Muddy Trail Jerky Co.

Other: Eat with Aliens, Kokinda Farm, Muddy Trail Jerky Co., Saratoga Candles, Saratoga Peanut Butter Co., Sydney Anechiarico Jewelry, Thymeless Homestead

Pet Snacks: Mugzy’s Barkery

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court ; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs.  The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.  

Visit www. saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on was on Facebook and Instagram. 

There are so many ways to cook an egg.  In fact, I’ve always said its one of Mother Nature’s best fast foods.

Here are some tips for poaching, over-easy and over hard; all great for your egg sandwich eating plans.

Poaching:  Boil the eggs, in their shell for 10 seconds to help set the egg whites.  Pour 2 inches of water with a splash of white vinegar into a skillet before cracking the eggs and adding them to the water.  Boil for 2-3 minutes for a runny yolk and 3-4 minutes for a slightly firmer yolk which is better for a sandwich.  Rinse your poached egg in a cold water bath to stop it from cooking and remove any vinegar before adding the egg to a sandwich and/or other recipes.

Over easy:  Melt butter in a nonstick skillet or cast iron pan over medium to low heat.  Add an egg and let it cook 1- 2 minutes until the white of the egg is almost full cooked.  Flip and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute longer.

Over Hard:  Melt butter in a nonstick skillet or cast iron pan over medium to low heat.  Add an egg and let it cook 2 – 3 minutes.  Flip and cook an additional 2 – 3 minutes.

As you plan your egg sandwiches, just a quick reminder that you can find local eggs, bread, fresh herbs and vegetables, bacon and cheeses all at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.  Always stop at the staff table if you need assistance and direction to specific vendors for any of your meal/recipe making needs; they are always happy to help direct you to the vendors on site.  The local vendors are a wealth of knowledge and can help you explore your local food sources and goods. 

PLEASE NOTE: The market continues at Wilton Mall until Saturday, April 26th and moves outdoors to High Rock Park starting Saturday, May 3rd.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.

Visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Maple syrup makes a great alternative, natural sweetener.  Local maple syrup can be found at the market weekly throughout the year.  Many vendors at the market collaborate and use each others products in their goods they bring to market; including several of our bakers who use maple syrup in a variety of ways. 

“I mix Slate Valley Farms maple syrup with enough powdered sugar to make a medium thick consistency icing and then spread it on my maple pecan scones and it adds a rich maple flavor to the scone that compliments the pecans perfectly.”
~ Katie Bakes Gluten Free

“At parchment, we love baking with maple syrup!  It’s great on its own, as a compliment to other flavors, or even as an alternative sugar source.  Our maple butter squares are all about that distinctive maple flavor! Our naturally gluten-free crumble bar base is topped with a ring of maple buttercream frosting and filled with a gooey maple custard.  Our chocolate chipotle cookies with maple buttercream frosting use maple syrup to smooth out the spiciness of the chipotle. When baking with maple syrup, it’s critical to balance the natural sweetness with the right level of salt. Sometimes this means using a little less maple syrup, other times this means adding a little extra salt.”
~Isabel, Parchment Baking Company

“Maple syrup is a fantastic substitute for granulated sugar in baked goods. Use ¾ cup of maple syrup for every cup of sugar. Be sure to add 1 tablespoon of flour per ¼ cup of syrup used to maintain your recipe’s texture. We love using real maple syrup in our cinnamon roll icing, a favorite at the market each week!” ~ Sweet Treats by Jennifer

Come and experience the flavor of maple because it’s maple season all year at the market.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.

Visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

When I decided to share a Glazed Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe this week, I thought it would be fun to share the origins of this delicious meal that has become synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day fare.  What I didn’t anticipate, is the fact that it’s not actually a traditional Irish meal; meaning corned beef and cabbage.  

What is a traditional Irish meal?  And, what are the origins of the dish? It appears it started as a boiled ham dinner, which is served in the same fashion with carrots, potatoes and cabbage; it’s just not as seasoned and flavorful.  I’ve actually had this as a child and was not a fan, but it is inexpensive and can stretch a meal.

In Ireland, back in the day, pork was a less expensive and more readily available than beef.  It was in America, where corned beef, found in the Jewish delicatessens was added to this boiled dinner to create a more flavorful meal.  Corned beef certainly does change the flavor of this meal.  Brining the meat with salt and spices dates back centuries as part of curing and preserving meats and the flavor is an added bonus!  I have also found boiling vs. baking in a Dutch oven makes a big difference in texture and flavor as well.  

What might you find on a St. Patrick’s Day menu in Ireland? It’s probably very diverse but could include any of the traditional Irish meals such as Leg of lamb with rosemary, Shepards pie made with lamb, lamb stew, chicken and lamb pie, soda bread and scones to name a few.

While the food is not what we are accustomed to, the celebration itself sounds like it definitely holds up to the ‘tradition’ that we do know including parades, the pubs spilling into the streets and a lot of green fashion for the holiday.   

Whatever you’re planning for your celebration, check out the market for your St. Patrick’s Day plans…there are plenty of options to fill your plates.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.

Visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The winter blues is legit; all you have to do is google it and read the case studies!

While there are many ways to combat the ‘winter blues’, the market can be a fabulous local tool to help accomplish some of the recommended doldrum fighters that are perfect to put into action Mid-February in the northeast;

* Healthy eating: the market is filled with fresh, local produced foods and goods.  It’s a great place to shop and learn about locally sourced products.  Each week the market shares a recipe and you can discover new and previous recipes at saratogafarmersmarket.org

* Unplug and Connect:  Turn off the phone, the television, the computer and walk the market at your leisure while visiting with the vendors.  They are a wealth of knowledge and can share many tips, tricks, and answer your questions about their production processes, etc.

If you love the market and want to connect further, while helping the community, the market is always in search of volunteers.  If you’d like to volunteer please email manager@saratogafarmersmarket.org.

This Saturday is the last day for kids to play I-SPY at the market and earn produce coins.   Playing I-SPY makes the market even more fun for kids, helps them to identify fresh, local goods and helps them to ‘learn to earn’ which then can be applied to their shopping experience.  You can use the game in this article or visit saratogafarmersmarket.org to print a copy.  After you’ve played, simply hand in the I-spy at the market staff table to receive produce coins.  The table is located near the entrance of the mall in the food court at Wilton Mall, in front of the green marble wall. 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.

Visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.