Author: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
POP Club Offers Children’s Activities To-Go
Summer has officially begun and throughout the state, summertime activities have been re-imagined to ensure safety and to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s Power of Produce Club, or POP Club, will continue to offer children nutrition education with new take-home activities and online support..
Beginning on July 8, children can participate in POP Club by visiting the Saratoga Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays with their parents or caregivers. At the market, they will receive an activity bag “to go.” The POP Club activity bag will include a take-home activity, recipe cards, and a $2 POP coin that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ market. POP Passports will not be handed out and stamped this year, but families can anticipate nourishing activities with complete directions and supplies. Although the club is open to children, it is especially geared toward those aged 5-12.
In addition to weekly POP Club ‘to go’ bags, parents and caregivers can visit the farmers’ market’s website for video tutorials and photos that pair with each activity. This online platform will give children and parents the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and connect with the farmers’ market for additional support.
“We are very happy to host our fifth season of POP Club with the generous support of the Christopher Dailey Foundation,” says Emily Meagher, market administrator. “It’s important that we give children the tools to be involved in agriculture and community, to help them understand that food and farming are intrinsically connected.”
POP Club continues to be a free program and will run for 8 weeks beginning on Wednesday, July 8, and running through the end of August. POP Club activity bags will be available at the green market information tent on Wednesday, 3-6 p.m. at the farmers’ market.
This season’s take-home activities include crafts, recipes, experiments, and information using seasonal fruits and vegetables as POP Club continues to give both children and their parents a chance to learn about local foods and farming in a hands-on way.
Buying produce with a POP coin gives children a chance to meet farmers, learn money skills, and make smart food choices.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/weekly-newsletter.
Controlled Spiral
Hello my Foodie Friends!
Sunny days and warmer weather remind me of some of my treasured childhood experiences. Getting to spend more time outdoors was my favorite for many reasons; sunshine and swimming, the feel of grass on my feet, the sound of the ice cream truck, melting pop sickles and ice cream cones, and playing baseball outdoors until dark. The weekend days allowed me and my brothers and sisters to sleep in a bit. However, we would always awake early and would roll over and talk until my mother came in to get us moving to eat breakfast.
Our yard was always full of the neighborhood kids. Some of them were there before we even finished breakfast, just waiting for the five Reardon children to come out to play. Among my childhood memories include the visual of the beautiful vegetable gardens that almost every family in my neighborhood had. Don’t get me wrong because as a child I did not like working in the garden. On hot n’ humid days my Mom ordering us to weed and remove bugs from her vegetables was beyond fun! The bugs looked cool though. My mother and my grandmother took much pride in how big the tomatoes or the eggplants were. When we would come in from playing for lunch or a snack, vegetables were always part of what was served such as a wonderful cucumber and tomato salad, zucchini, or carrot sticks (all that came from the garden). Recently, I was reminiscing with my sister about our childhood friends and us playing Hide N Go Seek in the corn fields next to our neighborhood, the outdoor fun we had, and shared our ongoing challenge of eating those vegetables as adults that we so often were eating as children.
During the warmer weather, none of us want to be in the hot kitchen for too long. This time of year is all about feeling light and healthy to combat the hot and humid temperatures. The last thing we want to do is stand over a stovetop or turn the oven on. With gorgeous weather and heat waves, we want to spend as much time outside as possible, soaking up the sun rays. However, we still want to eat healthfully. If you want to minimize the time you’ll be in the kitchen but still feel good (from the inside out, of course), then we have a cool tool that may help you feel inspiralized; the Vegetable Spiralizer. Vegetable Spiralizing is your key to healthy and light meals. The spiralizer is a kitchen tool that turns vegetables and fruits into noodles. Those noodles can then be used to make healthy pasta, noodle, salad dishes and more. While these veggie noodles can be cooked, they’re equally as delicious in their raw, cold form – perfect for easy, no-fuss, no-cook meals. By spiralizing, you’re naturally eating more vegetables – without even noticing (especially when they’re covered in a delicious tomato basil sauce!). Vegetables are high in water (such as zucchinis) and help detox your body, ridding it of unwanted toxins and leaving you refreshed and hydrated. Vegetables have an abundance of dietary fiber, which helps keep you fuller longer and help with your everyday digestion. Certain vegetables even help spike the metabolism, such as zucchinis.
What are the Best Veggies for Spiraling? You can transform all sorts of vegetables into noodles, but the best candidates are those that are firm (not floppy) and long or that can be cut long (if you want long spaghetti that you can easily spiral). One of the best aspects of veggie noodles is their spectacular names. Here are some of the best vegetables for spiraling (Paula found these terms not me):
• Zoodles (zucchini noodles) • Coodles (carrot noodles)
• Swoodles (sweet potato noodles) • Squoodles (squash noodles)
• Boodles (broccoli stem noodles) • Poodles (parsnip noodles)
• Toodles (turnip noodles)
At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Pl., we carry several brands of Vegetable Spiralizers and even small hand held ones you can bring with you camping or to a friend’s or relative’s house to assist you. Enjoy the outdoors – maybe even start a garden. It will make for some lifelong memories made with family and friends while sharing your culinary creations. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”
Take Care,
John & Paula
Low Risk Youth Sports Slated For Early July
SARATOGA COUNTY — During Governor Cuomo’s announcement on June 14 regarding the shift to Phase 3 of reopening, he stated that low-risk youth sports can begin again on July 6. This was a pleasant surprise for many families around New York as it gives their kids an outlet to get outside and stay active during quarantine.
Since early March, many local Recreation Departments have been forced to shut down annual sports and youth-enrichment programs. The Saratoga Recreation Department was forced to cancel its spring soccer, fishing, ice skating, and bowling programs due to the escalation of the COVID-19. While necessary at the time to protect athletes and families, many were sad to hear that another community outlet was shut down until further notice. As summer grew closer, many questioned the potential of these Recreation Departments and their programs being closed for another season. However, with New York’s almost complete shift to Phase 3, this question is now answered.
Many local recreation departments have begun to announce the reopening of summer leagues for lower-risk youth sports. Popular sports included in this category are: soccer, crew, individual swimming and diving, baseball, softball, track and field, and golf. While many kids are excited to regain a bit of normalcy in their lives, there are a lot of precautions being taken to ensure that both kids and spectators can be safe. The sports that were given the green-light to open back up contain minimal contact and share little equipment. Furthermore, most of these can be done while practicing regular social distancing rules.
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While it is up to each state or community to enforce and mandate certain safety precautions, local recreation departments such as the Ballston Area Recreation Commission (BACC) and Saratoga Springs Recreation have taken many efforts to ensure that people are maintaining proper safety when getting back out on the fields this summer. One change that will be implemented for the summer and fall leagues is a limit on the number of spectators allowed at each game. They ask that there only be two spectators per child participant. As well, these Departments have begun to discuss with league directors about keeping players safe during games. Some private leagues have already started posting their own health and safety guidelines during COVID-19. The Ballston Spa Jr. Baseball League is requiring that all coaching staff must wear masks in and around the playing field and that players are required to have masks on in the dugout. The traditional after game handshake is being replaced with both teams lining up on their base path in front of their dugouts and tipping their cap to opposing team.
However, while things may look bright for Saratoga and Ballston Spa in regard to the reopening of summer youth sports, Glens Falls has decided to keep their sport leagues closed for the summer. In a release by the Glens Falls Recreation department, “In wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and the Covid-19 threat, and in the interest of maintaining public health, the Glens Falls Recreation Department has cancelled the bulk of its summer programming.”
While the concern of COVID-19 will not go away anytime soon, it’s a step in the right direction for local communities as they try and not only restore some normalcy to kids’ lives, but also some smiles.
Hot Fudge Birthday!
Hello my Foodie Friends!
June 16 was our daughter Aubrey’s birthday. It was also National Fudge Day! How old is Aubrey do you ask? Well, I’m not supposed to say but to me when I look at her, she is still five years old and she still would like more than the wrapping paper for a gift. Aubrey had a request that we use Sundae’s Best Hot Fudge for her Birthday dessert. In the past several months, we have all been sharing a lot of stay “in the house” family time, so her party was small.
However, it was with those that made it sweet. Paula and I love to use products from family-owned businesses, especially if they are locally owned. Among our favorites is a wonderful product of Katie and Jeff from Sundae’s Best Hot Fudge Sauce, which is a product of Greenfield’s Greatest Food Company, Inc. They use only the very best ingredients including real chocolate and cocoa. They also use award-winning NY State (Dake Family Owned) Stewarts® wholesome milk, cream and sweet butter. Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce is great on ice cream, fruit, cake, in recipes or just grab a spoon and dig in. Jeff’s mom has been making this homemade hot fudge for family, friends and her church congregation for more than forty years…and she still does. Katie and her grandmother have had a Saratoga tradition enjoying hot fudge sundaes from ice cream shops since Katie was a little girl. They’ve combined mom’s recipe with their love for hot fudge to offer Sundaes Best. Katie, Jeff, Paula, John and Aubrey encourage you to start a Sundae Tradition of your own. You should see the smiles from those that receive Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce as a gift. Did you see our Katie on Good Morning America on Saturday, June 13, 2020?
Stop by our family-owned Compliments to the Chef, downtown Saratoga’s neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located on 33 Railroad Place to get some of Sundae’s Best Hot Fudge Sauce. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen” especially when that special someone has chocolate to share.
Take Care,
John & Paula
Fresh Herbs Bring Flavor and Beauty to Food
At the farmers’ market, fragrant herb bouquets and pots spilling with over with leafy herb plants offer market-goers an abundance of culinary exploration. While common herbs do compliment specific foods, there are no rules for what to use them in. Fresh herbs may be mixed and matched to your liking.
Common herbs can be put into two categories: woody herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and sage, and soft herbs such as basil, parsley, and cilantro. Woody herbs can be added earlier in the cooking process while soft herbs are commonly added towards the end of the cooking process or as a garnish.
Herbs can be easily stored upright in a jar of water or between a damp paper towel in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Here are just some of the common herbs available on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the farmers’ market.
Basil is recognized by its glossy, pointed leaves and sweet-savory flavor. Basil pairs well with tomatoes, strawberries, mozzarella, beef, and shrimp.
Parsley is a mild bitter herb that many use as a garnish for food, but it helps dishes like stews achieve a more balanced flavor. As an added benefit, parsley can aid in digestion.
Cilantro is a delicate citrusy herb most commonly used fresh at the end of cooking. Cilantro is popular in Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines.
Mint has a subtly sweet and peppery flavor, and it is used for a variety of culinary and medicinal purposes. Its powerful flavor compliments lamb, feta, mojitos, and even chocolate.
Dill is a delicate and feathery herb with slender stems. Dill pairs with salmon, cucumber, and potatoes, and is commonly used in pickling mixtures, dressings, and egg dishes.
Chives have a subtly oniony flavor with hints of garlic. Recognizable by its grass-like leaves and vibrant green color, chives make the perfect garnish for dishes with eggs or potatoes.
Thyme has small, pale green leaves and pungent aroma that pairs well with hearty meat like pork and chicken. Thyme holds up well to heat and can be used during the cooking process.
Oregano is a sweet, slightly peppery member of the mint family. This herb is commonly used in dishes like tomato sauce, yogurt sauce, and kebabs, and is a staple in Italian and Greek cuisine.
Rosemary has been prized for its sturdy, aromatic sprigs and oil for centuries. Its needle-like leaves can be used for roasted vegetables, goat cheese, and even flavorful bundt cakes.
Sage is known for its fuzzy leaves and savory flavor with a peppery bite. Fresh sage leaves are commonly used in sausage and gnocchi. Sage can be cooked or fried as a garnish for squash.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Saratoga County’s Largest Ribbon Cutting Ever
It’s Friday, June 19, 2020, and we’re about to hold the largest ribbon cutting celebration Saratoga County has ever seen.
It will take place today at 11 a.m. We really have no idea how many people will participate. We’ve invited everyone!
BUT, this ribbon cutting will feature the same ribbon being cut in more than 2 dozen locations across Saratoga County simultaneously. That’s what makes it the biggest.
Normally when we do a ribbon cutting, it is for one business in recognition of an investment they’ve made in our community. It can be for a new business or an expansion or a relocation or a significant milestone anniversary.
Today’s ribbon cutting at multiple locations simultaneously is designed to celebrate the reopening of Saratoga County’s economy.
The Chamber and our partners at the Saratoga County Reopening Advisory Board as well as Discover Saratoga, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, the Saratoga Springs DBA, the Saratoga Springs City Center and SEDC will all be involved in one place or another.
We’ll be in downtown Saratoga Springs as well as the Villages of Ballston Spa, Schuylerville and Mechanicville. We’ll be in the Town of Day and Edinburg to the North and Waterford, Halfmoon and Clifton Park to the South.
We’re now in Phase 3 of Saratoga County’s reopening. And while there are still some sectors that remain closed, we simply cannot wait two more weeks to share the news that Saratoga County is open for business for those who are wondering what is open and what is not.
The ribbon we are using features the Stronger Together Saratoga County logo created a month or so ago to celebrate the many collaborations we’ve seen that have helped us get to this point.
We’re also providing every City, Town, Village and Hamlet with two Stronger Together signs personalized for their local community to use in the ribbon cutting photos.
We’ve created a Saratoga County Ribbon Cutting event on Facebook. There, everyone will be able to see all of the ribbon cutting photos and videos our staff, partners and volunteers shoot capturing this historic day.
This ribbon cutting celebrates the investment of time we’ve all made during New York’s PAUSE as we sheltered at home to put health first while placing our economy in jeopardy. Today is the day where we hopefully can feel the freedom and safely start to return to the businesses we know and love more regularly.
We believe every ribbon cutting is the celebration of a dream come true. For us here in Saratoga County as I write this, we dreamed of a day when there was no one in Saratoga Hospital fighting for their life versus COVID-19.
That day came a week ago, on Thursday, June 11. That was the day when we decided to break out the ribbon on June 19. That was the dream come true. Now we cannot let down our guard.
As Angelo Calbone, the President of Saratoga Hospital told a group of local leaders the other day, we still must be vigilant. We need to social distance. When we can’t, we need to wear a mask. We need to wash our hands. We need to disinfect surfaces. We need to take special care of our seniors and those with underlying conditions.
But if we continue to do this, this countywide ribbon cutting today will go down in history as the day we turned the corner.
The day we celebrated the sacrifices so many have made to get here as well as the potential of what we can do together going forward to rebuild our economy.
Getaway to Not So Distant Shores
Photos provided.
Return to the rhythm of nature while gliding through the lily pads and coasting along the sparkling, sunlit water.
Let your tension melt away with a visit to Fish Creek, a world away from it all, where the gentle sounds of songbirds and splashing fish are reminders of the enduring wellness that surrounds you.
The Kayak Shak on Stafford’s Bridge Road opened for the season on May 20th, just as the pleasant weather was beginning to shine its sunny face on the gentle waterway that connects Saratoga Lake to the Hudson River in Schuylerville.
“It worked out very nicely for everybody. This was the only place to be,” said the Kayak Shak’s manager, Suzanne Carpenter.
GOING WITH THE FLOW
Getting out onto the water in a kayak or paddleboard is ideal for following this year’s social-distancing guidelines, but the Kayak Shak is taking additional steps to ensure they are offering a safe experience for everyone.
Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Go:
• Limited Launches. To control crowding and keep things flowing steadily, the Kayak Shak is allowing 10 watercrafts to launch every 15 minutes. Guests are requested to arrive no more than 10 minutes early. To discourage gathering, no tables, chairs, or hammocks have been set up this year. Small groups will be allowed. SUP Yoga classes have been cancelled.
• Reservations are highly encouraged. Before you head to the water for a day of fun, call or book a launching time online. By paying and signing the safety waiver electronically, you help ensure a speedier process time at the check-in window. The building is closed, but the restrooms are open.
• Wear a Mask. Guests are asked to wear a mask during launch and upon their return to shore. The staff are wearing masks, as well. The watercrafts, lifejackets, and paddles are being cleaned and disinfected after each use.
FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE
More than ever, locals are finding that a regular trip to the Kayak Shak is a great way to spend their free time.
“Come out and enjoy the summer by being out on the water. We provide some excitement and a chance for people to learn something new – they’re so grateful for that,” said Carpenter
The Kayak Shak has 85 kayaks and 74 paddleboards available for rent. They also offer watercraft storage for those with their own boats who want to use this access point to reach the water. A limited number of storage slips are still available. There is a launch fee of $10/boat.
If you need to cancel or reschedule a reservation and provide at least 24 hours’ notice of the change before your launch time, you will be given a full refund.
The Kayak Shak, 251 County Route 67, Saratoga Springs, is open 7 days/week, 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single kayaks and paddleboard rentals are $25/person for 3 hours or $45/person for 6 hours. Double kayaks are $50/half day or $85/full day rental. For more information and to make a reservation, call 518-587-9788 or go to www.kayakshak.com