What do you serve for St. Patrick’s Day dinner? Many dish up the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner. I love a good Reuben sandwich with a twist – I swap the sauerkraut for a deliciously easy, homemade coleslaw. However you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve discovered how you can support locally produced and grown goods at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market to complete your menu.

For corned beef brisket, Grazin’ Acres Farm sells beef brisket along with DIY corned beef brine kits. It takes 7 to 9 days to brine corned beef, so plan on grabbing your brisket this weekend. They also have ham in the event you prefer a baked ham dinner. 

When shopping for a brisket, remember there are two different cuts: a flat cut that’s rectangular and relatively equal in thickness and a point cut with a point at one end and uneven thickness with more fat marbling throughout. 

Trim the outer fat before cooking or brining your brisket. Once the meat is cooked, let it rest for 20 minutes before slicing. Find the grain of the meat, then turn the brisket to cut across the grain for the most tender cut. Slice thin, and enjoy every savory bite!

Carrots, onions, and cabbage are St. Patrick’s Day staples available at Gomez Veggie Ville. You’ll find potatoes and onions at Lovin’ Mama Farm and Gomez Veggie Ville. Squash Villa also has potatoes.

Irish Soda Bread is a tangy scone-like bread, and both Jennifer’s Sweet Treats and The Bread Butler offer this traditional treat. In addition, Katie Bakes Gluten Free has gluten-free Irish Soda Bread.

Rye bread for the Reuben sandwich lover is also at the farmers’ market. Night Work Bread has a sour dough-based rye bread, and The Bread Butler has traditional rye bread.

Sauerkraut as a side or to layer onto a Reuben is an excellent addition. Be sure to stop by Puckers Gourmet.

Festive desserts will be abundant with Katie Bakes Gluten Free’s specialty cupcakes and St. Patrick’s Day cookie packs. Night Work Bread will bring brownies and cookies. Sweet Treats by Jennifer always has their Chocolate Mint Dream cookie and shamrock sugar cookies. The Bread Butler will have their infamous black-tie brownies.

For Irish coffee, get your ground coffee and beans from Nally’s Coffee.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from November through April at the Wilton Mall Food Court, accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs or the mall interior. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Hello my Foodie Friends!   

First let me thank all of you that have stopped in personally to let me know that you enjoy this column. Your kind words and well wishes have inspired me to keep coming back each week with new stories from the kitchen. I recall a visit from a young lady who came in and asked me for help buying cookware. It seems that there is something called “The Engagement Meal.” This works by cooking your significant other a great meal so they will finally propose. The young man in question had been taking a long time to pop the question. There is a lot of great karma in this strategy. As I discussed options for cookware, it brought me back to the first time my wife cooked for me. I still remember the candles and the gleam in her eyes. It was chicken and fried dough that we had picked up at a local farmers’ market. There were green beans and potatoes too. I called my mom and she said eat everything on your plate because it will mean so much to her. Yes, I was a lucky young man, at least that is what the emergency room doctor told me the next day. It seems I had salmonella poisoning but that is when I knew she was the one for me. She tried her best and I remember the love she put into it and how she held my hand as they loaded me in the ambulance. Although the dinner was a learning curve for her, today she is an awesome cook. The culprit was undercooked chicken. 

A cooking vessel that may have helped with my special dinner would have been the Chinese Wok – a must have for your kitchen. A wok is a wide bowl-shaped cooking vessel with handles used commonly in Chinese and Asian cooking. The types of foods generally cooked in woks are stir frying, stewing, boiling, braising and steaming. At Compliments to the Chef, we carry assortments of high-quality woks and Stir Frys that suit the needs of the Asian cooking enthusiast each that spread heat evenly and are easy to clean up. Though Cast Iron woks are superior to carbon steel woks in heat retention and uniform heat distribution, they also allow to form a more stable layer of seasoning which makes it less prone to food sticking on the pan. Carbon Steel woks are a little less expensive and still perform very well. Although there are several sizes, my customers prefer the 12” and 14” wok. It allows for big and small cooking. The handles are designed to stay cool on the stovetop, so you can easily remove the pan from the burner without using potholders. Its curved sides diffuse heat and extend the cooking surface, which helps with tossing and stirring. The great depth allows ample room to cook a whole fish, if so desired. Simmering, deep frying, or steaming are just a few of its multiple uses. Season them with vegetable oil before use and after cleaning. Wherever your tastes take you this pan can deliver. 

Stop by and visit us at Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store for those cool tools to help you with your special dinner. Oh, and when you are looking into each other’s eyes from across the table remember Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

Take Care, John & Paula

Edible mushrooms are mystical-looking delicacies. They may not sound appetizing when you refer to them as a fungus, but there is much to discover about these delicious eats. They are nutritionally dense with vitamins, minerals, and fiber that have many health benefits and contribute to immune support and anti-inflammatory effects

When you visit the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, The Mushroom Shop has an abundant, eye-catching display of mushrooms. The owners, Jacob Howard and Elise Olsen, are there to educate shoppers on their flavors and attributes. They will also guide you on how to incorporate them into culinary creations. We recently talked with The Mushroom Shop to learn more.

When did you begin your journey with The Mushroom Shop?

We started growing mushrooms in the spring of 2021.

What led you to create The Mushroom Shop?

Our interest in foraging and cultivating mushrooms started as a hobby. After we partnered with a local vegetable farm, we decided to go into business. We saw an opportunity to provide the region with our high-quality mushrooms.

How many varieties of mushrooms do you grow?

We cultivate over a dozen unique species. Some of our most popular mushrooms are oyster, lion’s mane, and enoki.

What’s one of your favorite mushrooms to prepare?

Lion’s mane is so versatile. Its tender, meaty texture makes for a great seafood substitute, perfect for recipes like lion’s mane “crab” cakes, “shrimp” scampi, or hearty chowder. Or cook it like steak by searing thick slabs in a cast-iron skillet or on the grill.

What mushroom products do you offer at the farmers’ market besides fresh mushrooms?

We produce a variety of mushroom teas and seasonings, oyster mushroom jerky, and a varied selection of dried mushrooms. We also sell mushroom grow kits upon request.

Tell us a little about the health benefits of mushrooms.

Many medicinal mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties and help strengthen the immune system. Lion’s mane is a well-known medicinal mushroom that enhances focus and memory. 

What’s your number one best seller at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market?

Our chef’s mix of fresh mushrooms is our most popular product. It includes a selection of 4-5 varieties of fresh gourmet mushrooms that change each season.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from November through April at the Wilton Mall Food Court, accessible from the mall entrance, across from BJs, or the mall interior. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Hello my Foodie Friends!   

Finding that perfect culinary gift for someone can be a task that many of us experience. Giving the gift of a cutting board is offering something that is practical and functional. It is a gift that keeps giving. 

Why have a cutting board? Using a cutting board is an excellent way to protect your countertops from scratches and damage. When you cut directly on your countertops, you risk damaging the surface, leaving unsightly marks, and making it look worn out over time. A cutting board is an incredibly versatile tool in the kitchen. It can be used for a variety of tasks, such as chopping vegetables, slicing fruit, or preparing meat. Additionally, it can be used as a serving platter for appetizers or cheese and crackers, making it a multipurpose item in the kitchen. A cutting board can be easily stored in a kitchen drawer or hung up on a hook for easy access.

Additionally, cutting boards can be easily cleaned and disinfected, reducing the risk of bacteria growth on your countertops. This is especially important if you are preparing raw meats, as bacteria can easily spread from the cutting board to your countertops, increasing the risk of foodborne illness. By using a cutting board, you can maintain a more hygienic kitchen environment and reduce the risk of contamination.

Cutting on hard surfaces such as glass or ceramic can quickly dull and damage your knives, making them less effective and more dangerous to use. A cutting board made of wood or plastic, however, can preserve the sharpness of your knives and extend their lifespan. By using a cutting board, you can save money on replacing your knives and ensure that they are always sharp and safe to use.

One of our favorite cutting boards we offer at Compliments to the Chef, is the Epicurean cutting board. The signature Epicurean brand cutting boards have earned their place in the heart of the kitchen, meeting the highest standards of cooks and chefs worldwide. With a natural look and texture from a paper composite material, these boards are durable, knife friendly, and dishwasher safe. Epicurean is a USA-manufacturer using primarily USA-sourced materials. Its iconic paper composite material is manufactured 100% in the USA, using materials locally sourced in the USA. 

Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs. Keep your family together in the kitchen and involved with the prep and creation of your meals. Family recipes are a way of keeping our ancestry alive, as well as a part of ourselves. Traditions help bond us to those we love. Cooking together creates closer bonds and helps build lifelong memories. You can also use the time to listen, share and talk as a family. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

Take Care, John & Paula

Are you staycationing this winter break? Consider bringing the entire family to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market as part of your week of staycation activities.

While it may sound like an odd staycation activity, the farmers’ market is filled with leisurely fun that the whole family will enjoy, leading to an educational experience while ultimately supporting local businesses that grow and produce all of their goods.  

Play Market I-Spy

Visit the market’s website at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and locate ‘Support the Market’ on the home page. Click ‘Learn More’ to find the Market I-spy game and download and print it.

Once you’re at the market, check the boxes as you identify the corresponding items to the pictures you discover as you wander by all the different vendors. This experience will help children realize how many locally made and grown items are available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Keep reading to learn how your child(ren) can earn a $2 coin to spend at the market.

Culinary Fun

You can also print a free shopping list for your children to follow while at the market, corresponding with this week’s recipe: nutty apple pancakes. You can locate the list on the same page as the Market I-spy game.

Identify the items you need for making this recipe at the market and check them off as you locate where they are available. This practical activity is a perfect opportunity to expand your staycation fun by shopping and making a recipe together.

Rewards

If you download and complete an activity, bring it to the information table, and your child(ren) will receive a $2 token to spend at the market. 

The market is an exciting place to help children understand where local food and goods come from. Our vendors are always open to chatting about how they grow or create their goods and bring them to market.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from November through April at the Wilton Mall Food Court, accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs or the mall interior. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Wilton Mall hourly on Saturday mornings. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The calendar pages are turning quickly, and before you know it, Game Day will be here, followed immediately by Valentine’s Day. Make the Saratoga Farmers’ Market part of your shopping plans to help you prepare for both events.

Game-day shopping

Visit Hepatica Farm for fresh chicken wings and Eat with Aliens for hot sauce. Check out Muddy Trail Jerky Co. for various dip mixes. Then, stop by Puckers Gourmet for their hummus, which goes perfectly with fresh carrots from Gomez Veggie Ville. Don’t forget freshly baked bread for dips from The Bread Butler and Night Work Bread.

Grab a pre-made pizza from Argyle Cheese Farmer or make your own with a pre-made crust at Katie Bakes Gluten Free. Add a pesto mix from Muddy Trail Jerky Co., specialty cheese from Argyle Cheese Farmer, or Nettle Meadow, and then top it off with fresh arugula mix from Lovin’ Mama Farm. You can use these items to make game-day calzones and quesadillas, too.

You’ll find a variety of meats from Grazin’ Acres Farm, Hepatica Farm, Jireh Organics & Livestock, and Long Lesson Farm for festive meals, like sliders and pizza with toppings: taco pizza, fajita flavors, chicken pesto themes, and meatballs. 

Add mushrooms to your specialty creations from The Mushroom Shop and other delicious herbs and veggies from Lovin’ Mama Farm and Gomez Veggie Ville.

For dessert, visit Katie Bakes Gluten-Free, Night Work Bread, and Sweet Treats by Jennifer for their Game Day and Valentine’s offerings.

THIS WEEKEND ONLY, you can purchase eclairs from Argyle Cheese Farmer. If you want to get some, email an order to acheesefarmer@gmail.com before the market and pick them up on Saturday. 

Valentine’s Day shopping

Consider fresh tulips, dried flowers, and wreathes from Halfmoon Harvest and Lovin’ Mama Farm for that special someone.

You can pick up a bottle of wine from Slyboro.  If you prefer spirits or hard cider, visit Yankee Distillery and Saratoga Apple to discover their specialty items.

Or, consider specialty gifts from vendors like Sweet Sprig, featurning hand-crafted soaps, bath bombs, and lotions. RK Designs has home decor.

If you’re thinking about what to serve your Valentine for breakfast, visit the ‘news’ section on our website, SaratogaFarmersMarket.org, for a complete list of ideas.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from November through April at the Wilton Mall Food Court, accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs or the mall interior. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

How many of you like to eat breakfast foods any time of the day? As a child, one of my favorite breakfast items was and still is waffles. I love the smell of cooking waffles when you walk into the kitchen. 

One of our family treats was waffles on Sunday morning. My mother would offer to put blueberries, strawberries, bananas and various fruits on our waffles. I have always loved waffles’ crispy wafer surface, soft interior and tiny golden pockets filled with maple syrup. The waffles of my dreams (and by now you realize this is nearing psychedelic-flashback territory), include the proper waffles are dark golden brown, crisp and served with butter melting into the square holes, maybe a salty pork product nearby such as bacon and real maple syrup. I would beg for a scoop of ice cream on top – but that idea was quickly nixed.

Waffles have been a favorite food for hundreds of years, possibly dating back to the 13th Century. Although,waffles were brought to Pennsylvania centuries ago by German settlers, they are experiencing a modern-day comeback that extends long after sunrise. There are many new food concepts out there that include creative approaches to waffles as an all-day food. It is safe to say that Americans have developed a bit of a fascination, perhaps an obsession of making waffles a novelty breakfast items to decadent masterpieces. Making crisp and fluffy homemade waffles has gotten easier since the days when you had to hold a long-handled waffle iron in the fire to get them perfectly browned. Modern waffle makers require little more effort than plugging them in and heating them up, but it can take a little practice to effortlessly turn out golden grids that pair perfectly with real maple syrup or crunchy fried chicken. A generously oiled and thoroughly preheated waffle maker should produce an irresistible result every time.

I never met a waffle I didn’t like. After hearing the ways waffles can answer the never-ending “What’s for dinner?” question or liven up a winter party, you’ll never look at a box of Eggos the same way again. Who says waffles are just for breakfast? You could eat them for lunch, dinner and dessert too. Here are some ideas: 

Chicken and Bacon Waffles. Call it a meat-lovers waffle. Top your waffle with fried chicken and crispy bacon, and even mix bacon into the waffle batter. Save it for a lazy  Sunday morning when you don’t have to leave the couch too quickly.

Waffled Brioche French Toast. If you’re the type who always waffles (har har) between French toast and waffles on the diner menu, you can get the best of both worlds at home. Pop a chunky slice of brioche in the waffle iron, and you’ll wind up with crispy divots (perfect for flooding with syrup) and maintain the fluffy, chewy texture typical of French toast.

Waffled Banana Bread. Banana bread is another morning favorite that can get a waffle update. Pour banana-bread batter straight into the waffle iron for a treat that’s both new and familiar — and cooks in way less time than typical banana bread.

Breakfast Grilled Cheese

Waffles to-go sounds tricky until you realize that two waffles can sandwich all the gooey stuff (cream cheese and jam) inside for a handheld breakfast. 

These are just some ideas…

There are so many options to make with a waffle maker. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place to pick up the essentials to make your culinary delights. Have fun in the kitchen; tell that special someone they are “Waffle-y Cute.” Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

Take Care, John & Paula

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and there’s nothing like showing a little extra love with a homemade breaakfast served at the kitchen counters or in bed. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has a wide variety of locally grown and produced goods for whatever your perfect breakfast combo might include.

Bacon & Sausage. Discover these savory delicacies at:

• Grazin’ Acres Farm has maple breakfast links
• Jireh Organics & Livestock of NY’s bacon and ground sausage
• Long Lesson Farm has bacon and breakfast sausage

Breads and other baked goods. Various baked goods are useful in recipes or purchased ready-to-eat.
• The Bread Butler’s assorted breads are great for toast and French toast—their chocolate croissants are a breakfast win.
• Katie Bakes Gluten Free has bagels, muffins, and scones
• Kokinda Farm’s assorted baked breads
• Night Work Bread’s sourdough bread and other baked goods such as bagels, scones, babka 
• Parchment has brioche-style cardamom bread, which is delicious toasted or for French toast and other baked goods.
• Sweet Treats by Jennifer’s English muffin bread and cinnamon buns
• The Argyle Cheese Farmer’s blueberry danish and cinnamon buns

Coffee is a must on most breakfast trays (wink), and you’ll find locally roasted beans at Nally Coffee.

Find farm-fresh eggs at:

• Jireh Organics & Livestock of NY
• Kokinda Farm
• Hepatica Farm
• Squash Villa Farm

Fruit. While it’s not growing season, Saratoga Apple has fresh choices direct from cold storage, like fresh apples, dried apples, and applesauce.

Hash browns always make a delicious side dish, and you can grab locally grown items to bake or fry them:

•  Gomez Veggie Ville’s potatoes, onion & kale
• Grazin’ Acres Farm’s potatoes
• Lovin’ Mama Farm’s  potatoes, onions, kale, spinach & herbs
• Muddy Trail Jerky Co’s spice mixes

Honey is the perfect sweetener for tea and to top off some of your baked goods or to use in recipes like pancakes as an alternative sweetener. 

• Ballston Lake Apiary has honey and honey sticks
• Slate Valley Farm has honey

Pancakes and syrup are a popular winter treat, and the market has both pancake mix and the ever-popular maple syrup.

• Sweet Treats by Jennifer brings pancake batter
• Slate Valley Farm maple syrup

Smoothies, yogurt, and granola are perfect for parfaits:

• The Argyle Cheese Farmer has smoothies and assorted yogurts
• Sweet Treats by Jennifer makes granola

Other baking supplies:

• The Argyle Cheese Farmer makes buttermilk 
• Muddy Trail Jerky Co. vanilla

Other toppings:

• Kokinda Farm has homemade jams and jellies
• Saratoga Peanut Butter varieties

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from November through April at the Wilton Mall Food Court, accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs or the mall interior. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.