Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Winter Wonderland Week 2022: Events slated for Long Lake and Raquette Lake Feb. 18-25

Ice Golf at 2019 Raquette Lake Winter Carnival

There is a little something for everyone during Winter Wonderland Week in Raquette Lake and Long Lake beginning on Friday, February 18 to Friday, February 25. The festive week kicks off with day one of Raquette Lake’s annual Winter Carnival and an 80’s-themed skate and pizza party in Long Lake on Friday, Feb. 18. Raquette Lake’s Winter Carnival is set for Feb. 18 -20 and will feature an evening concert with the Jamcrackers at the Raquette Lake Chapel, a ladies’ frying pan toss, games for kids, ice golf, a cross-cut and chainsaw competition, a bonfire and fireworks, and much more.

The fun continues all week long with a slew of community-centered activities including skating and sledding races, a cross-country ski tour, a trivia night, tubing at Oak Mountain, an hors d’oeuvres tour in Long Lake, and the return of Long Lake/Raquette Lake Winter Bingo.

The Long Lake Hors D’Oeuvres Tour is set to return on Friday, February 25. The event is sponsored by the Town of Long Lake Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department. Participants will take a free shuttle service to area restaurants to enjoy an evening out in which they will have the opportunity to sample specialty appetizers created specifically for the event and vote for the best appetizer at each location. Participating restaurants are: The Long View Lodge, The Adirondack Hotel, and The Long Lake Diner. Reservations remain open until Monday, February 21. Those interested are encouraged to register for the event early as seats will be limited to 60 guests. Registration can be done online here: https://mylonglake.com/tour/. Call (518) 624-3077 for more information.

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Saturday, February 12, 2022

MAKE IT: Cajun cauliflower

cajun cauliflower

Here is a recipe for cajun cauliflower, from Eastern Michigan University dietetic intern, Kristina (it is really good – my son, who detests cauliflower, actually not only tried it but liked it).

» Continue Reading.


Monday, February 7, 2022

Food Product Labels – What Do They Mean? 

non-gmo food labelWhether we shop at the supermarket or the farmers market, the foods we purchase bare a wide variety of labels. And we rely on those labels to provide us with information on, among other things, how the food was grown and/or prepared, or in the case of meat and meat products, how the animals were raised.

When we choose to buy food products that we believe are better choices, based on labeling, we want to know that we’re buying food that’s healthier for our families and the environment? And most people would agree that consumers have a right to know. But, all of the branding, pictures, and / or descriptions we find on, or attached to food products or packaging can be confusing. And, sometimes, misleading.

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Sunday, February 6, 2022

February Harvest of the Month: Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are large, sweet-tasting, starchy, tubers that grow under soil attached to a sprawling vine with heart-shaped leaves. While we eat them like potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), they are actually not a potato. Sweet potatoes are a member of the Convolvulaceae plant family and are more closely related to morning glories than potatoes. Potatoes are in the nightshade family, and are more closely related to eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers. 

Sweet potatoes thrive in warm climates, and they continue to be a culturally significant food in the American South, where they have been grown by indigenous people, European colonists, and enslaved people, and farmers for hundreds of years. 

Photo from the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Pleasant Valley Farm, By Pattie Garrett

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Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Adirondack Experience presents food-themed webinars

butternut squash ravioliJoin Adirondack Experience for some delicious programs coming in February
7:00pm | FREE | Via Zoom

FEBRUARY 2
‘DACKS DISHES: What to Do with those Winter Root Vegetables
with Chef Kevin McCarthy and Paul Smith’s College Culinary and Hospitality students

FEBRUARY 16
‘DACKS DISHES: Local Whole Grain Goodness
with Dan Rivera, Triple Green Jade Farm

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Saturday, January 22, 2022

MAKE IT: Elderberry Syrup

elderberry syrupElderberry syrup has become a popular option for many people who are seeking natural approaches to health. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants, which may help to support a healthy immune system. Although this recipe calls for dried elderberries, you can use fresh or frozen if you can find them. Also, the alcohol is optional (it helps with making the syrup shelf-stable), so feel free to leave it out. Be Well! » Continue Reading.


Sunday, January 9, 2022

January Harvest of the Month: Beets 

beets

Beets, or “beetroot”, are plants with edible greens and taproot in the Amaranthaceae family. They are part of the species Beta vulgaris, along with swiss chard and sugar beets. The plant was first cultivated in the Mediterranean regions and Middle-East and is now a staple ingredient in cuisines throughout Europe and North America.

In North America, the round sweet root vegetables are called “beets”, whereas in British English and other parts of the world they are referred to as “beetroot.” Today, beets are one of the few vegetables that are locally grown and available year-round in the Adirondack region. 

For many reasons, beets have earned a tough reputation in the United States. People either love them or hate them. Some people are sensitive to their “earthy” flavor, that is thanks to a compound called geosmin, which is also the compound that we associate with the smell of “fresh rain” and “forest soil”. Some people are much more sensitive to this compound than others. However, their nutritional, symbolic, and practical characteristics have kept them on the menu from 1000+ BCE to today. 

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Saturday, January 8, 2022

MAKE IT: Latkes

latkesLatkes are not just a holiday food! A dish that is part of the Hanukkah celebration, this traditional recipe for latkes makes latkes that are crispy and fried to perfection. My kiddos love to eat these year-round. For a vegan version, use flax eggs (1 flax egg = 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed/3 Tablespoons water. Mix flax and water and let sit for at least 10 minutes, or until congealed). Although latkes are usually fried (as they are in this recipe), I have also baked the vegan version with decent results (they have turned out best in convection ovens). Enjoy!

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Sunday, January 2, 2022

Dates set for 2022 Food Justice Summit

2022 food justice summitWe are excited to announce the Save the Date for the 2022 Food Justice Summit, Feed Back: Meeting in the Middle, hosted by AHI in collaboration with the Adirondack Food System Network, taking place February 23-24, 2022.  The Call for Presenters and Sponsorship Opportunities are attached.

Call for Presenters:  We invite proposals that address the intersections of food justice, racial equity, healthcare, and education in our rural region.  We seek to engage active dialogue between presenters and participants, to identify obstacles, recognize successful initiatives, and engender collaborative networks.

For more information, visit https://ahihealth.org/2022fjs.


Friday, December 17, 2021

Roast Grinch: A holiday feast

holiday grinch roast

So, you’ve been doing some hunting, managed to bag a few Grinches!  Congratulations!  NOW What??

Well, I wanted to take a moment and offer some suggestions and an easy original Grinch recipe from my own Whoville Santa’s chef pantry.

Now – Whoville Santa is a firm believer that proper Roast Grinch preparation begins in the sleigh.  He recommends that once you bag a Grinch- field dress it right away!

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Thursday, December 16, 2021

Saranac Lake Winter Farmers’ Park-It now accepts SNAP

SNAP and farmers market

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are now accepted at the Saranac Lake Farmers’ Park-It, a curbside, order-ahead pickup model, through May 28. SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps”, is a federal program that provides low-income families with funds to purchase groceries. Since most vendors aren’t equipped to individually process EBT cards, a market-wide exchange program is required. This is the first year SNAP has been available through the winter and to pay for online-orders through Park-it.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Essex County, and AdkAction piloted this new local food access program at the Lake Placid and Saranac Lake farmers’ markets this year from May to October. Shoppers exchanged their SNAP benefits for tokens redeemable at the market. At those two markets, over $1,700 SNAP dollars were spent on local food during the summer season.

This fall, CCE and AdkAction worked together again at the Saranac Lake Indoor Farmers’ Market to provide the same program, and will continue as the market transitions to just a Park-It after the holidays. Prior to this program, SNAP benefits have not been accepted year-round at any farmers’ market in Essex County.

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Saturday, December 11, 2021

MAKE IT: Easy cheesy pizza rolls

pizza rolls

Pizza has always been a staple in my household. When my children were younger, we would make pizza from scratch at least once each week. This version of easy cheesy pizza rolls, is a twist on the traditional pizza recipe, creating yummy hand-holdable rolls that are easy to dunk in additional marinara sauce. Feel free to customize these rolls to your preferences. I follow a vegan diet, so do not use any dairy products in mine (and I dearly love putting pineapple as one of my filling ingredients). My kiddos love ground venison, chopped steamed broccoli, or roasted chicken. Since this recipe is extremely quick and easy to make, you can make and cook several at one time. Enjoy!

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Adirondack Harvest creates holiday shopping guide

adirondack harvest gift guide

This holiday season,  support the farmers, makers and small businesses in the Adirondacks by shopping for Adirondack-grown and made food and gifts. Share the special sense of place that things made from the sun, soil, and wild rivers of the Adirondacks offer.  There is no better way to express your love and gratitude for our region and the people who make it special than to put your extra holiday spending back into your Adirondack communities.

The guide aims to inspire and connect you with farms and small businesses to support this holiday season. Click here to access it.


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Mobile Market grateful for another successful season

 mobile marketBy Heart Network staff

Here in the North Country, our communities exist in vast, rural areas, where access to life’s basic necessities is limited. Healthy, nutritious food can be hard to come by for those who live in less populated towns and villages, and it often takes creative solutions to overcome these obstacles.

The Joint Council for Economic Opportunity’s Mobile Market provides access to seasonal produce, baked goods and a salad bar; the market made its debut in 2018 in a partnership with JCEO and the Heart Network, with funding from the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities grant. One bus started with 12 stops and has since expanded, adding more communities and offerings. The Mobile Market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits with the additional bonus of the Double Up Food Bucks Program (DUFB), which doubles the amount of produce SNAP recipients can purchase; customers can also use Office for the Aging farmers market vouchers.

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Sunday, December 5, 2021

December Harvest of the Month: Delicata Squash 

delicata squash

Delicata squash cut in half at Fruiton Seed Company, from fruitionseeds.com

Have you heard of delicata squash? Perhaps you’ve seen these unique oblong striped squash at the farmers’ market but weren’t quite sure what they were. Delicata is a very sweet type of winter squash with cream colored, yellow, and green striped skin. It’s named “delicata” because of its delicate skin that doesn’t need to be peeled before cooking and can be eaten. The delicata is a cultivar of the variety Cucurbita pepo, meaning it is a close relative to zucchini, butternut squash, and pumpkins. 

» Continue Reading.



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