Sweet and sour chicken
The last of the Christmas tamales. I think.
Turkey and oven roasted Yukon golds {the best potato out there if you ask me!}
Dan and Whit’s General Store $12.99
While The Girl and I were at Dan and Whit’s last week a bottle of cinnamon cider syrup on the shelf caught my eye. It was something I had never heard of before and so I thought, hey, I like apple cider… and cinnamon and maple syrup too… I bet that stuff tastes pretty good. And so splurged and paid $12.99 for a bottle.
Well, I am going to go out on a limb and say that cinnamon cider syrup is an acquired taste. I am not joking when I tell you I could actually feel cavities forming with each bite of my waffle. The syrup was so sweet, it actually made my teeth ache. I couldn’t even finish my breakfast.
And if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know I pretty much have the biggest sweet tooth on the planet, and I LOVE all things sugar related {and have paid the price for it over the years}. But even I, have my limits apparently. 😉
I have no idea what I am going to do with the rest of the bottle.
Seacoast Growers Winter Farmers Market $22 for a Maine Blueberry Pie made by Fig Tree Kitchen
So. I don’t know if we hit the mother of all winter farmer’s markets last Saturday, BUT HOLY COW PEOPLE…. Holy cow. I can’t remember the last time I went to a farmer’s market that was full of actual FARMERS, selling nothing but foodstuffs that they had grown on their own farm. Imagine that!
There was everything from vegetables {both root crops and PLENTY of greens} to maple syrup farms, honey, eggs {$5 a dozen}, to pasture raised meats, seafood, cheese, you name it. It was all at the Seacoast Growers Winter Farmers Market at the Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford, NH last Saturday.
Not only was there all the goodies mentioned above, but there was also a nice sprinkling of prepared food items as well {including baked goods, full lunch meals, and local beverages}. Note to self: Make sure and attend one of these markets in the fall, I bet they have fresh pressed apple cider!
One of the cool parts about the market… was that it was held in a series of large greenhouses. Talk about clever and an excellent use of shared space.
There was live music, and even a few demos to boot! I had NO IDEA this sort of indoor market existed in this region. The HH and I had been to the Portsmouth farmer’s market back in September of 2017 when we were town hunting and were both pleasantly surprised at both the quality of the market and the huge assortment of vendors, which, were mostly produce.
The only downside about the whole winter market was that we didn’t find out about it until the second to last market of the season! Gaaaa. I could have been getting out of the house every Saturday for not only some fresh vegetables and baked goods… but for some garden inspiration as well.
The displays at the Wentworth Greenhouses were AWESOME!
So much color! I must add grow a succulent garden to my list of indoor activities for next winter. And maybe even convince the HH we should keep our sun room heated in the wintertime so I can grow orchids. Wouldn’t that be something!
Snackerty Hollow Cottages – Custom Miniature Cottages by artist Patricia Woodbridge
And last but not least, one of my favorite parts about the Seacoast Growers Winter Farmers Market, was the small {and VERY WELL curated} selection of local artists offering their handmade items. The quality of the vendors and products offered…. WOWZA!
I only wish we had found this gem sooner.
How about YOU? Did you spy anything super cool this week? When was the last time you popped by a farmer’s market? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great Monday everyone,
~Mavis
Total Spent on Groceries This Week $34.99
- Total Spent on Groceries in March $239.13
- Total Spent on Groceries in February $220.92
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $41.19
- Total Spent So Far on Groceries in 2019 $466.25 {Goal is to average $150 – $175 a month for the year}
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
AJ says
What about baking with the syrup? You could try a King Arthur recipe calling for boiled cider (for example: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/cider-doughnuts-recipe) and then maybe reduce the sugar and cinnamon in the recipe to make up for the sweet syrup.
Or mix a little into the pancake batter? What about a thin layer on a biscuit?
Teckla Buller says
I was going to suggest the same thing. Thin it about 50% with water and use it as sweetener in baking and other recipes. I’m sure there are many other uses in drinks and other dishes. It would be a shame to just ditch it. You’re creative; I’m sure you’ll think up something!
Mrs. C. says
King Arthur Flour also has a recipe using the syrup to sweeten apple pie.
Tracy says
Make some whipped butter with a bit of it. Tone down the sweet before you put it on breakfast.
Lisa Rostocki says
Add the syrup with some sliced onions in the slow cooker over pork. That would be good and add sweetness and maple flavor to the pork without being too sweet. I’ve cooked pork with apple butter so I bet this syrup would be good too!
Leslie J Honcoop says
Wow! The Farmers Market was way better than that Garden Show you attended!
Lana says
A little of that syrup on a skillet of fried apples sounds amazing.
Annie says
You could use some of that cider cinnamon maple syrup to sweeten plain Greek yogurt. add a diced apple into it. It could be used in a lot of cook dishes that need a touch of sweet. Just a thought.
Gloria says
Drizzle that syrup over a piece of vanilla pound cake or cheesecake!
Mel says
I would be tempted to use the syrup to make an apple cider vinaigrette. The vinegar would balance the sweetness. It could be good over a salad with bacon, hard-boiled eggs, etc.
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s a good idea Mel!
Rynda Gregory says
Hi Mavis –
Is that sweet and sour chicken a recipe from home? If so, wold you please share it. It looks so yummy and healthy! Thanks.
The farmers market looks fantastic. I’m so glad you found a place like that. It is too bad you discovered it late in the season as you said. But You have next year! Something to look forward to!
Cheers –
Rynda
Mavis Butterfield says
No, the sauce came out of a bottle from ALDI. All we did was toss the chicken pieces in a zip baggie with about a half a cup of flour and then sauteed it in a little peanut oil before tossing the sauce on. Super easy dinner.
Carole says
Use that syrup in apple crisp instead of sugar. That is what I do with it, but also a little on oatmeal is delish.
Carolina Cooper says
For next fall—The winter farmer’s market at the Wentworth Greenhouse is only once a month, not every Saturday, November to March with 2 dates only in December. Check the dates at the end of the summer and mark your calendar.
Mavis Butterfield says
Have you been to their winter craft market? I bet it’s lovely.
bobbi says
Do they grow all the produce in green houses? With snow on the ground for most of winter I assume so. 🙂
Carolina Cooper says
Funny thing—I ALWAYS go to the farmer’s market at the Wentworth Greenhouse, even mark it on my calendar—but last Saturday, my larder was pretty full, so I skipped it. It would have been a HOOT to see you there, since I have been reading your blog since I lost my job MANY years ago. Did you have trouble finding a parking space—the parking lot is ALWAYS full!!! Be sure to check on the dates for next year on the Wentworth Greenhouse website or seacoast growers winter farmer’s market. The winter market is NOT every week, but only once a month, and YES they DO have fresh cider in the late fall. Hope to see you there!!! Another fun and yummy place to check out when summer comes is Union Lake Peach Orchard—check their Facebook or website when mid July rolls around for there hours and peach varieties. They are just up the road from Calef’s Country Store in Barrington, NH—and I know you have been to Calef’s!
Linda says
Clyde’s cider mill in Old Mystc, Ct for sure has fresh pressed cider in the fall. neat place. Might be a bit far but might be worth it.
Mable says
That cider is highly concentrated and used for baking, not for eating. Use it in apple pies, cookies, in the waffle mix itself before cooking…you get the picture.
Julie says
Hi Mavis, I wonder if you could make granola with the syrup? The recipe I use calls for honey, but I sometimes swap it out for maple syrup.
Juli Nimitz says
I have a bottle of “Boiled Cidar” that I bought from King Arthur Flour (KAF). The labels are almost identical. I think only difference is mine doesn’t have cinnamon.
There are multiple recipes on the KAF website that use this ingredient. Also, I have learned you can dilute it 50% with water and substitute in any recipe calling for apple juice.
Don’t dispair, this keeps forever in the refrigerator without spoiling.
Hope that is helpful!
Amy P says
Ideas for the syrup: 1) glaze an Easter ham with it 2) marinate some chicken breasts (or pork chops) in it 3) boil it and pour it on to snow to turn into taffy.
Mavis Butterfield says
Ham glaze. That is a great idea!!!!
Deb says
Mavis, enter Maple Syrup on the bigoven.com website. They have tons of recipes that you could use the syrup for.
Cass says
Looks like you found a wonderful winter destination. Being only once a month will allow you to get OTHER stuff done on the weekends it is closed. LOL
The cider might be a great additive to some of your canning projects instead of sugar. Imagine it in strawberry jam!! Yum!
Barbara N Gantt says
Boiled cider is make by boiling cider for hours to reduce it. I t has a strong taste. When I make it, we use it on pork loins. I would imagine your would work for that too. Could use on ham too. Also in baked beans, the made from scratch kind.
Dana says
Mavis, what are the ladies in the photo doing with yarn? Are they dyeing it? Looks like you had fun!!!
Lauralli says
I don’t know if you’d need to heat your sunroom. My orchid wasn’t looking so good indoors this fall so all winter long I moved it to our unheated garage sitting on top of my covered grill to get sunlight from the garage door windows. Even when some people in my household (not naming names) would leave the garage door open for hours in the freezing cold….it thrived! I couldn’t believe it! I just moved it indoors about 3 weeks ago and it’s blooming! I’ve never gotten one to rebloom before! Now, I don’t live up north so it’s not quite as cold here, but still….my old thoughts were I was basically just finishing off killing it out there. Live and learn!