Say Sooie for The Savory Pantry's Fiery Rasperback Cocktail

Deep in Razorback tailgating season, all your hog fans will be calling sooooo-iiieeeee for The Savory Pantry’s Fiery Rasperback Cocktail featuring Liber & Co’s Fiery Ginger Syrup.

This lip-licking syrup combines kicky yellow ginger juice with just enough pure cane sugar to brighten up your sipping experience without being overly sweet. Add your favorite vodka, muddle some raspberries, and top off with soda—you’ve got yourself  an original craft cocktail fit to drive the hogs across the finish line!

The Savory Pantry's Fiery Rasperback Cocktail

• 1 oz Liber & Co Fiery Ginger Syrup
• 2 oz Vodka
• 8 Fresh Raspberries
• Top with Soda Water

DIRECTIONS

Combine Fiery Ginger Syrup and vodka in a glass (not serving glass). Muddle 4-5 raspberries into mixture by smashing with muddler or back of spoon. Place 3-4 raspberries on cocktail swizzle if desired for presentation. Fill serving glass to top with ice, pour mixture over, top off with soda, and place raspberry swizzle. Serve it up and plan to hear some hog calls! 

Notes from Erin: This drink was an instant hit for gals and fellows alike at our recent Hogs vs. Alabama house party. When things weren’t going so well on the big screen, at least we were scoring at the bar! You can easily take the party in a fresh direction or accommodate guests’ tastes by switching to a Moscow Mule (Fiery Ginger Syrup, vodka, lime juice, soda), a King Smash (Fiery Ginger Syrup, bourbon, lemon juice, mint leaves), or even a mocktail. Each bottle makes 10–17 cocktails.  

The Story: Liber & Co hails from Arkansas’ neighboring state to the west. From Austin, TX, three friends who began making drinks together in college now commemorate the art of drinking in every product they make, believing a good beverage can be both an epicurean delight and a courier of social interaction. 

Meet the Maker: Farmhouse Cupboard

Beginnings Inspired by Love

When Meredith de Vera brought her family recipe sugar cookies to a dinner party in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2013, Rachel Harris took a bite and nostalgically exclaimed, “My granny made the same cookie!” From that first bite and a mutual regard for the recipes and kitchen moments that had nourished their families for generations, the women’s friendship grew.

Meredith grew up on a farm in Girard, Kansas, cooking and baking with her family. Meredith describes her grandma as “a farm wife who made everything from scratch.”  The brand name is inspired by her great grandmother’s red farmhouse cupboard from the 1860s. “The story goes that my great grandparents bought it at the train station in town, where people would sell their belongings so they could travel or continue on their way. The cupboard isn’t anything fancy. I just love its story.”  

An Arkansas native, Rachel shared, “I had a strong relationship with my grandparents. My Mother and ‘second moms’ in the neighborhood were all incredible bakers and entertainers. So I was fortunate to grow up with an understanding of how food can impact other people, and the joy of serving family and friends.”

As the pair grew closer, Meredith shared with Rachel her longstanding plan to launch a baked treats business. Meredith’s father had perfected a recipe that she felt confident would draw customers as a flagship cookie. “I’d thought about this for so long. When I moved to northwest Arkansas in 2000, I began working in a corporate office in product development. I started putting together a plan, but my job kept me so busy I never seemed to have time. In 2006, I had my first baby and began thinking of it again. In the fall of 2013, Rachel and I joined forces, and a friend encouraged us to test the market. We decided to give it a shot, and sold 3,000 cookies in 2 days at a local craft fair.” Following that success they became vendors at the Bentonville Farmer’s Market. 

Baking Honestly and Mindfully

Since, Farmhouse Cupboard cookies have been drawing customers and winning over tastebuds throughout Arkansas and beyond. Like a previous Featured Producer, Pink House Alchemy who introduced the pair to The Savory Pantry, Farmhouse Cupboard relies on the Arkansas Food Innovation Center. Part of The University of Arkansas system, it is a facility designed to encourage and support food entrepreneurs by providing a public, licensed, and inspected facility where makers can safely prepare foods. Rachel shared, “Producers at the Arkansas Food Innovation Center all learn from each other and it’s a community. It has helped our business tremendously. Working there two days a week twice a month, we can bake up to 3,000 cookies per day.”  

And many of their ingredients have memorable stories of their own. Meredith shared, “Our ingredients are all mindfully sourced, and we like to get high-quality products from small growers. For example, all our pecans come from Prothes Pecan farm in Kansas. Originally planted by Native Americans, it is now run by a couple in their 80s I met through my dad. Rachel and I head to Kansas whenever we need more, and haul them back in our car. Another example is the dates we use, which come from a family date farm in Thermal, California. Our coconut comes from the Philippines and is sulfite free and all natural. We know where all our ingredients come from and have to have an understanding of weather and how it impacts harvests.”

Inspired Entrepreneurs

Working moms Meredith and Rachel strive to ensure that “Honest, inspired, and loved” shines through their product and their brand. “If it’s not fun, we said we’re not going to keep doing it. Whatever it is that you want to pursue, it has to have elements of fun that make you happy,” Rachel shared. “We want to do something that makes us happy and still be able to pick up our kids from school.” Meredith added, “Flexible is our middle name. We appreciate each other’s work ethic and trust that when one of us has other obligations, the other will step in. We’re a team.”

And what do their families think of this growing endeavor? “My dad is proud,” Meredith says, “and our kids want to work with us some day. Passing a highway sign recently, my daughter said, ‘Mom, do you think you and Rachel could adopt a road?’ I think in her mind, once we’re able to be a business adopting a road, we’ll really be a big deal! Our husbands have also been very supportive. They’ve also looked at us cross-eyed at some points, but with a smile and a laugh because they know everything we are working toward we are doing with the good intentions.”

What’s next for Farmhouse Cupboard? “We are gluttons for punishment. That’s why you get into the food business,” Meredith laughs. “But we’re in The Savory Pantry, and the coffee bar at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville. Proudly, we are in the final stages of being certified by WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council), so the icon will soon appear on our packaging. We never know what each day will bring, but we’ve learned to do it all from baking, to business, to marketing . . . we are constantly thinking two steps forward.” And what does the pair agree are the keys to success for any food entrepreneur? “Deliver great taste and never be afraid to hear no.” 

Easy Back to School: 2 in 1 Tomato Basil Sauce and Soup

Adapting to a new fall schedule can leave families reeling, but crossing two meals off your list by preparing them at once can make life easier, leaving more time for fun and relaxation.  With summer's best tomatoes and basil in their final days, its the perfect time to make use of them to make two great family-pleasers before you can say "school supplies." Double or triple these recipes for larger families or to make extra to freeze and enjoy the brightness of summer as the weather turns cooler. 

Tomato Basil Sauce with A L'Olivier Basil Olive Oil 

• 6-8 Ripe Tomatoes, Tops Cut
• Two Heaping Handfuls of Fresh Basil
• Your Favorite Savory Pantry Salt and Pepper (remember, you can always add more later to taste)
• 5-8 Tablespoons A L'Olivier Basil Olive Oil or Favorite Savory Pantry Olive Oil
• 1 Clove Garlic

Depending on how you like your sauce and soup, blend until smooth, blend until some larger pieces remain, or simply pulse until desired consistency is reached. Bring to a boil on the stove and simmer for about 20 minutes (long enough for raw garlic to cook) while preparing pasta if you are in a hurry, or simmer for hours in the Italian tradition. Serve over Rustichella d'Abruzzo Spaghetti or Linguine. 

Tomato Basil Soup with A L'Olivier Basil Olive Oil 

• Add as much cream or half and half as you are comfortable with to the above. That's it! 

Make it Cheesy

Serve alongside a two cheese grilled cheese with Havarti and White Cheddar, or a single cheese selection of your choice. For adults and adventuresome kids, elevate your average grilled cheese by spreading on one of our delicious jams, chutneys, or jellies prior to grilling: 

• American Spoon Apple & Onion Jam
• Virginia Chutney Company's Mango Chutney
• Beekman 1802 Ommegang Hennepin Beer Jelly

Visit Saratoga Springs, NY, for Health, History, Horses . . . and The Savory Pantry

It is so easy to fall in love with Saratoga Springs because there are endless surprises to enjoy. Have one visit and you’ll likely be planning your next.

As you stroll through bustling, historic downtown this time of year, you’ll see diners enjoying sidewalk dining at restaurants like Mrs. London’s Bakery, a traditional French boulangerie with some of the most gorgeous pastries imaginable. Shop for clothing at the chic and slick new Caroline and Main, owned by the same proprietor as Saratoga clothing store staple, Lifestyles of Saratoga. Pick up a whinnying stick horse or a game of horse bingo for the little one in your life at G. Willikers Distinctive Toys. Check off the titles on your reading list or attend a book event at the wonderful Northshire Bookstore. As you shop and duck into art galleries along the way, you’ll note blooming flower baskets, horse sculptures, Saratoga’s signature flag, and miniature versions of the Saratoga Race Track finish pole complete with QR codes that reveal the history of the city. 

Part of Saratoga's rich history includes its famous carousel, one of fewer than 200 remaining in the US and the only remaining double-rowed carousel hand-carved by master wood carver M.C. Illions; the tails of these gorgeous horses are made of real horse hair!  

As you are enjoying downtown, come with an appetite to The Savory Pantry. Many of the city's points of excitement appear on our brand new Saratoga Landmarks Totes (toted below by our store mascot, Victor), which you can use to display your 'Toga enthusiasm while carrying goodies all around town. 

You'll be invited in by the rich smells of aged balsamic, spicy olive oil, and rich honey. The samples we are offering on any given day appear on our chalkboard out front (along with a cool sip of water for Fido in a bowl below). Whether or not a particular sample is out, we’ll be glad to open any product for you to try, so just say the word. We also want to share with you the stories behind our small batch and specialty foods and their makers, and are proud to introduce you to the years of knowledge and care that are distilled into every bite. Please ask! 

American Spoon's Apple and Onion Jam bursts with savory, sweet and tart flavors. Great to accompany a sharp cheddar cheese, or to turn your chicken or pork up a notch. 

The 2016 racing season runs from July 22–September 5, and the mid-August horse sales draw thousands. The sales are free to enter, and potential buyers and the public are all welcome. A unique sight to behold, the horse sales can be observed both indoors and outdoors.

At the track, race-goers enjoy track-side picnics. The Savory Pantry makes picnicking easy with beautiful picnic baskets for two or four, Saratoga Cutting Boards, darling sweets like chocolate horse head medallions or specialty cookies with Saratoga themes, Cheese Accompaniments, Instant Antipasti, and so much more. If you are a stable owner or racing enthusiast, inquire about having custom silks or horse cookies made just for you. 

Beyond downtown, fill your day in Saratoga at The Lincoln Baths, where you can relax and rejuvenate in the mineral springs bubbling cold, carbonated water from deep in the below ground. Or take a brisk walk down the Avenue of the Pines, visit Yaddo Gardens—home to the famous retreat for writers and artists, or tour the Skidmore College Campus. (Is your little bird is taking flight from the nest to begin a semester at Skidmore or elsewhere? Give them wings with our A+ College Care Package so you can rest assured they're eating healthful treats as they hit the books.) 

.In the evenings, Saratoga residents walk down tree-lined streets to join friends for cocktails on the porches of historic homes, giving the whole city a warm, welcoming, convivial energy. Whether you’re making cocktails on a Saratoga porch or you want to bring a bit of that enjoyment to your own happy hour, The Savory Pantry’s cocktail shop will help you easily make craft cocktails that you’re guests will be craving and referencing for a long time to come. Come try samples and we'll help you create a custom cocktail that's perfect for your next party.  

The Savory Pantry is so thrilled to be in the heart of this charming and historic city, and we thank you for supporting us for all your specialty food and gift giving needs! 

Meet the Maker: Ada's Artisan Certified Organic Loose Leaf Tea Company

 

“When one cups tea, one should allow the senses to take in all nuances it has to offer,” says Ada’s Artisan Teas co-owner Eva Lamiano. To Eva—and partner in tea and life, Eran Wasserman—tea is a ritual, an art, and a presentation. The aim of their company is wholly hedonistic: to sip and experience the pure pleasure of drinking a fine, quality tea.

Eva and Eran have taken part in the high-pace, professional lifestyle through their previous careers. With Ada’s Artisan Tea Company, they have offered up an invitation for a pause in everyday life and carving quiet moments out of task-heavy days.

 “Of course the health benefits of tea are abundant, but communicating its healthfulness is not the goal of our company,” Eva said. “We are driven by enjoyment. We can’t always drop everything and take off for an extended vacation, but what we can do is incorporate a ritual of enjoyment in our everyday lives. We can take a moment of relaxation and indulge in superior taste.”

Eran added, “We love to create, live life, obtain and share experiences of good food and good drink—the great pleasures of life.”

Of course, Ada’s is hardly the first to honor and celebrate tea. “Tea has been around for centuries and cultures have been built around it. It has been brewed for celebrations, ceremonies and healing. It is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water.” The second part surprised me, as I’d have pegged coffee for second place, but Eva noted, “In America, we are still primarily a coffee drinking nation, but there is growing exposure of the American consumer palate to a wider variety of high quality loose leaf teas than previously in our country’s history. Consumers are not fully aware of the versatility of tea, which doesn’t always have to be a hot beverage in a mug or cup. It can be steeped and mixed to make a delicious cocktail, a caffeine- and sugar-free, kid-friendly herbal infusion, or incorporated into cuisine from baked goods to main dishes.” 

What makes Ada’s Artisan Teas different from others, and, in fact, artisan? Eva says, “We select the best certified organic teas, and allow their natural flavors to shine through. When we create flavors and blends, we only add organic fruits, herbs, and natural flavoring. Nothing is artificial. We consider a wide variety of palates, as everyone is different. Some teas are very popular while others are quite rare and unique. Some teas originally reserved for royalty and emperors are now sipped on the porches of our neighborhoods.

We believe in the simple pleasures of exceptional teas. To that end, we work closely with tea gardens and specialists to ensure that our distinguishable blends are rich in inspiring aromas and exquisite flavors which bring bliss to your day, and peace to your life — one sip at a time.”

One of Ada's paintings

The Inspiration

Eran’s mother, Ada, is the tea’s namesake. Eva shared, “Ada is an artist who has been painting for more than 30 years. She is an artist, an artisan herself. So Ada’s Artisan Teas just clicked. In addition, we wanted to do something that honored her influence in our lives, and helped us celebrate and remain connected to her on a daily basis, although she is in Israel and we are in New York.”

The exterior of the tag that accompanies every tin of Ada’s Tea reads: “May the harmony in your cup overflow into your life.” Its interior reads: “My mother Ada always said, ‘Be present in the moment, find peace from within, and observe greatness in the small, simple pleasures in life.’”

Eva’s “Tea 101”

I drink loose leaf tea with some regularity, and thought perhaps I knew a little something about tea, but after being educated by Eva, it was clear my confidence in this area was falsely inflated. With every informative prong of our discussion, it was utterly apparent that she was damming back her extensive knowledge so as not to overwhelm me. Listening to her, it was easy to grab on to the poetic language that flows from her, the lexicon of tea: “tea gardens, first flush, pluckings, silver needle, withered, oxidized, cupping, ‘the agony of the leaf’ . . .” How can one not find bliss in listening alone?

Eva instructed me, “All types of tea come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, the differences in tea arise from processing, growing conditions, and geography. Tea can be divided into five basic categories: Black, Green, Oolong, White, and Pu-erh. Tisane, or herbal tea, is an infusion of fruits, herbs, or spices that usually does not contain caffeine. Offering a selection from each category, everyone has an opportunity to enjoy — from someone just beginning to explore the world of tea to the tea connoisseur.”

Some Tea Basics:

• Tea is harvested periodically and varies in different regions.
• Fresh growth on the tea plant is referred to as a flush.
• Spring: 1stflush, Summer: 2ndflush, Autumn, 3rd flush
• During each cycle new tea will appear every 5-15 days with more rapid growth during hot and humid conditions
• First pluck of the First Flush is highly prized for its rich aroma
• First tea following the dormant winter cycle is considered very best.
• ALL Tea is withered. Withering is moisture evaporating from the leaf. 
• Oxidation is the reaction of the tea leaves when it is exposed to air after the leaves have withered.

Steeping the perfect cup:

• Start with fresh, cold, quality water.  If your water has taste to it, such as mineral or sulfur, use fresh Spring water.  
• Use quality loose leaf teas.  
• One teaspoon for approximately one 6-8oz cup.
• Heat water to appropriate temperatures.
• Warm your teapot/teacup with some hot water, discard.
• Measure tea into pot, infuser or cup.  Use double size vessel of expanded tea leaves. 
• Pour hot water over tea and steep to taste.
• Strain, serve, enjoy!
• Remember that steeping tea longer does not make the tea better, only bitter!

Tea Storage: 

Do’s

• Airtight, dark container
• Foodsafe containers airtight and opaque
• Cool, dark place.  Avoid light and heat.
• Foil bags or foil lined provided by tea supplier.

Don’ts

• Clear glass or plastic
• Refrigerator or freezer or other wet, warm or humid climate
• Same cabinet as spices. Odors are easily absorbed.
• Plastic bags. Light, odors and air penetrate bags.

Shelf life:

• 6 months – 1 year, up to 3 years. 
• Some exceptions such as aged Pu-erhs.