TREAT yourself this weekend!

Should be a busy weekend with all the Halloween activities going on in the Rivertowns. Make sure your kids stop by the market tent if they're in costume so we can give them a special market treat.

Still looking for a costume? We have plenty left in our costume swap tent. And if you forgot to bring a retired costume down to the market last weekend, please drop it off early on Saturday so we can add to our offerings. It was really nice to see so many joyful kids finding the perfect costume last week.

When my kids were little I always used to make a large vat of hearty soup on trick or treat night so that when we came home we could quickly reheat it and enjoy a healthy meal before diving into the pile of candy emptied out on the living room floor for sorting. I always made enough so that if we bumped into friends in our tight knit neighborhood I could invite them in for a quick hot meal, too.

This weekend, I suggest this braised chicken and spinach-soup which has the added attraction of crunchy pita chips. And speaking of pita chips, make sure you pick up some AYA Hummus to snack on before the kids head out as trick or treating on an empty stomach could be a recipe for a stomach ache.
Plan on gathering with friends while your kids trick or treat? Buy some hard, dry cider from Abandoned Cider (Martin is pictured above harvesting apples last month) or some regular apple cider from one of our orchards which you can heat and “spike” with some Adirondack Rye from Springbrook Hollow Distillery. (Also delicious in a thermos if you're joining in the door-to-door fun).

This holiday is mostly about the kids, but maybe you should take the opportunity to TREAT yourself as we head into the craziness of the holiday season.

TREAT yourself to some of the personal products from Ash Hopper Soaps,like their beautiful blueberry serum or their Swedish Pine Tar soap. Pine tar has been used in medicine for more than 2000 years to treat a range of skin conditions because of its soothing and antiseptic properties.

Did you know that Kontoulis Olive Oil also makes healing salves with their unctuous oil? I have a friend with glowing skin who swears by their olive-oil soap. Or maybe treat yourself to a new hat from Pinmillmade, joining us for the first time this week. Rivertowns resident Claire Cornish makes fetching hats and coasters from up-cycled wool sweaters. Both make great gifts, too.

Or TREAT yourself to that Hastings Farmers Market hoodie you’ve been eyeing. We have them in all sizes now. Just the thing to slip on before heading to the market on a crisp fall day.

After all the sugar, you might want to cook up some Kichari mix from Food is Med next week. In Ayurvedic medicine, Kichari made with rice, mung beans whole, grains, and legumes is considered to be the perfect dish for a healing “cleanse.” But health benefits aside, Muru’s blend is truly delicious, especially when you serve it with his coconut chutney. Both come with their individual spice mix packs.

Happy Halloween from everyone at the Hastings Farmers Market!

See you at the market!