Price Chopper and Market 32 are Produce Proud, and kicking off July with beautiful options, and  AdvantEdge points for produce purchases. https://www.pricechopper.com/rewards/  Make half of your plate fruits and veggies at snacks and meals, and you will reap the benefits of eating well. Check out some of these easy and exciting ways to fire up your produce intake and power up delicious, nutritious meals!

Great grilling!

Check out the seasonal section of our stores for grill pans, metal and wooden skewers you can use to short cut grilling vegetables and fruit! If using wooden skewers, soak in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Choose your favorite cut fruit, like fresh mango or pineapple, oil the grill pan or the grill itself with some olive oil, then get going with some fun serving ideas. Thin vegetables like green beans, asparagus or scallions cook up in 4 minutes or less. Thicker cuts of vegetables may take a few more minutes to reach that warm but still crunchy-tender texture that goes so well with everything. Fruits should be watched carefully so the natural sugars don’t burn – marinate in a balsamic vinaigrette or add in something spicy for a wonderful topping, side or salsa!

Serving Savvy

Sassy Salsa – Grill sliced mango or fresh pineapple spears, (available already cut in the Produce fresh cut case), until warm and slightly softened. Dust with cayenne, top with sliced scallions and serve with grilled chicken or seafood.

Brussels Kabobs – Carefully rinse and trim the ends off of bagged, fresh Brussels sprouts, keeping the ends intact. If feeding a crowd, rinse a net bag of Market 32 Baby Red or Yellow Potatoes, too. Microwave the sprouts and potatoes for 4-5 minutes, until slightly soft. Allow vegetables to cool slightly, then thread with sweet onion quarters onto kabobs and cook on an oiled grill on medium heat until slightly charred and tender, 8-10 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Toss with lemon vinaigrette and serve with your favorite protein, like grilled flank steak.

Caesar Asparagus – Wash and trim fresh asparagus. Oil grill and cook on medium until tender, approximately 4-6 minutes, turning frequently. Top with a squeeze of fresh lemon and some shredded Parmesan cheese. Enjoy hot or cold!

Grilling greats know this food safety tip – wash all fresh produce, even if it will be peeled or cut up, before prepping.

At the Price Chopper/Market 32 Kids Cooking Club we are celebrating berry season!

What’s on the menu?

Blackberry Rollups

Yum.  The blackberries in the produces aisles at our Price Chopper/Market 32 supermarkets are ready for picking! Check out how to make a simple blackberry puree and turn it into a tasty snack roll up.

Blackberry Puree

½ cup blackberries

1 tablespoon PICS honey

¼ teaspoon raspberry extract

Rinse the blackberries. Place the blackberries, honey and raspberry extract into a food processor or blender. Chop/blend until it’s almost in looks like a syrup state; seeds will even blend into the mix. Set the mixture aside.

Note:  You can also make a raspberry puree by substituting the blackberries for raspberries.

 

Honey Cream Cheese

3 tablespoons PICS whipped cream cheese

1 tablespoon PICS honey

Fold the cream cheese and honey together until well blended.

Building the Roll-Up

2 flour tortillas

Spread half of the cream cheese mixture onto each flour tortilla, and then spread with a tablespoon of the puree.  Roll the tortilla up and dip in the extra puree if desired.

Note:  You can use your favorite flatbread as well.

Strawberry Lime Freeze Pops

Oh my!  Have you seen the strawberry display at our Price Chopper/Market 32 stores?  They are scrumptiously delicious.  Grab some and learn how to turn them into a delicious freeze pop!

2 cups fresh sliced strawberries, rinsed and hulled

½ cup Greek vanilla yogurt

¼ cup PICS honey

2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Puree the strawberries, yogurt, honey, lime juice and vanilla extract together in a food processor or blender.  Add in the yogurt and blend well.

Fill your freeze pop molds and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours before serving. 

How many Freeze Pops does this recipe make?

The mixture should make approximately 1 ½ cups of liquid (12 oz.).  It depends on the size of your molds.

I don’t have freeze pop molds?

Simply use PICS 5 oz. paper-coated cups as a freeze pop mold.  Let them freeze for approximately an hour and add a craft stick in the center.  Place back in the freezer and freeze another 4 hours or overnight. 

Homemade Granola & Berry Parfaits

Learn how to make a homemade granola and then use it in a delicious berry parfait as part of a healthier dessert option or afternoon snack.

Granola

3 cups rolled oats

1 cups slivered almonds (optional)

¼ cup chia seeds

¼ cup flax seeds

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1tablespoon PICS brown sugar

1 teaspoon sea salt

½ cup PICS canola oil

1/3 cup PICS honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

 

In a large bowl, stir the rolled oats, almonds, chia seeds, flax seeds, cinnamon, brown sugar and sea salt together.

 

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, honey and vanilla extract. 

 

Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until the mixture is fully coated.

 

Spread the granola mixture onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 

 

Bake the granola for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Let the granola cool completely after removing it from the oven.

 

Building a Dessert Parfait

1 oz. water

1 tablespoon PICS honey

1 cup blueberries

1 cup sliced strawberries

½ cup granola

2 tsp. unsweetened coconut flakes

 

Whisk together the water and honey.  Pour over blueberries and strawberries and combine.

Place some of the berries into a parfait glass, add half the granola and 1 teaspoon coconut.  Add another layer of berries and granola.  Top it off with remaining coconut.

Lesson for Kids in the Kitchen This Month

  • List making
  • Shopping for ingredients
  • Measuring
  • Pureeing
  • Blending
  • Folding
  • Hulling strawberries
  • Citrus squeezing
  • Whisking
  • Baking
  • Oven safety
  • Combining fresh ingredients
  • Using fresh fruit in recipes

Where to find Jodie in July.......

I’ll be out in the community and schools cooking up some fun, and here’s where you can see me this month:

July 9th

Summer Kids Program – 1:00 pm

Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake Library

2 Lawmar Lane

Burnt Hills, NY

Call 518-399-8174 to register.

 

July 15th

5:30 pm??

Voorheesville Public Library

51 School Rd.

Voorheesville, NY

Call 765-2791 to register

 

July 16th

Summer Kids Program 10:00 am

East Greenbush Community Library

10 Community Way

East Greenbush, NY

Call (518)477-7476 to register.

 

July 17th

Summer Kids Program 10:00am -1:00 pm

Saratoga Public Library

49 Henry St.

Saratoga Springs, NY

No registration required

The Kids Cooking Club is also visiting the following this month:

Caroline Street Elementary School Camp, Saratoga Springs, NY 

Halfmoon Club House Summer Camp, Halfmoon, NY

Glens Falls YMCA Summer Camp, Glens Falls, NY

 

If you would The Kids Cooking Club to visit your school or event please email me at jfitzcooking@yahoo.com

Stay tuned. Next month we will be releasing three more summer scrumptious bites,

Jodie Fitz