Written By: Elizabeth Barbone

For someone on a gluten-free diet, the Thanksgiving table can look like one large buffet of “do not touch.” However, with a little work and cooperation from family and friends, the meal can be something you’re truly thankful for.

First, let’s start with the good news!

Here’s a list of foods that are usually gluten-free:

• Turkey (check with the producer to ensure that wheat-based gravy or stuffing hasn’t been added to the turkey.)
• Cranberries and cranberry sauce
• Sweet Potatoes
• White Potatoes
• Fresh, roasted, or steamed vegetables without sauce (sauces often contain wheat)
• Brown, white, and wild rice (be sure they contain no sauces or wheat-based seasonings)
• Chestnuts

Here are foods that usually contain gluten:

• Vegetable dips
• Salad dressing (many but not all pre-made salad dressings contain wheat)
• Stuffing/dressing, including cornbread stuffing.
• Gravy
• Green Bean Casserole
• Pie Crusts
• Any vegetable dish with a thickened sauce
• Any dish containing soy sauce.

Dos and Don’ts of a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving—for a gluten-free eater (if you’re hosting someone on the gluten-free diet for Thanksgiving, there’s a list below for you, too!)

• Do…call your host before Thanksgiving. Discuss your needs and how you plan on handling them.
• Do…serve yourself first. If you aren’t bringing your own food, be sure to serve yourself before everyone else does. I know this sounds rude and selfish. However, it’s the only way to prevent potential cross-contact with gluten-filled foods.
• Do…bring yourself something you love. If your host is unable to accommodate a part of the meal you love, such as rolls, bring them yourself.
• Do…ask for brands and ingredients that will be used to prepare the Thanksgiving meal. Remind your host about “hidden gluten”–such as soy sauce or flouring cake pans or gluten in prepared foods.
• Do…plan for the best but expect the worst. Even with the best planning things sometimes go wrong. Remember to ask questions before the meal. Thanksgiving is a hectic day and sometimes things can change at the last minute.
• Do….familiarize yourself with dishes that might contain gluten so you’ll know to avoid them.
• Don’t….serve yourself a dish with a “shared” serving spoon. If people are scooping wheat-based stuffing and then using that same scoop to serve Brussels sprouts, the vegetables are no longer gluten-free. Take care to avoid any food that has come in contact with wheat/gluten.
• Don’t…forget about small amounts of gluten. If the gravy was thickened with “just a little” flour or the vegetables contain “just a little soy sauce” or the dessert contains “just a little” non-gluten-free oats, avoid them. Remember, gluten can be obvious and not-so-obvious. When in doubt, ask questions or skip the dish.
• Don’t…cheat. It might be tempting to cheat but don’t. Your good health is worth staying on the gluten-free diet. By doing a little pre-planning, you can avoid gluten and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dos and Don’ts of a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving—for a non-gluten-free host

• Do…talk to your guest about what you’re making. Talk about ingredients and brands that are safe, and not safe, for someone who eats gluten-free.
• Do…understand that even a small amount of gluten can make someone sick. Your gluten-free guest isn’t trying to be picky. They are trying to stay healthy.
• Do…prepare gluten-free foods first. After that prep is done, prepare foods made with wheat. Doing this limits the chances of cross contact with wheat occurring.
• Do…keep gluten-free and gluten-filled food on separate ends of the table or buffet. If possible, use note cards to mark which foods are gluten-free and which are not.
• Do…change things up a little. Perhaps prepare a naturally gluten-free rice stuffing or swap your pie crust for one that’s gluten-free. Lots of little changes make a big difference.
• Don’t…assume a food/ingredient is gluten-free. Gluten can be found in unlikely places, like in prepared chicken broth. In the days before Thanksgiving, go over your shopping list and contact manufacturers with any questions about the gluten-free status of an ingredient.

To help with your meal, here are some gluten-free recipes for classic Thanksgiving dishes.

Gluten-Free Gravy

Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole

15 Recipes for a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving

We’ve got your dessert table covered! On Thanksgiving Day, some people look forward to the turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing the most.  But for the family members that are just counting down until the dessert table is set, we have all the sweetest sweets! Filling your dessert table with a delightful selection is easy as pie.  Along with cakes, cupcakes, and an array of other treats, our bakery has delicious gourmet pie and cream pie offerings..Let our pies be the star of your dessert table this year! Gourmet Pies

• Apple
• Apple Caramel Walnut
• Raspberry
• Very Berry

Cream Pies

• Chocolate
• Banana
• Coconut

And don’t forget the lemon lovers in the crowd!  Our decadent lemon supreme pie starts with a classic, flaky crust.  Then it’s filled with a layer of cheesecake and a layer of lemon filling and topped with real whipped cream.  Stop into Market Bistro or your local Price Chopper Bakery Department today and discover the very best pies for your dessert table! If you are looking for gourmet quality with a bake at home feel, stop by the in store bakery department where you can pick up any of our gourmet pies to bake at home. Your guests will be WOW’d when you pull these from your oven. Don’t worry, it can be our little secret 😉 Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs

BERTOLI 51 oz. EXTRA VIRGIN and EXTRA LIGHT TASTING OLIVE OIL

Bertoli Olive Oil is now available in 51 oz. Bertoli Extra Virgin and 51 oz. Bertoli Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil. Bertoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil is robust and fruity tasting – ideal for adding flavor to salads, marinades, topping pastas and dipping bread. Bertoli Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil is mild and light tasting = ideal for high heat cooking, such as baking, sautéing and frying.  Yes, baking — its light aroma and taste, the Vitamin E makes cakes, brownies, breads and muffins turn out evenly textured and moist.  It’s a cholesterol-free substitute for butter or vegetable oil. BUTTER/MARGARINE                                                    OLIVE OIL 1 teaspoon                                                                         3/4 teaspoon 1 Tablespoon                                                                     2-1/4 teaspoons 2 Tablespoons                                                                   1-1/2 Tablespoons 1/4 cup                                                                               3 Tablespoons 1/3 cup                                                                               1/4 cup 1/2 cup                                                                               1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons 2/3 cup                                                                               1/2 cup 3/4 cup                                                                               1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon 1 cup                                                                                  3/4 cup Look for 51 oz. Bertoli Extra Virgin and Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil in the Olive Oil aisle.

WONKA PEEL-A-POP

Wonka brand has been dedicated to the art of producing fun, innovative high-quality confections for candy lovers.  Now a breakthrough innovation with proven international success has come to the US Market!  The Wonka Peel-A-Pop frozen snack launched in 2014.  It is the first ever peelable ice cream snack! Unpeel a Wonka Peel-A-Pop and unpeel fun! Choose from Vanilla Dessert Pops wrapped in Banana or Grape Gummy Peels – even the peel is delicious!  Every time you eat a Wonka Peel-A-Pop, you unpeel a whole world of whimsical Wonka fun! Wonka Peel-A-Pop meets Nestle Nutritional Foundation (NF) guidelines for children (70 calories per p op). Look for Wonka Peel-A-Pop in the Frozen aisle. Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs

ALEXIA NEW BBQ RIBCUT SWEET POTATO FRIES and RED ROBIN ONION RINGS

                New to Alexia’s All-Natural lineup of delicious potato and onion products are the NEW BBQ Ribcut Sweet Potato Fries!  These “plank” style crinkle cut fries are the perfect canvas for the mouth-watering savory southern BBQ seasoning with a hint of cayenne pepper. Crafted with the sweet potato skin left on, these are a simple, yet delightful balance of Alexia’s farm-to-table creativity and natural distinctive flavor.  Alexia makes them perfectly so you don’t have to – your taste buds won’t be able to say no! Want restaurant quality onion rings at home without sacrificing the powerful crispness or sweet, savory onion flavor?  Look no further!  New this month, Red Robin Onion Rings deliver the restaurant experience at home!  Made from thick crunchy breading infused with Red Robin’s famous seasoning and sweet Spanish onions, this oven-baked snack is a perfect complement to your favorite char-broiled masterpiece! Look for Alexia New BBQ Ribcut Sweet Potato Fries and Red Robin Onion Rings in the Frozen aisle. If you’re looking for crowd pleasing brews to serve at your Holiday parties, look no further!  Our selection of craft and seasonal beers has something everyone will love. This season, Labatt introduced two new flavors as part of their Prohibition Series. The two flavors, Bourbon Barrel Ale and Apple Harvest Ale, transport drinkers back to the era of smugglers and speakeasies! One of our favorite craft beers, Magic Hat #9 is a dry, crisp and refreshing sidekick to any holiday meal! The holiday season brings out the creativity in all of us- especially regional brewers crafting special ales and lagers for holiday feasts and celebrations.  The flavors of these festive releases are the perfect match for the decadent foods and overall merriment of the season, plus they make perfect gifts for your beer-loving friends. Have you tried our Pick 6?  You can customize your own 6 pack at Price Chopper with your favorite brew, a seasonal variety you’d like to try  or a local craft beer!  We carry between 60-100 varieties of beer including the below favorites:

• Sam Adams
• Sierra Nevada
• Blue Moon
• Shock Top
• Longtrail
• Goose Island
• Magic Hat

  Our growlers complete your holiday celebration whether you’re hosting or attending a party!  If you live by our Market Bistro, Saratoga (Rt. 50), Malta or Bethlehem stores, stop by and see what’s on tap! Delivered By: Jerry Golub, President and CEO November 11th, 2014 There have been times during our history when we’ve needed to make some bold decisions in order to continue to meet our customers’ needs, and to evolve as a company.  Today we are pleased to announce a major plan to modernize our stores, and some important implications of that plan. As our customers continue to change, it’s become clear to us that our stores need to change with them.  Over the past two years, we’ve been working on a new store design that we feel will reflect and address those changes, and help us meet our customers’ needs better than ever before.  Our new design has been significantly influenced by the early learnings we’ve gained from our Market Bistro store, but is much more scalable; in other words, it can be applied to a wide range of different store sizes and locations. With 135 stores in six states, modernizing our chain with this new concept will be a big undertaking, but we believe that it’s absolutely necessary for our continued long-term success.  That’s why we’re proud to announce today, that we’ll be investing more than $300 million over the next five years to transform our stores, with more to follow in the future.  Nearly a third of that amount will be invested in the greater Capital Region. Inspired by information we’ve received from our customers, as well as trends that are defining their current and future preferences, we’ve created a more modern grocery shopping experience.  In fact, this new design is so different from our current approach that it will necessitate a complete rebranding of our stores. While low prices will continue to be at the forefront of everything we do, we’ve been told by our customers that our current name does not properly reflect many of our other strengths—strengths that will stand out even more in our new stores. As a result, we’ve decided that our rebranding will also include a name change.  The name we’ve selected reflects our long heritage as a family led business. It’s also a name that we feel will be memorable, and can evolve with our company and brand over time. As each store is changed over to our new design, its name will also change… to Market 32. As I mentioned, the new name is a reflection of the fact that our company was founded by Ben and Bill Golub back in 1932.  We’re very proud of our heritage and the fact that we’ve been part of this great community for the past 82 years, and there’s no better way to express that pride than by reflecting it in our new name. So, how will our new stores be different?  Market 32 will build on our traditional strengths, including great fresh food departments, locally grown products and, of course, delivering excellent value.  In addition, it will offer a more contemporary, relevant shopping experience characterized by a number of improvements:

• It will have a completely new look and feel with a distinct personality that will help make shopping more interesting and enjoyable
• We’ll offer an increased variety of locally sourced products
• There will be an even greater focus on health and wellness, combining food, non-food, and pharmacy to create a destination that serves all our customers’ needs to live a more healthy life.
• We’ll have more information throughout the store to help our customers find solutions for their many needs
• And Market 32 will deliver a more customer-friendly shopping experience, including a more convenient and intuitive store layout

All of these changes will support an even greater focus on delivering value to our customers throughout the store.  An important part of our ability to do that will be the ongoing presence of our Price Chopper brand, which will continue to offer our customers national brand quality at a savings.  Our AdvantEdge card and Fuel AdvantEdge Program will also be part of the new store. Let me repeat that.  We are more committed than ever to delivering value and savings to our customers every day.  Whether in our Price Chopper stores or Market 32, saving our customers money will always be a top priority. The transition to Market 32 has already begun.  We’re currently in the process of transforming our first two Capital Region stores – in Wilton and Clifton Park – to the Market 32 brand.  Those stores should be completed sometime next April.  We’ve also begun transforming our store in Pittsfield, Mass., which will be our first Market 32 outside the Capital Region. In addition, tomorrow we’ll be breaking ground on a new store in Sutton, MA, which will be our first ground-up Market 32. I’m incredibly proud of the difference we’ve been able to make in the lives of our customers and in the communities we serve for the past 82 years.  We’re more committed than ever to continuing that tradition–to being a family led, regional grocery chain that continues to evolve and change with our customers.  Market 32, and the experience it will offer, represents the next chapter of that commitment in a story that will continue for years to come. Written By: Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist Larry Eckhardt is a corn connoisseur, and a corn scientist. As I rode around the farm with him, to the last fields of sweet corn that were to be harvested later that week, he jumped out, grabbed an ear of white corn off a stalk, quickly husked it, and took a bite. “Not quite” he says, “we will need a few more days for the best quality.” Larry is the second generation to farm here, at the farm purchased by his father, located in Stephentown – a small town near the Massachusetts border.  Larry was three years old when they arrived in 1959. His father, in his 80’s now, still helps out in the summer – drives a delivery truck, accompanied by one of the many local teens they employ in summer. He has his own old tractor that he drives around the farm, puttering and doing small chores that keep the rest of the family, like son Matt, free to plant and manage the corn, tomatoes, and pumpkins that are their primary crops. They also have about 60 head of Angus beef cattle, and about 10 sheep. The sheep sustainably help manage weeds and grass in the equipment pen, the cattle eat the corn that doesn’t make retail grade, so everything is managed or recycled.  The full list of crops they grow includes: sweet corn, field corn, hay, tomatoes, pumpkin, soy, oats, rye, and wheat. They also grow vegetables for a farm stand they run on the property. They own 200 acres, and rent 900 more all around the region. Eckhardt’s first sold corn to Price Chopper’s Central Market around 1975, and quickly expanded out to 7 stores in the Berkshires. Larry likes working with Price Chopper for several reasons – foremost of which is the relationship that has been built over time, and how respectful he says Price Chopper is of the farmer’s challenges. It is a true partnership. Larry is also an educator – president and best front man for the New York Vegetable Growers Association for 19 years, he has traveled the United States expounding on the quality of New York-grown vegetables and fruits. He had recently hosted over 70 farmers for a soil health seminar. Each season, they have multiple product trials going on. Some trials are successful, and some are not – he trialed an early variety of corn bred for the Northeast, but found it just had no taste, so elected to maintain his typical growing schedule. Like all of the farmers I have met so far, he works with the seed companies to try new items, and uses specific criteria to select his seeds – taste and eating quality, tolerance to cold, eye appeal, and whether the corn stalk stands until harvest all factor in. Like all of the farmers that work with Price Chopper, food safety is of paramount importance and the Eckhardt’s Kinderhook Creek Farm is Gap (Good Agricultural Practices) Certified. The Regional Food Bank truck pulled up to pick up a load of late tomatoes as I was getting ready to troll their roadside stand at the end of my visit, as well as a local chef that includes the Eckhardt name in the dish when their produce is on the menu. As a registered dietitian and food advocate, this visit was a great snapshot of agriculture at work – retail, restaurant and produce access for the hungry all tapped in to one farm. Larry welcomes all of the interest in where food comes from, especially the “local” movement, but he would like to see more farming/crop literacy built in to the discussions – helping people really understand how challenging, and how rewarding, farming can be. Stay tuned to our blog, as we will be working with Larry to share more about their work year round. Try making a pumpkin pie from one of the small pumpkins in our stores – I cut it, remove the seeds, and then roast it while I am doing other things. Then you can use the pumpkin just like canned in any recipe – but I guarantee, you will find the fresh taste takes your pie to a whole new level! Written by: Kevin Schulke, Senior Category Manager Beer & Wine Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first time or the twentieth time, or if you are a guest looking for a great wine to bring to your holiday festivities, we have three wines that will please someone in every crowd and pair wonderfully with traditional Thanksgiving foods.  It is no wonder they are among the most popular wines during this holiday. Red wine enthusiasts will love Mark West Pinot Noir.  With aromas of spice, dark fruit and smoky oak it pairs wonderfully with the abundance of herb-infused dishes Thanksgiving offers. The black cherry, cola, strawberry and plum flavors will go great with dark turkey meat, ham and stuffing.  Mark West is the #1 Pinot Noir in America and a great value for the money! If you want to impress your guests with a new-age red wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is for you.  Beaujolais Nouveau is a young red wine made from handpicked Gamay grapes grown in the Beaulolais region of France.  While most red wines improve as they age, Beaujolais’ allure is all about freshness.  Fermentation is so short that the resulting wine exhibits fruity flavors and light tannins.  Under French law, this wine may be released at 12:01 on the third Thursday of November, just weeks after the wine’s grapes have been harvested.  Producers race to deliver this wine to retailers throughout France and the world where it is popularly enjoyed with Thanksgiving dinner.  Beaujolais Nouveau should be consumed within a year of being made and is best served slightly cooled.  We recommend enjoying this wine chilled to bring out the strawberry, raspberry and cherry flavors. When hosting any event, you should always have a white wine as well as red.  Chateau St. Michelle Riesling is a blend of Riesling from throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley. If you’re looking for a refreshing, flavorful, medium-dry Riesling, this is the one for you!  The wine offers crisp apple aromas and flavors with subtle mineral notes. This “everyday Riesling” is a pleasure to drink and easy to match with your Thanksgiving dinner. The Riesling’s innate flavors of apple and its clarifying acidity give it a significant pairing edge with the likes of sweet potatoes, turkey meat and spice-laden or herb-filled stuffing.  Rieslings are typically sweeter than most white wines so it may be a good idea to have a drier white wine as well, such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Cheers! Kevin *Please note Price Chopper only carries wine in Vermont, New Hampshire and the following Massachusetts stores: Pittsfield, Shrewsbury, Lenox. Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs

DIETZ & WATSON PRE-SLICED PREMIUM DELI MEATS

Eliminate the wait and enjoy the same freshness and flavor found in Dietz & Watson’s handcrafted meats served over the deli counter with Dietz & Watson’s pre-sliced “Grab ‘n Go” offerings! The easy-opening packaging is perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle or hike by the lake.  Prepared from the same family recipes using all-natural spices, there are never any fillers, extenders, artificial flavors or MSG. And did we mention they are approved by the Celiac Sprue Association as 100% Gluten Free? Dietz & Watson’s meats are crafted to perfection using the highest quality lean beef, ham, pork, turkey breast and chicken breast.  Freshness is always guaranteed because at Dietz & Watson, they believe in “what you feed your family is as important as family itself”. Be sure to pick up your favorite Dietz & Watson pre-sliced deli meats located in the refrigerated prepared foods section across from the Deli Department today!

MEZZALUNA COOKIES

We are excited to introduce new Mezzaluna Cookies! These cookies are made in the century old traditional crescent style with origins from Hungary.  A handmade cookie with rich cream cheese dough and fillings made from walnuts and cinnamon.  The cookies are then rolled in sugar for additional sweetness and taste. Mezzaluna Cookies are delicate, rich and a beautiful addition to any holiday cookie platter.  One bite and you’ll be glad you tried these amazing cookies.  Being of Hungarian descent, they have always been a favorite at holiday gatherings.  These cookies are unique and will be a great addition to your cookie variety. Look for Mezzaluna Cookies in the Bakery Department. Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs

GENERAL MILLS FIBER ONE READY TO EAT COOKIES

You know Fiber One is a delicious part of a well balanced diet and now General Mills brings you a new Sweet Treat option. Introducing Fiber One Soft Baked Cookies – a delightfully soft and chewy cookie that you can feel good about.  Fiber One Soft Baked Cookies are a delicious anytime snack option that helps you maintain your healthy lifestyle. With 5 grams of fiber per serving, Fiber One Soft Baked Cookies provide 20% of your daily value of fiber. Individually packed for convenience and a great source of fiber, Fiber One Soft Baked Cookies come in delicious varieties including Chocolate Chunk, a classic favorite baked with delicious chunks of chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, baked with rolled oats and plump juicy raisins and Double Chocolate, with rich cocoa combined with decadent chocolate chips. Look for General Mills Fiber One Ready to Eat Cookies in the Cookie aisle.

OXI CLEAN EXTREME POWER CRYSTALS DISHWASHING DETERGENT

                Oxi Clean has a powerful new detergent for your dishwasher! New Oxi Clean Extreme Power Crystals Dishwashing Detergent tackles the toughest baked on, caked on messes on all your dishes and cookware, even in hard to clean corners. With twice the oxygen power of ordinary dishwasher detergents, Oxi Clean Extreme Power Crystals is even tough enough to remove dried on coffee stains and to prevent cloudy films other dishwashing detergents leave behind.  Oxi Clean Extreme Power Crystals delivers cleaning powerful enough to eliminate the toughest stains, stuck on food, cloudy films and odors. Oxi Clean Extreme Power Crystals Packs offer premeasured single use packs for no fuss and no mess.  Oxi Clean Extreme Power Crystals has a sleek easy to use bottle with a no mess pour. Forget the grime and get the shine!  Look for New Oxi Extreme Power Crystals Dishwashing Detergent in Crystals or Packs in the Household Cleaning aisle.