Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing
March 24th is National Cocktail Day, which just happens to fall on a Friday this year. How convenient! Price Chopper and Market 32 have a variety of recipes and all the best ingredients you need to celebrate tonight! First, let’s rewind time and see some history of the cocktail.
Cocktails are nothing new. In fact, they have been around since the 18th Century! Originally inspired by British punches, the term “cocktail” was first shown in a 1798 newspaper. It is unknown who created the first cocktail, but one thing is for certain – Cocktails have evolved over time. There are so many different recipes and variations to making a delicious cocktail. The possibilities are endless!
Now for the best part – let’s mix some drinks!
Spring Cocktails: What better way to celebrate the first week of Spring than with this Spring Cocktail! This drink is a delicious mix of berries, bourbon whisky, vodka, & gin!
Pomegranate Cosmo: To say this drink is refreshing would be an understatement. Fresh pomegranate in your cosmo? I think yes!
Poison Apple Sour: Dare to try this Poison Apple Sour? With only a few ingredients and 5 minutes prep time, we think this is a must-try!
Cos-Mocktails: Who says your drink needs to have alcohol? Try this non-alcoholic mocktail for a delicious, refreshing drink!
Need some ingredients! Shop below!
Source:
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing
Crunchy French bread dipped in Olive Oil is a pairing like no other. Since National French Bread Day was this week, we wanted to draw attention to this delicious duo, but also highlight the benefits of olive oil. At Price Chopper and Market 32, we have freshly baked French Bread in our bakery that is made daily, a wide variety of olive oil, and so many recipes on our website that use olive oil as a main ingredient. Want to discover what the hype is around olive oil? Keep reading to find out!
Olive Oil Benefits:
Olive oil is considered to be heart-healthy. A 2022 Harvard study illustrates that regular olive oil consumption instead of animal fats could lead to lower cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, olive oil could potentially help boost bone health and strength, as well as combat inflammation, according to the North American Olive Association. For more information, see the sources at the end of this blog and different studies that have come out around olive oil.
Cooking With Olive Oil:
While there are many different types of olive oils, you may be wondering what the differences are. In our “Cooking with Olive Oil” article, you will learn about four main types of olive oils and how they stand out from each other. This article will help you choose which olive oil to use the next time you cook. Additionally, if you are looking for new recipes that use olive oil, you have come to the right place! Check out these fabulous recipes that you are sure to love!
Orange-Scented Olive Oil Cake: When you think of baking a cake, you would typically use canola oil or vegetable oil. Yes, you can actually use olive oil in some baking recipes like this one! With cinnamon & nutmeg also in the mix, you are sure to have a favorite here.
Italian Easter Pie: With Easter right around the corner, you will certainly want to try this Italian Easter Pie at your holiday gathering. All the freshest ingredients into one savory pie will have your guests thrilled!
Harvest Salad: Fresh arugula, blue cheese, walnuts, and brussel sprouts make for a fantastic salad. Cooking the brussel sprouts in PICS olive oil is the perfect way to make them!
Honey-Garlic Skillet Chicken: With only six ingredients, this chicken dish is absolutely delicious and simple to make.
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing
What is a Sloppy Joe, and why was this sandwich given this name? Since today is National Sloppy Joe Day, it is only right that we answer your burning Sloppy Joe questions!
Sloppy Joes are a very popular, messy sandwich! Not only do they taste delicious, but the ingredients are generally inexpensive. Traditionally, the Sloppy Joe is made with ground beef, onions, garlic, bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce or ketchup, and seasoning on a hamburger bun or roll. What a combo! Of course, there is no right or wrong way to make this sandwich. Some people have substituted beef for chicken, or a plant-based meat.
Now that we know what the sandwich consists of, why in the world is the name Sloppy Joe? Believe it or not, there are different stories on how the Sloppy Joe got its name. The first story takes place in Havana, Cuba. José García was the bar owner, and served ropa vieja to his customers. This is a type of Cuban-style pork. His customers would often joke with García that his restaurant was “sloppy,” hence the name Sloppy Joe’s.
The second tale originated in 1930 from Sioux City, Iowa. The story goes that a cook named Joe who worked in a popular restaurant would make sandwiches by dousing loose-ended meat with tomato sauce. Many believe this is how the name Sloppy Joe was born.
Which story is true? Well, that is up for you to decide. Either way, the Sloppy Joe we know and love is a delicious, warm, and filling meal. Stop by your local Price Chopper and Market 32 for the finest ingredients to make your next Sloppy Joe, or visit our website!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing
Throughout the entire month of March, we are celebrating and honoring women and their achievements. Today, March 8th, is an entire day dedicated to women, known as International Women’s Day. What exactly does this mean? According to the International Women’s Day Website, today is a “global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.” Throughout history, pioneer women have had to battle and fight for their rights, as well as overcome hardships and discrimination. We honor and thank women for all that they have done, and continue to do.
At Price Chopper and Market 32, we are proud to sell many products from companies that were founded by women. Today, we want to specifically highlight five of these brands that we carry and encourage you to look for them the next time you are in our stores. Check out the five below!.
Earth to Kids (Chickapea)
Shelby Taylor
Shelby Taylor created the brand “Earth to Kids” in 2015. Taylor realized the difficulties of not only putting together a nutritious meal that everyone would like, but also dealing with health restrictions and dietary needs. That is when she decided to take pasta and make it a superfood by creating “Chickapea” pasta. Chickapea pasta is made from chickpeas and lentils. The company’s mission statement is as follows: “We strive to empower consumers to feel better, inspiring and energizing them to do good things in the world.”
Green Grass Foods Inc. (Nutpods)
Madeline Haydon
The story of Nutpods began in 2013 with a woman named Madeline Haydon. While she was on vacation, she was very disappointed by a non-dairy creamer she had in a diner. She knew it was time for a change, so she spent over a year creating what is now known as “Nutpods.” Today, Nutpods has a wide variety of non-dairy creamers, including French Vanilla, Cookie Butter, and Pumpkin Spice just to name a few.
“Being a force for good in society is core to the mission of Nutpods.”
PARTNERS®, A Tasteful Choice Company
Marian Harris
Marian Harris was a small business owner in Seattle. When she soon discovered that places to eat affordable lunches were few and far between, she took matters into her own hands and opened up a restaurant with this exact mission. Harris eventually developed her own homemade cracker recipe to accompany her soups and salads, and these crackers were a huge hit. In 1992, Harris went to local stores to have customers sample these delicious crackers, and that was when PARTNERS®, A Tasteful Choice Company, was born. Why the name Partners? Harris says it is because her crackers are the perfect “partner” with any food.
Elizabeth Stein
Elizabeth Stein learned all about holistic nutrition and the impact that food has on the body 15 years ago. There was one problem, though. Stein saw limited options in grocery stores for delicious, wholesome foods, so Stein knew she had to take action. This was when “Purely Elizabeth” was created. Today, Purely Elizabeth has many different varieties and flavors of granola, cereal, and oatmeal. “Purely Elizabeth products are Certified Gluten-Free with select products also Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, and Certified Paleo + Keto by the Paleo Foundation.”
Melissa Kushi
Melissa Kushi learned from a young age the importance of sustainable foods. While studying in Japan, she fully began to understand how important quality salt is for our bodies. Kushi is not only the founder and owner of HimalaSalt, but she is a natural foods cooking teacher, Macrobiotic educator, international organic commodities specialist, and mother. HamalaSalt’s mission statement is as follows: “We are mission driven. Creating a culture of compassion, humanity, and sustainability inspires us, and we take pride in our products that support wellbeing, and provide added social value.”
Want to learn more? Be sure to view our International Women’s Day Page!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
Happy National Nutrition Month! This unique annual celebration of the benefits food brings to our lives marks 50 years the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been working to create awareness that better health is built on the transformational power of nutrition. The theme this year, Fuel for the Future, recognizes that food choices and sustainability are always intertwined; fueling the future means eating well at every age and stage, and caring for the earth that provides our food.
How can you make this event meaningful for you and your family? Check out these 10 tips to fuel eating well with the environment in mind, this month, and every month.
-Learn about local foods and eat in season. What is your favorite local fruit or vegetable?
-Recycle packaging and containers as much as possible – everyone can be part of the solution!
-Try new fruits and vegetables, or double up on servings of the ones you enjoy – more is better, for you and for the earth.
-Explore foods through flavors and cultures – we live in a global community and learning about cultures through foods creates connection and communication.
-Eat meals and snacks together – family meals are key to better family communications, stronger social skills, better grades, and healthier eating.
-Plan shopping and meals to reduce waste and save money while staying nourished.
-Include children in planning and making meals and snacks when cooking at home. They can also help clean up! The more food skills children have, the more choices they have as they grow.
-Sip smarter – tap water, flavored or sparkling waters or teas without added sugars, in reusable containers, keep you hydrated and healthy.
-If you want a creative, personalized food and health plan, a registered dietitian-nutritionist is the right professional partner. Find one in your area at https://www.eatright.org/find-a-nutrition-expert.
-Practice gratitude for your body and health by eating a variety of foods – fresh, frozen, and canned are all part of a nourishing plan.
Want to discover new recipes? Check out some of our sites:
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
It is hard to believe that today is already the first day of March! For the entire month, Price Chopper and Market 32 are celebrating National Frozen Food Month. We have a large variety of frozen foods, ranging from frozen produce, to ice cream, to frozen meals. Oh, and we cannot forget to mention that you can earn 20,000 bonus points on a freezer this month while supplies last! Continue reading to find out how.
Why Purchase Frozen Foods?
Purchasing frozen foods is a fantastic way to save money and time. Frozen meals are easy to prepare and are budget-friendly. We have delicious meals that can be cooked in minutes, which is perfect if you are in a time crunch. Additionally, unused frozen foods can simply be returned to the freezer and used for another meal. It is a win-win!
Everyone is Included!
At Price Chopper and Market 32, we want to ensure that there is an option for everyone. We have many vegan and vegetarian frozen meal options, as well as dairy-free ice cream and pizza, frozen gluten free bread, and much more. Head over to your local Price Chopper or Market 32 and discover our incredible variety of frozen food.
How Can I Earn 20,000 Rewards Points?
Yes, you read that right. You can earn 20,000 Rewards Points which equals $200 when you purchase an RCA Chest Freezer. Here is the best part; the Chest Freezer costs $200, so you will be earning that $200 back in the form of Points! How cool is that! For more information, please visit our Frozen Food Frenzy.
Want to explore some frozen drinks & bowls? Check out a few cool recipes below!
Caramel Milkshake: A four-ingredient delicious caramel milkshake is a must! Be sure to grab PICS whipped cream to complete this shake.
Hawaiian Smoothie Bowl: A tropical smoothie bowl that could be eaten as a meal, snack, or dessert! Feel free to add any other frozen fruits or toppings in this delicious bowl.
Kicked-Up Green Smoothie: A mix of frozen fruits & vegetables. This drink will help energize you throughout your day!
Happy National Frozen Food Month!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
Who can resist the sweetness of strawberries? Strawberries are not only delicious and juicy, but they are a very popular fruit. According to a 2021 survey, strawberries are among the top favorite fruits for Americans. In fact, the average American will consume 3.4 pounds of strawberries per year, and 94% of United States households eat these delicate fruits.
While strawberries are a delicious snack on their own, there are many different ways to cook or bake with them as an ingredient. Some ideas include making smoothies or ice cream, creating a strawberry dressing, or even making your own jam or jelly. Whatever you decide to do with your strawberries this season, be sure to first stop by your local Price Chopper and Market 32 to pick out packages of these fresh fruits!
In need of some recipes? Check out a few fruity ideas from our website!
Strawberry-Rosé & Poppy Seed Shortcake: Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked biscuits on a Sunday morning. Serve with strawberries & PICS whipped cream to complete the meal!
Strawberry-Orange Smoothie: Whether you need a breakfast on-the-go or a quick pick-me-up, this smoothie will help power you through your day!
Strawberry, Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Asparagus & Feta: Fresh strawberries add the perfect amount of sweetness to this salad. Feel free to add in Market 32 chicken or turkey breast for a delicious addition to this meal.
Happy National Strawberry Day!
National Chili Day
Chili is one of our favorites when it comes to winter comfort food, so we’re fired up about National Chili Day. The best part about chili is its versatility, you can get creative in making the perfect bowl for your own taste. However, we thought we would get you started by sharing a delicious chili lineup of our own. Dig in!
Super Chili: Let’s start things off in a BIG way with our recipe for Super Chili. This recipe features beef chuck shoulder roast, thick-cut bacon, and other hearty ingredients to really tackle your hunger. Cozy up with a bowl (or two) and settle in for a long winter’s nap afterwards.
Slow Cooker Carne Asada Cubed Steak Chili: For a bowl of chili with some flare, try our Slow Cooker Carne Asada Cubed Steak Chili. Featuring cubed steak, carne asada seasoning, green chilis, jalapenos, and more, this recipe makes for a flavorful, super tasty winter meal. The extra kick is perfect for warming up on cold winter nights!
White Chicken Chili: Market 32 boneless chicken breasts are featured in this White Chicken Chili recipe. A little different than your prototypical bowl of chili, but the chicken breast combined with PICS cannellini beans works perfectly. Add in an all-star lineup of Full Circle products and you might just have yourself a new favorite.
Hearty & Healthy Turkey Chili: If you haven’t tried turkey chili, we highly recommend giving our Hearty & Healthy Turkey Chili a shot. Lean ground turkey combined with some of your favorite chili ingredients gives a whole new perspective on the chili game.
Harvest Chili: Our recipe for Harvest Chili features sweet potato and pumpkin pie spice, allowing it to live up to its title and your expectations. Harvest Chili is an awesome alternative chili recipe that specializes in keeping you warm and cozy through the cold weather.
Whether you are giving any of these recipes a try or building your own chili bowl we have everything you need in your local store and online. PICS Kidney Beans, Mutti Tomato Polpa, Cabout Sour Cream, McCormick Chili Seasoning, and more of your favorite ingredients. Check out our collection below for more!
Happy National Chili Day!
Celebrate National Chili Day!
Written by our friends at Green Mountain Energy
Composting is a great, easy way to green up your daily routine. Green Mountain Energy has what you need to know to get started on your composting journey.
When you throw away food scraps and yard waste, there’s a good chance it will end up in a landfill, creating more methane gas. But did you know there’s a way to turn 28% of that waste into something useful for our environment? That’s the kind of impact the average household could have, just by incorporating composting into their daily lives.
If you’ve never considered composting before, don’t sweat. Green Mountain Energy is here to show you how with some simple tips for beginners who are ready to do some good for the planet.
What can you compost?
Compost is used to nourish plants and fortify the soil, so anything you put into your compost bin should be natural — think fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, paper, yard trimmings and even tea bags. You can also include things like fireplace ashes, dryer lint and even the contents of your vacuum cleaner. Have four-legged family members? Good news: You can compost all that hair they generously leave behind.
Don’t include things like dairy, meat, bones, oils and fats, charcoal ash, diseased plant clippings or anything that has been treated with pesticides.
A quick tip here: If you buy conventional bananas and oranges, the peels usually contain pesticides. You may want to skip those, or switch to organic. Also avoid pet waste like cat litter and puppy “presents.” Those materials could contaminate the compost and harm plants or soil.
What do you need?
At Green Mountain Energy, we’re working to show the world how easy it can be to make a green impact. That’s why we think composting is a great addition to any household: It works just about anywhere, and you don’t need many supplies to get started.
You can compost indoors or outdoors, so even if you don’t have a backyard, you can still start a small compost pile in your kitchen or on an apartment patio. For indoor or patio composting, you’ll need a special indoor composting bin, available online or from home improvement stores. And here’s the best part — you don’t need earthworms indoors!
Backyard composting is a little more flexible. You can use a composting bin, or you can start a compost pile in a shady area. If you go the DIY route, the compost needs to sit on bare dirt to attract worms and beneficial bacteria, so be mindful as you choose a spot.
Once you’ve decided on a bin or an outdoor spot, you’ll need a bucket for collecting scraps from the kitchen. It can be anything from an old plastic ice cream container to a fancy stainless-steel compost bucket with carbon filters. Try to choose one with a lid to keep odors contained. Consider storing it under the kitchen sink, so it’s out of the way but still easy for everyone in the family to access.
How to start composting
Once you’re set with a location and collection pail, it’s time to start layering and aerating. Composting is all about layering materials, getting a good mix of different things to create a nutrient-rich conditioner for your soil and keeping your material oxygenated.
The scraps and waste you include will either be carbon-based “brown materials,” such as leaves, brown paper bags, coffee grounds and eggshells, or nitrogen-based “green materials,” including fruit and vegetable scraps and lawn clippings.
Try to include a mix of one-third green and two-thirds brown materials for the best compost nutrient profile. If odor is ever a problem, add more carbon-based, brown materials. They can absorb odors caused by nitrogen-rich green waste.
To keep compost from getting moldy, and to help speed up the breakdown of materials, you’ll need to mix the compost to keep air moving throughout the pile.
Many indoor and outdoor bins have a tumbler feature to make this process a breeze. You just crank a handle to spin the container or move paddles through the compost, and aeration is done. You can also use a shovel, rake or hoe to move an outdoor compost pile around every week. Just be sure to get air circulation all the way through the pile to the bottom.
Depending on the size of your pile and how often you aerate, it may take six months to a year before outdoor compost is ready to use in the garden. Smaller indoor composters and tumblers are generally faster, producing usable compost in as little as a few weeks. Whether fast or slow, that’s a lot of kitchen and yard waste that won’t end up in a landfill.
More tips for green living
Composting is just the beginning when it comes to living more sustainably. We’ve gathered up more simple tips for cultivating an Earth-friendly lifestyle on our blog here.
Of course, the Green Mountain Energy mission was built around one of the easiest ways to do good for the environment: Choosing electricity that comes from clean, renewable sources like the wind or the sun to power your home — no equipment or installation required.
We’ve teamed up with Price Chopper & Market 32 to make living greener even more rewarding with special clean energy offers, including a 100% renewable energy plan and an invitation to join the Green Mountain Community Solar Program. Learn more here.
It's Paczki Time!
Want to hear something sweet? Paczki are back! We love these Polish treats and they’re one of our main sources of happiness following the holiday season, after we’ve taken our decorations down. Lots of folks enjoy this pastry, but do you know the history behind it?
Fat Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, marks the last opportunity to indulge in tasty sweets and treats before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It is the final feast before those delicious desserts are given up for Lent. Fat Tuesday is the much-anticipated precursor to Easter, falling 47 days before the holiday each year.
Back in the day, meat and meat byproducts could not be eaten during Lent. Therefore, cooks would use up all their dairy and eggs during Fat Week, from Shrove Thursday to Shrove Tuesday. They made crepe-like pancakes known as nalysnyky in Ukraine, doughnuts called spurgos in Lithuania, krofne in Serbia, and pączki in Poland.
In Poland, Fat Thursday is known as Tłusty Czwartek. The final six days of Carnival season (karnawal) from Tłusty Czwartek to Shrove Tuesday are known as Zapusty. In 16th Century Poland, Paczki were made with bread dough, filled with pork fat and fried in lard. Later, they evolved into a sweet pastry. These sweet treats used to be only available for a short 24-hours once a year on Fat Tuesday, but luckily today most bakeries in the United States and Poland offer these chubby fry cakes the entire Carnival, and even during Lent (shhh!).
In Poland, some bakers fill a few Paczki with almond paste instead of the traditional marmalade, and the person who gets one of these is said to have good luck for the coming year! On the contrary, an old Polish proverb says that those who fail to eat at least one doughnut on Shrove Thursday, will no longer be successful in life…quite the consequence!
Stop by your local store to pick up a Paczki 4 pack, 2 for $7 with AdvantEdge Card in our ad this week! We cherish the opportunity to have a part in this long-valued tradition and we hope you love these sweet pastries as much as we do.
Happy Paczki Season!