Essentials: Prepping for Health and Wellness 

Ellie Wilson

MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist

If you have been to our stores, you know that they are busy, and folks are grabbing items they feel they will need to manage during this unprecedented time. Given that it is still cold and flu season, it may be wise to include some of the list below on your shopping list. Those with chronic issues like diabetes or high blood pressure should follow health care provider recommendations and check with your pharmacist for personal information.  

Consider adding these items to your list:  

  •    • Clear liquids
  •          • Broths/clear soups
  •          • Clear soda, such as ginger ale
  •    • Ice pops/lollipops
  •    • Clear juices, such as apple juice
  •    • Dry cereal, such as PICS Toasted O’s
  •    • Saltines/Oyster Crackers
  •    • Tea – tea bags and prepared bottled tea

To assist with managing mild symptoms after diagnosis and promote social distancing if someone in your home becomes ill:

  •    • Acetaminophen/Tylenol
  •    • Ibuprofen
  •    • Cold medicine*
  •    • Pedialyte/Gatorade
  •    • Hand soap
  •    • Cough medicine* or cough drops

*Check with your pharmacist or health care provider if on medication for high blood pressure, or you have concerns regarding interactions.

Follow all health guidance from local authorities and your health care provider. Follow good hand washing and food safety guidelines as we all work together to keep well. We will all get through this together!

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Green Beer on St. Patrick’s Day: What’s the Story?

Two of the most popular associations with St. Patrick’s Day are beer and the color green. People love to enjoy their favorite brews while celebrating in festive green attire. It’s all well-known tradition. However, what’s perhaps lesser known is the combination of the two that is becoming a St. Patrick’s Day hit!  

Green beer is a fun option for some St. Patrick’s Day creativity and Americans have latched on to the idea. It’s super easy to make, and anyone can do it at home. Simply crack open a light-colored beer and add a drop of green food coloring. It doesn’t change the flavor or any of the beer’s characteristics, only its color.

Surprisingly, the idea of colored beer originated a while back. It is said that in 1914, coroner’s physician and eye surgeon Dr. Thomas Curtain first colored beer for a St. Patrick’s Day party at the Schnerer Club of Morrisania in the Bronx in 1914.

Today, the idea lives on, even beyond St. Patrick’s Day. Green Beer Day began at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Participants dye their beer green and commonly begin festivities as early as 5 AM. It’s celebrated annually on the Thursday before Spring Break.

When it comes to choosing the right beer, light-colored brews are best for getting the strongest green coloring. However, if you play around with a darker beer you will see an interesting effect. Stouts and dark beers are too dark to show off much of a green hue, but the head will take on the green coloring and turn the foam green: although it may not last long it’s cool to try.

If you haven’t jumped on the green beer wagon yet, give it a try this year. Not only is it creative and fun, it’s an easy way to find more holiday spirit. Don’t forget to stop by your local store for all things St. Patrick’s Day: we have food coloring and beer, plus lots more festive foods like scratch-made Irish Soda Bread!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

21+. Please drink responsibly.

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Ellie Wilson

MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist

The Family Fruit Bowl

The family fruit bowl, fresh and fragrant, can make enjoying fruit easy and accessible for everyone that encounters it. Teach kids and cue your own appetite for wellbeing by creating that fresh display in your home every week. March is National Nutrition Month – what better way to kick off a delicious and nutritious spring than creating a beautiful fruit bowl full of flavor and benefits!

Many nourishing fruits need a little time to ripen before you can enjoy their best flavor. Pears do not ripen on the tree, they only ripen after they are picked. In addition to pears, avocados, bananas, and mangoes can all benefit and promote ripening together. The few days generally needed to finish ripening makes pears uniquely suited for that fresh fruit bowl – including a variety of fruit at varying stages of ripeness each week will ensure you can enjoy something every day!

Pears are a powerhouse of flavor and fiber, and perfect for some sweet and savory meals that energize the transition from winter to spring. Chilly mornings that still merit a warm breakfast create a perfect setting for PICS Oatmeal with chopped pears, ginger and pecans. Roast American Heart Association Certified Pork Tenderloin with crushed rosemary on a sheet pan alongside acorn squash stuffed with pears and baked to tasty tenderness. They earn a quick drizzle of PICS Maple Syrup or Honey to finish – yum! Take that Market 32 Honey Turkey panini to the next level with sliced pears and brie – the heat melts it all together into a delicious combo you can share (but you probably won’t!).

Some pear varieties change color from green to gold as they ripen, others do not, so check the neck for ripeness – a little give means you get their best flavor. Join in the fun and share an Instagram picture with #whatsinyourfruitbowl. Learn more here and you might win some great prizes. Check out more wonderful pear recipes at cms-uat-pch.unataops.com/recipes.

Enjoy!

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Master Your Kitchen with MasterChef Knives*! 

Knives are a valuable culinary tool and a staple in every kitchen. Through April 18th, 2020, or while supplies last, you can start your MasterChef Knife collection by using your AdvantEdge Rewards points! Redeem your points for brand new professional kitchen knives including a utility knife, small or large santoku knife, steak knife, cook’s knife or bread knife. Once your MasterChef Knives* are ready for action in your kitchen, here are a few different ways to use them to prepare everyday meals. 

As temperatures outside become warmer and more produce items reach their peak season, fruit salad is an excellent option for a side dish or healthy snack. The MasterChef Utility Knife is an all-purpose knife that’s best for chopping fruits and veggies among other ingredients like garlic, onions and delicate herbs. Use the MasterChef Utility Knife to effortlessly slice strawberries, kiwis, bananas and oranges to serve up this bright and refreshing Citrusy Fruit Salad.

The broad, sharp blade on the MasterChef Cook’s Knife adds ease to a variety of everyday kitchen duties, from chopping herbs and vegetables to prepping meats. For an easy weeknight meal or a stunning entrée for any gathering, try prepping this Ithaca-Style Chicken dish. Use the MasterChef Cook’s Knife to cut the red and green onions, cheese and corn kernels from the cob, then use it to slice and serve the crisp, juicy grilled chicken.

Santoku knives are best for more refined slicing, and a recipe like Bouillabaisse, a traditional fish stew, contains elements such as fennel, leeks, garlic and fish fillets that require intricate cuts. If you redeem the MasterChef Large or Small Santoku Knife, use it to slice these ingredients for a delicious classic seafood dish. And if you have the MasterChef Bread Knife handy, use it to slice the baguette slices that soak up all of the rich, succulent flavors.

Happy cutting! Visit pricechopper.com/rewards for more info.

*MasterChef TV series range of knives

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Sarah Wingate

Pharmacy Intern

Did you know that 1 in 3 Americans are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes? Additionally, 1 in 4 Adults with diabetes are unaware that they have the disease. Undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes can have many serious complications including but not limited to kidney disease, blindness and in some cases amputations.

Risk factors for developing diabetes include:

  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Little to no physical activity
  • High blood sugar

Diabetes is manageable with healthy lifestyle modifications including diet and exercise. March 24, 2020 is known as the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Alert Day. This is a one day wake up call to inform the public about the importance of diabetes, especially when left undiagnosed or untreated. The ADA encourages everyone to take a Type 2 diabetes Risk Test that can easily be found on their website: www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/diabetes-risk-test/

If you receive a high risk result, it is important to consult your doctor before taking any next step as only a blood test can determine a diagnosis. You are able to email the results to yourself and share them with your physician. You and your doctor can
work on the next steps to prevent a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis.

If you receive a low risk result, continue with a healthy diet and exercise plan as well as schedule regular check-ups with your doctor. Additionally, if you are 45 or older, the ADA recommends diabetic screening every 3 years.

At Price Chopper and Market 32, we strive to make Diabetes a manageable disease for our patients. Our Diabetes Advantedge Program can provide you with free diabetes medications and free diabetic supplies. Free Medications include- Glimepiride, Glipizide, Glipizide XL, Glyburide, Metformin and Metformin ER. Free Diabetes supplies include- Super thin lancets, insulin syringes, pen needles and an auto lancing device. We are here to help you live a happier and healthier
life with Diabetes. Ask your pharmacist for more details.

Our March home.grown. Brewer of the Month: Frog Alley Brewing!

We love all things local, and one of our favorite sectors of local food is local beer. There are so many different brews, flavors, and styles, and so many stories to tell! That’s why we’ve embarked on an exciting home.grown. adventure: to bring you fresh craft beer stories each month from our Northeast region. Our region is home to some of the best craft breweries in the world, and we’re telling their stories to our craft beer fanatics here on our blog.

 

Up next: Frog Alley Brewing!

Frog Alley Brewing is just a short trip down the road from our Schenectady headquarters. As the city’s newest brewing powerhouse, Frog Alley is the key piece of the new Mill Artisan District. This downtown revitalization effort through intriguing new, hip food and drink spots hopes to bring more craft beer lovers and foodies back to the area. Early returns ribbit with optimism.

Frog Alley founder JT Pollard put together two of the best brewing minds he could find in Rich Michaels and Drew Schmidt. Michaels and Schmidt used their expertise and years of experience to build Frog Alley’s refreshing, star-powered roster of brews. Included in this list is Mohop #5, a tasty New England IPA with Mosaic hops, featuring notes of mango, stone fruit, and a concoction of more earthy and tropical tones. They also provide Skull Frog, a loud DIPA that is certainly not shy with the Chinook, Columbus, and Simcoe hops.

Interested in trying some Frog Alley brews?

Check out our in-store tasting schedule below to sample Frog Alley’s craft beer, take home some custom home.grown. coasters and more.

Saturday, 3/7: 11am-2pm at our Glenville Market 32

Saturday, 3/14: 11am-2pm at our Amsterdam Market 32

Saturday, 3/21: 11am-2pm at our Clifton Shopper’s World Market 32

Saturday, 3/28: 11am-2pm at our Chatham Price Chopper

Interested in visiting the brewery?

Make the most of everything Frog Alley Brewing has to offer! Visit frogalleybrewing.com/ for taproom hours and menu, info on brewery tours and more.

Brewery House Address: 108 State St, Schenectady, NY 12305

10 Essential Ingredients for Your Baked Potato Bar

If you read our National Potato Lovers Month blog featuring different recipes and preparation methods, you may have been left wondering “what about baked potatoes?” Well, these American staples are so good we gave them their very own space to shine. We’ve put together a list of upgrades for you to build your own baked potato bar right at home. So gather your potatoes and let’s begin the journey.

  1. Monterey Jack Cheese: When it comes to adding cheese to a baked potato most people choose cheddar. However, Monterey jack is an excellent alternative and proves to be a great option for anyone looking to add a little boost.
  2. Jalapeños: The addition of jalapenos goes hand-in-hand with Monterey jack cheese. They’re delicious together, but jalapeños also do the trick on their own if you prefer not to include cheese.
  3. Avocado: Avocado recently became more of hit than ever before, foodies love it spread on their sandwiches and toast. But did you know it’s a great enhancer for your potato as well? Give it a try!
  4. Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning is sure to add an adventurous twist. It’s a key ingredient to trying upgraded recipes like our Air Fryer Loaded-Taco Baked Potatoes with Guacamole.
  5. Marinara Sauce: Marinara Sauce also plays an important role in another one of our finest baked potato upgrades. If you aren’t in the mood for tacos try Air Fryer Loaded-Pizza Baked Potatoes.
  6. Mushrooms: A VIP ingredient in the recipe above. Even without making a loaded pizza baked potato, mushrooms add a nice flavor when combined with some of these other upgrades, like avocado.
  7. Everything Bagel Seasoning: Throw some cream cheese on and sprinkle in your preferred amount of PICS Everything Bagel Seasoning. Is it a potato, or a warm, fluffy bagel?
  8. Bacon Crumbles: Bacon is an awesome enhancer for pretty much anything. In this case, with some sour cream and cheddar cheese. Yum!
  9. Buffalo Hot Sauce: Buffalo hot sauce adds a fiery kick to your meal. We recommend buffalo sauce as it adds a layer of flavor with the heat, more so than any regular hot sauce.
  10. Bleu Cheese Crumbles: If you choose to try some buffalo sauce, bleu cheese is another excellent complement.

Baked Potatoes may appear simple, but there are a ton of delicious ways to take them up a notch. Of course, we love the classic baked potato with butter as the perfect side dish, but we’re also big fans of these upgrades. Stop by your local store for everything you need to try them today and let us know which upgrades are your favorite!

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Leap Day: An Extra Day of Dinner

Every four years our calendar adds Leap Day, a 29th day in the month of February. The purpose of Leap Day is to keep our daily calendar aligned with the solar calendar. It takes the Earth approximately 365.25 days to complete its orbit around the sun, therefore every four years we need a 366th day to keep things in order. For us, thinking as a grocery store, this means every four years we have to prepare an extra day of dinner.

365 days of dinner plans can be complicated enough, let alone a 366th! But have no fear, we’re here to help. We look at February 29th as an opportunity to be adventurous and try something new. Check out our list below for some of our more unique recipes that you may not have made before. If there’s something on the list below you’re unfamiliar with, give it a try!

Here are 5 Leap Day recipes to check out:

General Tso’s Shrimp Tacos: General Tso’s chicken is a hit, but have you tried General Tso’s Shrimp? These tacos are an easy route to a blast of flavor. You’ll appreciate General Tso’s sauce even more.

Chorizo & Egg Chilaquiles: This recipe for Chorizo & Egg Chilaquiles is delicious at any time of the day. It’s great for breakfast, dinner or anywhere in between. A creative use of chorizo, eggs and tortilla chips leads to deliciousness. Plus, it features some of our favorite PICS products!

Grilled Stuffed Anaheim Peppers: Stuffed peppers are awesome when in need of some filling comfort food. These Grilled Stuffed Anaheim Peppers feature a team of mouthwatering ingredients that come together to make this dish a winner.  

Grilled Swordfish Kabobs with Peanut-Chili Sambal: Sambal is an Indonesian chili sauce made from a mix of peppers and other ingredients. It also makes a great enhancer for your swordfish kabobs! If you’re a fan of big flavor you’ll love this recipe.

Roast Beef & Gorgonzola White Pizza: Pizza is a dinnertime staple, and this Roast Beef & Gorgonzola White Pizza definitely makes for an adventurous slice. We love pretty much anything on a pizza, but this is one of our favorites!

Don’t stress over an extra day of dinner preparation in 2020. Give one of these tasty recipes a try, or check out a wide variety of others on our recipes page. After all, nothing says “step out of your normal comfort zone” more than a 366 day year!

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Potatoes: We Love You

Potatoes are one of our favorite things to eat and also one of our favorite crops to follow. They’re famously grown in New York’s Black Dirt Region, which is home to some of the most fertile soil in the world. Our Market 32 Red Potatoes and other home.grown. vegetables reap the benefits of this land! We’re lucky to have this geological treasure right in our Warwick, NY backyard. For more on that topic, check out our story on the Black Dirt Region here.

Our real story: February is National Potato Lovers Month and we’re putting spuds in the spotlight. One of the most versatile foods found in a supermarket, there are endless ways to prepare potatoes.

We reached into our large 50-pound bag and pulled out some of our favorite recipes:

  1. Rosemary-Garlic Hasselback Potatoes: Hasselback potatoes are quite the stylish side dish. Crispy on the edges and creamy on the inside, they include a little bit of everything you love all in one. Top with rosemary and garlic and you have a perfect companion for your main dish.
  2. Herb-Roasted Fingerling Potatoes: Fingerling Potatoes are tiny and unassuming, but they pack a burst of flavor that you may not expect. Due to their smaller, thin shape they cook quickly and are easy to prepare.
  3. Loaded Scalloped Sweet Potatoes: Potatoes and cheese have been a beautiful couple in cooking forever. Add bacon to the mix and you have a dreamy combination of satisfying flavor, especially when it comes with sweet potatoes.
  4. Carrot & Kale Latkes with Orange-Ginger Sour Cream: This Carrot & Kale version is an upgraded take on light, crispy latkes. The Orange-Ginger Sour Cream matches this recipe perfectly and brings the whole plate together for a satisfying bite.
  5. Mashed Potato, Cheddar & Leek Casserole: There are few better ways to enhance mashed potatoes than with cheddar cheese and bacon. Bring all of these into casserole and you’ll be blown away by the comfort food feels. This is a perfect survival dish for the rest of the February cold!
  6. Farmer’s Market Hash with Poached Eggs: One of our favorite morning meals is hash and eggs. This take, best made with home.grown. red potatoes and our PICS large eggs, really hits the spot!
  7. Roasted Garlic Parmesan Dip: This recipe itself doesn’t involve potatoes, but grab a bag of PICS Kettle Chips and dip away. You have an excellent party appetizer or something for when you’re just in need of a tasty snack. How about dipping some fries in this puppy?

The versatility of a potato is what makes them such a valuable food. With so many styles and preparation methods available at your fingertips, it’s impossible to not love spuds. Here we covered a starchy sample of awesome recipes, but we’ve barely even scratched the surface of all that potato potential! Stop by your local store or shop online to grab potatoes and get started on one of these recipes.

Happy Potato Month from your pals at Price Chopper & Market 32!

Goose Island So-Lo IPA

Simply put, Goose Island’s So-Lo IPA is big on hops, low on calories, and beautifully balanced. With only 98 calories per can, you can enjoy guilt-free. Defined by its big aroma, citrus and herbal notes, and balanced flavor – So-Lo is a full-bodied IPA. With Idaho 7, Kohatu, and Chinook hops, pair this light beer as the perfect complement to your favorite savory dishes that everyone will enjoy. Whether its spicy chicken wings, zesty nachos, or a classic dip, So-Lo will be your perfect match.

Hosting your friends and family for an upcoming party? So-Lo is available in 6-pack 12 oz. cans as well as 15-pack 12 oz. cans. Find in your nearest Price Chopper | Market 32 and please enjoy it responsibly.

 

Sample So-Lo in select stores this weekend!

Click on the day below to see the locations and times to sample this exciting new item!

11:45am – 2:15pm – Brunswick Market 32 – 716 Hoosick Road, Troy

11:45am – 2:15pm – Rome – 1790 Black River Blvd, Rome

11:45am – 2:15pm – Cicero – 5701 E Circle Dr, Suite 100, Cicero

11:45am – 2:15pm – Malta – One Kendall Way, Malta

11:45am – 2:15pm – Johnstown – 241 North Comrie Ave, Johnstown

11:45am – 2:15pm – East Greenbush Market 32 – 501 Columbia Turnpike, Rennselear

11:45am – 2:15pm – Wilton Market 32 – 3045 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

 

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Webster – 2 Worcester Road, Webster MA

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Plattsburgh Market 32 – 19 Centre Cr, Plattsburgh

2:45pm – 5:15pm –Glen St – 677 Upper Glen St, Queensbury

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Shrewsbury – 731 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury MA

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Commercial Dr – 4535 Commercial Dr, New Hartford

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Hudson Valley Plz Market 32 – 79 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Altamont Ave – 1879 Altamont Ave, Rotterdam

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Erie Blvd. – 2515 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Bethlehem – 1395 New Scotland Ave, Slingerlands

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Route 50 – 115 Ballston Ave, Saratoga Springs

2:45pm – 5:15pm – Amsterdam – 141 Sanford Farms Plaza, Amsterdam

 

*Demo dates and times are subject to change*