If a bag ban hasn’t happened in your area yet, it’s probably coming soon. This means that you will no longer be able to get plastic bags while grocery shopping. In case you missed our previous blog, “5 Substitutes for Plastic Bags at the Grocery Store,” we’re here to give you 5 additional plastic bag alternatives so you can be prepared.
Grocery cart bag
Grocery cart bags fit directly into a shopping cart and allow you to conveniently separate your items, such as keeping meat away from fresh produce. After checking out, place all the items back into the cart bags, then easily remove from the cart and place in your car.
No bag
If you’re only running into the store for a thing or two, opt for no bag! We have been trained that each time we go shopping, we need to leave with our items in a bag. You’d be surprised how quickly these small purchases can add up to a lot of unnecessary bags.
Pillow cases
This option may be a bit unconventional, but if you have a few extra laying around the house, it’s a great way to repurpose them. If you’re looking for your next DIY project, you can even add handles to the pillow case so it’s easier to carry.
Bring your own personal cart
Although these have been nicknamed “granny carts,” they’re a great option for groceries. Many of them are collapsible, so they can easily fit in your car. These carts will also make it easier to bring your groceries from the car to your house.
Woven basket
A woven basket can be a rustic alternative to plastic bags and can be used countless times. As long as you’re not worried about being able to tuck it into a small place, like in your car, this may be an option for you. It can even be used beyond grocery shopping, like for picnics, the beach, and other shopping trips.
Whichever option you choose, remember to bring it next time you’re shopping at your local Price Chopper/Market32. If you’re worried about forgetting your plastic bag substitute, try putting them in a place you’ll see them before leaving for the store, like by the door or in your car.
Eating Well Together – Know Your Colors Leads the Way
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
At Price Chopper and Market 32, we are committed to bringing our customers and communities the foods they love and resources to enjoy delicious, nutritious and healthy lives. That commitment gets a big boost as we launch the Know Your Colors program, a nutrition attribute tag program that guides shopping in stores and online. Life is busy, and nutrition is personal – we believe we have created a resource the whole family can use to take care of themselves and each other.
The program includes 8 attributes, all of which meet strict standards to ensure your choices meet your needs. For example, the Heart Smart attribute includes criteria for sodium, saturated fat, carbohydrate quality and sugar management – all summed up in an easy to see red shelf tag that makes it fast and easy to compare and shop. Pick your favorite items and have more confidence you are making Heart Smart choices! Explore the store and look for Organic, Gluten Free, Whole Grain, Low Sodium, Carb Smart, Protein Smart and Plant Powered. Learn about the individual standards for each at cms-uat-pch.unataops.com/colors.
The program is rich in its ability to cut through labeling confusion – and even help you and your family learn more about eating well together! Solve some of your shopping frustration by using the shelf tags in the store. Picky kids? Let them “scavenger hunt” the Whole Grain shelf tag in the cereal section and everyone goes home happy to enjoy their “find”. Helping family members prevent or manage chronic health issues? You will find shopping stress goes way down and confidence goes up when you use the Low Sodium or Carb Smart shelf tags to short cut finding the right products for your lifestyle. Exploring Flexitarian or Mediterranean lifestyles? Plant Powered and Heart Smart attributes point you in the right direction. Shelf tag colors making finding items quick and easy, or, shop online and build your basket using the attributes right on our website. You may also discover old favorites make the grade and bask in the glow of knowing you are already on the right track.
Over 10,000 items have one or more attributes, and we are still adding items to the system! It is a great snapshot of the efforts food companies large and small are making to ensure they are part of the healthier lifestyle shoppers are seeking. Together, we can help you live well and choose well with Know Your Colors!
Introducing Bud Light Seltzer: It’s finally here and it’s unquestionably good
An easy-drinking hard seltzer with a hint of delicious fruit flavor. Bud Light proudly makes their hard seltzer through a unique 5-step filtration process ensuring the most refreshing taste possible – a clean finish, with no lingering aftertaste. Natural carbonation and quality ingredients like sparkling water, real cane sugar, and natural fruit flavor create a light and bubbly seltzer. Bud Light Seltzer is perfect for any occasion – enjoy for a casual night at home or an outing with friends.
Each 12 fl. oz. Bud Light Seltzer contains only 100 calories, 5% alc/vol, 2 grams of carbs. and less than a gram of sugar. Enjoy in 4 delicious flavors – Black Cherry, Strawberry, Lemon Lime, and Mango – Gluten free and no artificial flavors. Find at your local Price Chopper | Market 32.
If you like Bud Light, you’ll love Bud Light Seltzer. If you don’t love Bud Light, you’ll love Bud Light Seltzer. Please enjoy responsibly.
Click on each day below to see the locations and times to sample this exciting new item!
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM – Bethlehem 1395 New Scotland Avenue, Slingerlands
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Malta One Kendall Way, Malta
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Glenmont 329 Glenmont Road, Glenmont
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Erie Blvd 2515 Erie Blvd., Syracuse
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Commercial Dr 4535 Commercial Drive, New Hartford
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Glenmont 329 Glenmont Road, Glenmont
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Rome 1790 Black River Blvd., Rome
1:45 PM – 4:15 PM – Altamont Ave 1879 Altamont Avenue, Rotterdam
1:45 PM – 4:15 PM – Route 50 115 Ballston Avenue, Saratoga Springs
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Clifton Shoppers World Market 32 15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Cicero 5701 East Circle Dr., Suite 100, Cicero
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Hudson Valley Plz Market 32 79 Vandenburgh Plaza, Troy
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Shaker Road 475 Albany Shaker Road, Albany
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Amsterdam 141 Sanford Farms Plaza, Amsterdam
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Bethlehem 1395 New Scotland Avenue, Slingerlands
4:45 PM – 7:15 PM – Niskayuna 442 Balltown Road, Schenectady
4:45 PM – 7:15 PM – Plattsburgh Market 32, 475 State Route 3, Plattsburgh
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM – Cobleskill 105 Plaza Lane, Cobleskill
10:45 AM – 1:15 PM – Amsterdam 141 Sanford Farms Plaza, Amsterdam
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Bethlehem 1395 New Scotland Avenue, Slingerlands
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Commercial Dr 4535 Commercial Drive, New Hartford
11:45 AM – 2:15 PM – Hudson Valley Plz Market 32 79 Vandenburgh Plaza, Troy
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Glenmont 329 Glenmont Road, Glenmont
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Route 50 115 Ballston Avenue, Saratoga Springs
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Market Bistro 783 New Loudon Road, Latham
4:00 PM – 6:30 PM – Plattsburgh Market 32, 475 State Route 3, Plattsburgh
*Demo dates and times are subject to change*
Roll Out a New Tradition with Martin’s Potato Rolls!
Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe is the home of Martin’s Potato Rolls – a Home.Grown small company with a big story. This multigenerational family business, based in Chambersburg, PA, was started in 1955. Now, it has become the international distributor of their unique golden potato rolls and breads. The family business has grown from a bakery in a garage to a company with multiple bakery sites and its own distribution company – the American dream, built generation by generation. On their website you can find the proud stories of their own and their business family – individuals that have worked 30 years or more moving the business forward, inventing machines and collectively creating their own future.
The tender, golden rolls and breads are fluffy and right-sized for anything you want to enjoy – like sandwiches, sliders, or snacks. The 100% whole wheat potato rolls and bread are a great alternative. Get creative with burgers, pulled chicken or pork, breakfast, lunch or dinner! They are also versatile – if you actually have leftover rolls, (you might have to buy 2 packages for that to happen!), they make a great base for a sweet or savory bread pudding or croutons.
Speaking of game day, grab tips, tricks, and recipes for hosting the ultimate game day party at https://www.martinsultimategameplan.com/.
Shop for Martin’s Potato Rolls at your local Price Chopper/Market32 location or at shop.pricechopper.com.
Four Food Strategies for a Game Day Win
When hosting a Super Bowl party there is a ton to consider. Providing food and drinks for guests, making sure the house is tidy, putting together an ample and comfortable viewing setup, and more go into preparing for the big party. It can be overwhelming and that’s why we are here to help. We’ve taken four food strategies from our playbook for easier shopping and preparation for the big game!
1st Down: Catering
Our catering services put you way ahead of the game. Offering a variety of foods that will delight even the toughest of critics. From 6-inch subs and spicy meatballs; all the way to gourmet chocolate dipped cookies and banana cream pie, we have everything you need to make your party super! Simply set the date and time you would like to pick up and we will have it ready for you to take home. Your guests will be wowed with a professional food experience! Place an order for game day here: http://bit.ly/2NPL07E.
2nd Down: Recipes
Take a look at our abundant recipes page for all the inspiration you need. Our wide variety of choices include something that will please everyone at your party! Simply filter through the categories to figure out what you’re looking for. Not sure what you want to cook? No problem! You can browse with ease. Search through mouthwatering game day ready recipes like baked buffalo cheese sticks, and when you find that winning recipe you can add all of those ingredients directly into your virtual shopping cart. From there, you can take advantage of our pick-up or delivery options. The recipes on our website are a great way to try something new with the assurance that it will be a flavorful bite to eat.
3rd Down: Pick-up
We understand how important your famous guacamole dip is to the success of your party, even when time is running low. Save time by submitting a grocery pick-up order on our website. Choose a time and location for pick-up, pay online, and park in one of our marked grocery pick-up parking spaces at your selected time. Once you submit your order, our in-store shopper navigates the aisles grabbing exactly what you need to make that tasty dish. Shoppers are trained to handpick the highest quality and freshest groceries to ensure your satisfaction. Learn more about grocery pick-up: http://bit.ly/38vG4wv.
4th Down: Delivery
Scrambling late in crunch time hoping for a Hail Mary play? We’ve been there. That’s why we will deliver the food you need for the game! Hop onto our website and select the groceries that you need for the evening. Proceed to checkout, put in your address and what time you want the grocery items delivered. We will bring them right to your doorstep while you can relax and finish your last-minute cleaning. Learn more about grocery delivery: http://bit.ly/2Rm04MF
These four strategies are here to help remove some of the stress that naturally comes with hosting friends and family. Regardless of the level of trouble you are currently in, we have a reliable, simple and smooth solution to bring you to a game day win. For more gameday ideas check out our Ultimate Big Game Savings or our Ultimate Big Game Youtube Playlist.
Happy hosting!
10 Heatseeking Ways to Use Hot Sauce
January 22nd is one of our favorite days of the year: National Hot Sauce Day! In celebration, we’re letting you in on ten of the best, most unique ways to enjoy hot sauce. Hot sauce is extremely versatile and there are endless ways to add some spice to what you eat.
Make it a goal to try all ten of these at least once in 2020!
Stir it into Soup: It’s wintertime and temperatures here in the Northeast are currently freezing. Foods to warm up with are a necessity. Stir some hot sauce into your soup for a kick of heat and flavor and make your winter blues disappear! This works best with chili, tortilla soup, black bean soup, or any Mexican or Asian-style soup.
- Make Mexican Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate is another popular way to warm up during the winter. Turn it into Mexican Hot Chocolate by simply adding a dash of hot sauce! Cayenne pepper hot sauce is the way to go here as it mixes well with the chocolate taste and creates a delicious blend.
- Heat Up Hollandaise: We love a breakfast with hollandaise sauce. Mix in some hot sauce to give your Eggs Benedict that extra boost!
- Create Salad Dressing: There are a few creative ways to incorporate hot sauce in salad dressing. Our favorites are either whisking some sauce into vinaigrette or mixing it with ketchup and mayo for yummy Thousand Island dressing.
- Boost a Burger: Hot sauce fits very well on this American classic. Simply mix some Sriracha into your ketchup and your burger is brought to a whole new level!
- Get Brining: Brining is fantastic for adding flavor to meats. Spice up your chicken or turkey with a mixture of a gallon of water, a ½ cup of kosher salt, and 4.5 tablespoons of Tabasco Sauce. Let it sit for 8 hours before throwing it in the oven. The result will be an intense, well-rounded flavor.
- Add a Dash to Ribs: The smoky aroma of good, tender ribs is excellent for mixing with hot sauce. The heat and smokiness come together as one for an intensely-flavored rack of ribs.
- Serve a Spicy Bloody Mary: We recommend using Sriracha for the best drinkability and enjoyment out of your enhanced Bloody Mary. It brings a strong pepper flavor, and hits with the perfect amount of spice.
- Make Popcorn Pop: Add a few drops in melted butter and douse onto your popcorn. It makes a great snack for movie night!
- Whip Up Some Homemade Wing Sauce: Experiment with your favorite sauce and create your own homemade wing sauce. Exploring different varieties and combinations to see what you like best is always fun. We recommend giving PICS Hot Sauce a try!
There are tons of ways to spice up your dishes with hot sauce: These are just some heat-seeking suggestions. Get adventurous and try some new things out for yourself, starting with the options on this list. Visit your local store to pick up a bottle of PICS Hot Sauce to get you started!
Happy Hot Saucin’!
Do you know which knife to use?
Knives are an essential kitchen tool and are a worthy investment for any cook. Knife blades can be made of different metals with benefits and drawbacks. Carbon steel blades are easily sharpened due to their soft consistency but tend to discolor over time. A stainless steel blade is incredibly durable and won’t rust, corrode or discolor; however, it’s more difficult to sharpen. The most commonly used metal is high-carbon stainless steel, which resists corrosion and sharpens easily.
Here are the essential knives for any kitchen:
French Knife
This kitchen workhorse does everything from mincing garlic and chopping onions to cutting whole chickens. The knife tip can be used for trimming, peeling or scoring foods, while the flat side of the blade can be used to crush garlic. A good blade length is about 8 inches.
Paring Knife
A paring knife is short, easy-to-handle and is best for detail work, such as peeling and cutting garlic, soft fruits or boiled potatoes, and hulling strawberries. Its rigid blade is about 3 to 4 inches long.
Boning Knife
A boning knife is used for the intricate work of trimming silver skin from tenderloins, removing the breast from a whole chicken or separating meat from the bone. The thin blade can be flexible or rigid with a length of 5 to 7 inches.
Serrated Utility Knife
This knife is suitable for a variety of tasks, including slicing tomatoes and cutting bread. The blade is slightly flexible and between 10 and 12 inches long.
Keep it Sharp
Did you know that it’s easier to cut yourself with a dull blade than it is with a sharp blade? Sharpen your knives with a sharpening stone (a flat brick of synthetic abrasives), steel (slightly abrasive steel rod), or other sharpening tools. Discover more knife honing and sharpening tips in our Knife Skills video!
Price Chopper
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. Paczki are polish donuts that date all the way back to the 16th century. Back then they were filled with pork fat, but have since evolved into tasty pastries filled with a variety of yummy flavors.
In Poland, some bakers fill Paczki with an almond paste rather than the typical marmalade, and it is said that the person who eats one of these will have good luck for the coming year! On the other hand, the Polish believe a year without having eaten a Paczki donut is bad luck and will leave you unsuccessful in life.
We’ve been offering Paczki of our own for over 20 years and love offering this traditional treat to our customers each year. This year we’re back with a fresh lineup of flavors, including NEW Lemon Raspberry, which was submitted by a Facebook user from Glenville NY and voted Fan Favorite on our Facebook page earlier this year! We’re also introducing Caramel Apple and Chips Ahoy! flavors, and bringing back favorites like Crème Filled Powdered Sugar and Cookies ‘N Crème Filled.
Stop by your local store to pick up mix & match Paczki 4 packs, buy one get one free this week with AdvantEdge Card! 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!
As you know, we’re passionate about craft beer. With our home.grown. Brewer of the Month features and our stories and segments on what’s new in the craft beer industry, we found it a natural fit to partner with True Brew Magazine! True Brew is the perfect read for any craft beer enthusiast in the Capital Region and beyond. Through their magazine, True Brew showcases hidden gems, digs deeper into popular breweries, and keeps tabs on new openings, allowing local craft beer fans to stay in the loop throughout the year.
In this month’s edition, True Brew travels to Schenectady’s Frog Alley Brewing Co. where author Erik Budrakey provides an informative, in-depth look into downtown’s hopping new destination. You’ll learn more about the location, the business, and even the master brewers behind the Frog Alley lineup. We can’t wait to check the place out ourselves!
True Brew also took a moment to catch up with Christian Weber, co-founder of Common Roots Brewery in South Glens Falls. Weber answers a variety of questions, ranging from how Common Roots was able to overcome recent adversity from a brewery fire in March to his passions outside of the brewery.
True Brew concludes their first publication of the year with craft beer predictions for 2020. Using data from recent years, George Di Piro paints the picture of what he believes the industry will look like given where the momentum is currently. We recommend checking it out for some insight on the future of craft beer!
Don’t forget to visit http://www.truebrewmagazine.com/ for more information! Plus, you can now find True Brew Magazine at Price Chopper & Market 32 stores across the Capital Region. Look for it in your store’s Free Publications rack! Check out the complete list of locations below:
Eastern Parkway Market 32
Brunswick Market 32
Madison Ave Market 32
Hamilton Square Market 32
Glenville Market 32
Wilton Market 32
Glen St Price Chopper
Mechanicville Price Chopper
East Greenbush Market 32
Clifton Shopper’s World Market 32
Market Bistro
Amsterdam Market 32
Route 50 Market 32
Bethlehem Price Chopper
Altamont Ave Price Chopper
Hudson Valley Plaza Market 32
Guilderland Market 32
Shaker Road Price Chopper
Malta Price Chopper
Niskayuna Price Chopper
Saugerties Price Chopper
Glenmont Price Chopper
Colonie Price Chopper
Saratoga Limited Price Chopper
Watervliet Price Chopper
Fort Edward Market 32
Clifton Park Plaza Market 32
Can Crazy week is a great time to stock up – canned foods connect budget and benefit in delicious, nutritious ways. Canned foods bring so much to the table – prepped and ready fruits, vegetables, and proteins like chicken, beans and seafood – research shows that adults and children have higher quality diets, including enjoying more vegetables, fruits and fiber when canned foods are on the menu. We know you are always resolved to feed your family well, especially as a fresh New Year begins. Can Crazy helps you make that happen!
Canned foods have evolved – fresh produce is washed, prepped and canned within a day or two of harvest, sealing in flavor and nutrients. Flavor makers like spices, herbs and spicy peppers have moved in and sodium and sugar has been reduced or removed from many items, expanding opportunities to enjoy new twists on old favorites and exploring authentic international flavors. Connect that dot to the opportunity to support sustainability – cans are the most recyclable container we use, and you have a winning plan.
These delicious ideas showcase a couple of Can Crazy-easy meals – Pulled Chicken Tacos 3 Ways and Hearty Turkey Chili. In addition, the Seafood Team keeps innovating – explore adding more seafood to your meals with new Market 32 Stuffed Fillets. Balance your plate with double servings of produce, like Delmonte Canned Vegetables or PICS frozen Steambag Veggie options. PICS Yogurt Fest freshens up breakfast and snacking with PICS Icelandic, Greek and Traditional yogurts all month long. Create a power play with yogurt or Clif, Luna and Kind Bars and fresh fruit – Halo Clementines, Navel Oranges, Anjou and Red Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, Cantaloupe and Grapes are all featured this week, and make a sweet treat that energizes your busy family with fresh choices and nutrition benefits.