Our January home.grown. Brewer of the Month: Paradox Brewery

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: Paradox Brewery!

This month we’re back for another round at Paradox Brewery. Last February we introduced some of our favorite Paradox brews here on our blog, this month we return to talk about their awesome new facility!  

Paul and Joan Mrocka opened Paradox Brewery six years ago, now after years of hard work they have a new brewery in North Hudson, just a few miles north of the old Schroon Lake location. The new location will allow Paradox to quadruple its output, and move everything on site. Inside, the brewery will be full of modern, highly efficient equipment, while a wraparound deck on the outside will provide guests with a gorgeous view of the mountains. Paradox even has a plan for food trucks to be a part of the atmosphere in the future. Yum!

Stop in to the new Paradox location, where you can enjoy the same quality brews in a new and improved environment. Paradox Pilsner is still a Paradox fan favorite as a light, crisp and refreshing drink. While, Beaver Bite IPA remains a top seller, alongside its juicy, double IPA sibling Beaver Overbite.

Here’s to another year of tasty craft beer!

Interested in trying some Paradox brews?

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

Saturday, 1/4: 11am-2pm at our Glen Street Price Chopper

Saturday, 1/11: 11am-2pm at our Wilton Market 32 Growler Station

Saturday, 1/18: 11am-2pm at our Clifton Shoppers World Market 32 Growler Station

Saturday, 1/25: 11am-2pm at our Plattsburgh Market 32

Interested in visiting the brewery?

Visit https://www.facebook.com/paradoxbrewery/ for more info!

Each year millions of eyes are simultaneously fixated on the Waterford Crystal at Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball. At 11:59 pm on December 31st, the ball begins it’s highly anticipated descend. Families, friends and strangers alike unite in a countdown to a New Year, full of fresh optimism, new hopes, and stress-free grocery shopping. 

It’s a cool tradition: That moment of unity and refreshed hope is a fun way to begin a new chapter. But how did it come to be? As we often do here on our blog, we went back into history to find out.

New Year’s Eve was first celebrated in Times Square in 1904, but it wasn’t until 1907 that the ball made its first appearance. The original ball was a hefty 700-pound mass made of iron and wood. It was built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, his company, Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the ball. Since it’s inauguration in 1907, that ball has undergone seven design changes before becoming what it is today.

After a successful introduction, 1942 and 1943 are the only two years since that the ball has not been lowered, as a wartime “dimout” of lights in New York City had the celebration on hiatus. Nevertheless, the crowds still gathered in Times Square those two years. Introducing the New Year with a minute of silence, followed by the ringing of chimes from sound trucks.

As for the Times Square location, the first shindig was to commemorate the new headquarters of the New York Times. Adolph Ochs, the newspaper’s owner successfully lobbied for the city to rename Longacre Square, Times Square. The Times Tower became the focus of the city’s New Year’s gathering.

Ochs went all out, sparing no expense to ensure the celebration was a success. An all-day street festival led to a nighttime fireworks display, finished off at midnight when sounds of noise-makers and rattlers erupted through the streets. The entire party was a rousing success, and Times Square effectively became the place to be for New Year’s Eve.

Two years later, the city banned Ochs’ fireworks display. Yet, he remained unfazed, replacing the light show with the first New Year’s Eve ball built by Jacob Starr. The rest is history as the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration began capturing the imagination of the nation, and eventually the rest of the world.

If you’re watching the ball drop this year, make sure you do so with some tasty appetizers: check out our appetizer recipe collection. Visit your local store for everything you need to make your New Year’s Eve an enjoyable one!

Happy New Year!

Have you tried our new Everything Bagel spice blend? We’re putting it on everything. There are tons of ways to enjoy it, so we decided to put together a few of our favorites for you to try out for yourself! Here’s a baker’s dozen.

Rub it on Roast Meat: Everything bagel seasoning makes for a tasty rub: Try it on roast meat or roasted chicken. When you’re preparing the meat, add in some of our seasoning, using butter or olive oil to spread it around. Cook it up and enjoy!

Use it on Fried Eggs: Looking for a way to bring some flavor to your morning eggs? Everything bagel seasoning is the answer! While the egg is frying on the pan simply sprinkle some seasoning on top for the perfect added flavor.

Season Roasting Vegetables: Roasting some vegetables as a side dish with dinner? Sprinkle some everything bagel seasoning along with some oil, just the thing to add that little something to your greens.

Maximize Mac n Cheese: Before you add the top layer of cheese, add in some everything bagel seasoning in to take it up a notch.

Put it on Pizza: We all know that oregano is a classic seasoning for pizza, but you don’t have to stop there. Add some everything bagel seasoning to the top, or mix it in the crust if you’re making it from scratch.

Make an Olive Oil Dressing: If you’re making your own salad dressing and are low on ingredients, you can make a quick and easy dressing with everything bagel seasoning and some extra virgin olive oil! Taste the dressing as you’re making it to get the proportions are just right.

Add to Pancakes: Everything bagel seasoning on a pancake can taste similar to a bagel, but pancakes are easier to make on your own, and less time consuming. We’re digging this one on the weekends.

Toss in Trail Mix: Trail Mix is a great snack, but everything bagel seasoning is a nice way to make it more exciting. An extra savory boost to your mix!

Bloody Mary: Everyone loves a good Bloody Mary. Instead of putting salt on the rim of your glass, try everything bagel seasoning. It’s a great way to add some flavor to your drink.

Sprinkle on Salad: Our PICS Everything Bagel spice blend is an excellent enhancer to your favorite salad. Sprinkle it on top and reap the flavorful benefits.

Avocado Toast: Avocado toast is already a hit. Imagine elevating that flavor even more with some everything bagel seasoning. Yum!

Season Your Fries: Rather than reaching for the salt, try something new on your fries. Our seasoning is a game changer here!

Use it on Popcorn: Put your popcorn in a paper bag and add it in our seasoning. Shake it up and serve while it’s still hot!

These are just a handful of the endless amount of ways to get creative with Everything Bagel Seasoning. Stop in to your local store and pick up some of our NEW PICS Everything Bagel spice blend and start experimenting!

A Festive Family Feast!

Time to celebrate! Christmas and Chanukah have food traditions that bring us together in so many ways. Revel in this amazing time of year with family favorites and fresh takes on history and heritage. We will help you create some memorable meals!

Keep Monday’s last minute mad dash under control with a simple Chef’s Menu solution – sauté your way to a quick and delicious mix-and-match stir fry meal from the Meat Department. One-pan clean up keeps you on track as you wrap packages and tie ribbons. A fresh veggie platter adds color and crunch to the nibbling and noshing that will go on this week!

On Christmas Eve, put tradition on the table with the Feast of the Seven Fishes! Last week, we shared the history and some recipes and serving suggestions for creating this time-honored and delicious meal – check out the blog to create your version of this wonderful dinner. In addition to the freshest lobster, crab legs, shrimp and scallops, Price Chopper’s Seafood Team has made it so easy with Bacon-Wrapped Scallops and Crab, Shrimp and Salmon Cakes on sale and ready to heat and eat! Finally, make merry with this Crab Legs with Dipping Sauces idea – so special!

Still have room in those stockings? Stuff them with some sweet and healthy treats, like Halo Clementines, Clif, Luna or Kind Bars, and packets of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa! Your older “kids” might love some Green Mountain Coffee or Kcups, and PICS Holiday Popcorn!

 Four Berry Hazelnut Crisp will light up their faces Christmas Morning! Keep the recipe quantities the same but use any combination of berries you like.

Or, keep it classic with Eggland’s Best Eggs, PICS Bacon and Thomas’s English Muffins. Don’t forget the PICS Egg Nog!

We hope your day is Merry and Bright!

Spending time with friends and family, sharing a family recipe, connecting in ways large and small – all are part of the experience of eating together – these are a few of our favorite things. This is especially true during the holidays – so much fun to be had creating and enjoying special treats and heirloom eats. As the holiday rush gets into full swing, these quick meals and snack ideas will keep you and your family fueled well for all the season’s festivities!

Check out the Family Meals page for solutions and serving suggestions that focus on sale items this week, like One-Pan Garlic Chicken and veggies, easy to make and clean up; family (and office party!) favorite, fresh Corner to Corner pizza; oldie but goodie Tuna Melts and a quick salad kit, and versatile, heat and eat Ham on sale,  paired with fresh green beans and Market 32 Gourmet Potatoes. Yum and Done!

popcorn-string-on-tree

Much of the holidays is centered on food. From snacks, to family feasts, cookies, and desserts, it’s a certainly a time of food-filled festivities. But we don’t stop there. We love food so much during the holidays that we decorate our homes with it. Need some ideas? We’ve got you covered with a few spirited tips!

Do you have any edible ornaments on your Christmas tree? They make a cute addition and the whole family can partake in the fun! Simply roll out some cookie dough and use your holiday cookie cutters to create different designs. Make sure to poke out a hole at the top of the dough to put some string through, and follow the baking directions on the package. Once they’re baked, decorate with icing and sprinkles and thread the string or ribbon through the hole! 

For a simple, yet fun and effective holiday decoration try making a candy cane vase. Use a larger vase of your choice and line it with candy canes, keeping the candy canes in their wrapper. Take a smaller vase and put it inside the larger one. Grab some red carnations and put them in the center and you’re set!

How about a creative centerpiece? Try your hand at making a garlic knot Christmas tree centerpiece. Buy a Styrofoam cone, stick some toothpicks it in and press garlic knots onto the toothpicks. Some freshly grated parmesan cheese can simulate fresh snow and the garlic knot tree can be completed with a star on top made out of cheese. To make your creation extra festive, create a tree skirt with fresh sprigs of thyme and rosemary, and serve with small dipping bowls of marinara sauce.

It’s always fun to decorate during the holidays, especially when you’re coming up with creative ways to make sure the halls are more decked than ever before. Food is a great option for unique ideas and there are number of options to try out. Whether you give one of these examples a go or try an idea of your own, stop by your local store for everything you need!

The majority of holiday celebrations around the world involve indulging in delicious feasts; however, the foods we eat and the traditions we practice vary. In Italy, elaborate dishes are the center of everyday meals and are emphasized at Christmas! If you’re looking to expand your horizons this holiday season, use the following tips to host an Italian-inspired, multi-course meal that embraces age-old Italian customs and creates priceless (and delicious!) memories with friends and family.

The Christmas Eve meal is traditionally meatless – instead, Italians enjoy a diverse variety of fish, also known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Don’t let this seven-course feast intimidate you. Fill your menu with familiar, easy-to-prep dishes that take some heat off of the host. Shrimp Toasts and seafood spreads containing crab, salmon or salted cod are crowd-pleasing starters that are perfect for preparing in advance. For the main courses, pasta and stews symbolize iconic Italian classics. Shrimp Alfredo, seafood linguine with clams or mussels, cioppino and Bouillabaisse are all dishes that showcase succulent seafood beautifully. Maple-Walnut Crusted Salmon and Classic Lobster Rolls are additional impressive dishes that make a big statement in your seafood lineup.

Don’t forget dessert! Both light and fluffy, panettone and pandoro are two Christmas cakes that your guests won’t want to miss. Panettone is studded with raisins or candied fruits, and pandoro is a moist, bright yellow cake (traditionally star-shaped) that’s dusted with powdered sugar. Serve these sweet treats with sauces like caramel, chocolate or maple syrup.

To follow ancient Italian tradition, keep the table set after everyone is finished eating; it’s believed that the Madonna (Mary) and baby Jesus will come to taste the food. The Christmas season in Italy begins December 8th and ends January 6th – providing many opportunities to practice and experience these time-honored traditions.

Festive Food Fun!

Written by Jodie Fitz

 Grab the kids, head to your Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarket, grab some key ingredients and get ready for holiday fun in the kitchen!  What’s up this month?

• A healthier version of Grinch Pancakes

• A little snack/appetizer yum fun

• A fruit kabob activity that’s delish

Grinch Pancakes

1 cup fresh baby leaf spinach

4 oz. PICS cinnamon applesauce

1 PICS egg

1 cup PICS milk

¼ cup PICS sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups PICS all-purpose, unbleached flour

1 tablespoon PICS baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

PICS non-stick cooking spray

Place the spinach, applesauce, egg, milk, sugar, and vanilla into the blender.  Blend the ingredients together; until the spinach is very fine and the mixture looks green.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add the liquid from the blender into the dry ingredients.  Whisk all of the ingredients together.

Cook the pancakes over medium to low heat on a griddle pan that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray. 

Drizzle the pancakes with yogurt glaze.

Jodie’s Yogurt Glaze

½ cup PICS Greek vanilla yogurt

¼ cup PICS low fat milk

1 tablespoon PICS honey

Whisk the yogurt, milk and honey together well.  Drizzle the mixture on the pancakes.

 

Lessons for the kids:

  • • Measuring
  • • Blending safety
  • • Whisking
  • • Stovetop safety
  • • Pancake flipping
  • • Drizzling

Spinach Wraps

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

½ cup PICS cream cheese

½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

NOTE:  You cannot taste the spinach in this recipe.

Wash and dry the bell peppers.  Remove the seeds and cut them into thin strips.

Stir the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, onion powder and Italian seasoning together.

Spread the cheese mixture onto a large spinach wrap.  Place the green peppers on the cream cheese mixture; approximately 12 strips of pepper.  Roll the wrap and carefully slice.

Repeat the process with the red pepper. 

Note:  The cheese mixture should yield three rolls.

Build a tree:  You can eat these sliced rolls as is or you can create a little holiday fun and build a tree with a yellow star (see the photo).  You can create the star on top by cutting a yellow bell pepper with clean kitchen scissors.

Lessons for the kids:

  • • Cleaning vegetables
  • • Stirring
  • • Spreading
  • • Slicing
  • • Knife safety
  • • Food creativity

Fruit Kabobs & Pomegranate Dip

Great party food (or just for a yummy, fun snack).

1 honeydew melon

8-10 kiwi

1 pineapple

1 pomegranate

6 oz. Greek vanilla yogurt

6 oz. low fat vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon pomegranate juice

Rinse the outside of the honeydew melon.  Cut it in half, remove the seeds.  Cut the halves into half and remove the rind.  Use a small round cookie cutter or a large circle fondant cutter to create circle pieces of honeydew melon.

Rinse the kiwis.  Cut off the ends of each kiwi.  Peel them.  Slice them into circles.

Rinse the pineapple.  Remove the top and bottom of the pineapple.  Cut it into slices and use a small star cookie cutter or large fondant cutter to create yellow pineapple stars.  Note:  Cheat and buy already cored pineapple at your Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarket.

Rinse the pomegranate.  Remove the seeds from the pomegranate.

Fold together the Greek vanilla yogurt, low fat vanilla yogurt and pomegranate juice.  Stir in ¼ cup of pomegranate seeds and top the dip with 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds.

Serve the honeydew melon circles, the cut kiwi and the pineapple stars in individual bowls with skewers available so that the kids can create their own fruit tree kabob and then dip it into the pomegranate dip.

Lessons for the kids:

  • • Cleaning Fruit
  • • Prepping different fruits
  • • Stirring
  • • Folding
  • • Slicing
  • • Knife safety
  • • Food creativity

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

December 7th

Jingle Bell Bash

Halfmoon Town Hall

Halfmoon, NY

This event is open to the community. 

 

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

St. Mary’s Elementary School, Troy, NY

Schuylerville Elementary School – Schuylerville, NY

Mohonasen Schools, Rotterdam NY

Broadalbin Middle School, Broadalbin, NY

Northville Elementary School, Northville, NY

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

Cheers to a Tasty Month ~ Jodie

P.S.  I can’t wait for next month’s recipe shares and starting the New Year in the kitchen with you all!

 

 

How many times has this happened – you have a busy week, not sure you will be able to get everything done, and then – the weather slows you down (or stops you completely), or someone gets sick, and your whole plan is out the window? We can help you restore some of the balance to your week with grocery delivery or click and collect pick up! A few minutes shopping with us online could get back on track with your busy holiday season. And, if you are trying to stay focused on your giving and gifting, check out our meal ideas to make that cyber shopping even faster!

The weather outside may be frightful, but these meals are just delightful! Keep everyone happy at the table with tender Certified Angus Beef Braciole, substitute Botticelli Pasta Sauce for the tomatoes and spices in this recipe for Slow Cooked Beef and Mushroom Braciole, paired with a Fresh Express Salad Blend and Bakery Italian Bread to kick off the week. Leftovers, (if you have any), make a great lunch for work the next day. Keep the second loaf of bread and jar of sauce handy for an easy, cheesy dinner made with frozen PEDE Ravioli, made right here in Schenectady County by one of our home.grown. local partners.  The Botticelli Sauce and Bakery Italian Bread will get everyone to the table in a flash! In between, enjoy some NEW fresh stuffed fish – salmon, cod and haddock options mean something for everyone. Tender and quick cooking, each with a savory filling, paired with fresh asparagus or baby carrots is a seafood and produce power play. If you don’t have time to cook fresh, frozen is right there waiting – PICS Steambag Veggies, Green Giant Boxed Frozen Veggies, or Pict Sweet Farm Favorites. Double up servings of your favorite frozen produce for an easy way to eat more vegetables – only 1 in 10 of us get enough! Eating more seafood and produce are both smart moves – together they bring you closer to meeting nutrition recommendations for children and adults alike. 

Shredded Cheese doesn't get much better than this!

Introducing the new, bold flavors of TACO BELL® Shredded Cheese! Taco night just got better. Made with real cheeses and packaged in convenient resealable bags for freshness. Try all four delicious shredded cheese varieties:

  • Taco Night
  • Zesty Ranch
  • Salsa Verde
  • Breakfast Fiesta

 

Satisfy your cravings and add some excitement to your favorite tacos, nachos, quesadillas, or try out a new recipe. Add Breakfast Fiesta to some pancake tacos or a hash brown pizza, zest up classic taco salad with Taco Night – the possibilities are endless! Whether you are experienced in the kitchen or in need of some practice, let TACO BELL® Shredded Cheese be the flavor boost you need to take your dishes to the next level.