From My Mother’s Kitchen to the Capital Region: The Journey of Allie B’s Famous Mac & Cheese"
My earliest memories are of cooking; setting up a small table next to my mother in the kitchen at age 3, watching her every move, imitating how she dashed her spices and how she stirred her pot. If we were baking, she would add her ingredients to her bowl and then pass them to me so that I could add them to mine. At relatives’ houses I was allowed to cook steaks while still in kindergarten and by the time I was in junior high I would prepare food for my father and his friends as they watched the game: roasted duck and collard greens. My whole life growing up was spent selling food on the street and cooking every holiday.
In 2014, I opened Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen in Albany’s West Hill Neighborhood, which is now the Capital Region’s oldest operating soul food restaurant. It didn’t take long to become the Capital Region’s Queen of Southern Cuisine, with Food Network appearances, cooking classes and beloved dishes requested by countless organizations, dignitaries and politicians all the way up to the Governor’s office. Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen’s menu is authentic Southern soul food, one of America’s founding cuisines, and universally loved by all. And while everyone who enters the restaurant finds a dish that they love, their own personal favorite, a consistent theme runs common among all patrons: The Macaroni And Cheese is truly The GREATEST! When one first experiences it, a flood of memories fill their thoughts. One bite and they are taken back in time to their childhood, to a simpler time in life, when their excitement over their mother or grandmother preparing their favorite dish evokes The Greatest emotional reaction; and the purest sense of joy and satisfaction.
This same experience can now be felt at 26 local Market 32/Price Chopper stores as Allie B’s famous Macaroni and Cheese, Mac and Cheese so Good it Brings Us All Together, is now available in the Food Fare/Deli department. Every day of the week customers can purchase this delightful and savory product both hot and ready to eat, or cold to be taken home and enjoyed later. Macaroni and cheese is an American classic, first brought here by Thomas Jefferson and James Hemings, an enslaved African American, and also the first American Master of French Cuisine. Now this dish is beloved and memorialized by all families. But this particular macaroni and cheese, Allie B’s Mac And Cheese, belongs to us, the Capital Region – it is our signature dish that we will be known for. Come and experience The Greatest!
I’m excited to be visiting the local stores below to sample my mac and cheese: stop in and say hi!
PLACE & TIME
Date | Time | Store |
Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 9am-1pm | Central Ave, Albany |
Sunday, March 2, 2025 | 11am-2pm | Brunswick |
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Eastern Parkway, Schenectady |
Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Madison Ave, Albany |
Sunday, March 9, 2025 | 11am-2pm | Nott St, Niskayuna |
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Delaware Ave, Albany |
Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | East Greenbush |
Sunday, March 16, 2025 | 11am-2pm | South Colonie |
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Route 50, Saratoga |
Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Market Bistro Latham |
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 11am-2pm | North Greenbush |
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Watervliet |
Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Clifton Park Plaza |
Sunday, March 30, 2025 | 11am-2pm | Glen St, Queensbury |
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Altamont Ave, Rotterdam |
Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Hudson Valley Plaza, Troy |
Sunday, April 6, 2025 | 11am-2pm | Clifton Shoppers World |
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Malta |
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Mohawk Commons, Niskayuna |
Sunday, April 13, 2025 | 11am-2pm | Glenmont |
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | 4pm-6pm | Bethlehem |
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
How can one resist a delicious, crunchy bowl of cereal with freshly chilled milk? Cereal is so wonderful that it has been given its own day – March 7th! Although, everyday could be National Cereal Day in the United States, considering we are listed fourth in the world with cereal consumption! An average of 160 bowls of cereal are consumed per person in the United States each year, and 50% of Americans will start their day off with a bowl of cereal. I guess it is safe to say that cereal is a household favorite!
Here at Price Chopper and Market 32, we love cereal just as much as our customers! Did you know that we have a whole line of PICS brand cereals? That is right – we have a large variety of delicious PICS cereal as well as PICS milk and dairy-free milk that you must try! Click on the green button at the end of this blog to view all of our PICS cereal.
Cereal can be used for so much more than just your morning breakfast. Cereal has become a very popular snack on its own or mixed in with yogurt. Additionally, there are many recipes that call for cereal as an ingredient. Check out the recipes below that are not only fun and easy to make, but delicious, too!
Crispy Honey Baked Salmon with Almond-Fennel Salad: PICS Honey Nut Toasted Oats cereal as crumbs? Bet you have never thought of that before! This salmon recipe is irresistibly mouth-watering and flavorful, with a little bit of crunch of course!
Lucky Charms Frozen Yogurt Pie: Creamy vanilla frozen yogurt with cereal as the base. Now that is a fun dessert idea! The best part is, this recipe only calls for five items!
Savory Rosemary Snack Mix: This is a must for your next gathering! Be cautious though, this recipe is so good that you may not have any leftovers for yourself!
The Many Ways of Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is best known for its role as a sweet finishing touch to pancakes and waffles. However, its abilities go far beyond the breakfast table. Maple farmers use special drills to tap into the trees to obtain the sap that’s boiled down to produce the pure maple syrup we know and love. Here in the Northeast, maple sugaring season occurs as winter ends and spring begins. We’re proud to partner with a variety of local maple farmers and producers in our region to bring you the season’s best. You can add pure maple syrup from our local partners to your culinary tool belt and use them in breakfast recipes, desserts and beyond!
Swap Syrup for Sugar
Give your favorite treats complex, caramelly tastes by using maple syrup in place of sugar in baked goods such as cookies, cakes, breads and muffins. Replace 1 cup of granulated sugar with ¾ cup of maple syrup. For every cup of liquid sweetener, reduce added liquids in the recipe by about 3 to 4 tablespoons. Add about 1 tablespoon of flour for every ¼ cup of maple syrup if there’s no liquid called for in the recipe. When swapping these ingredients, ensure your syrup is at room temperature, as cold syrup can cause other ingredients to clump.
Savory Syrup
Maple syrup adds complexity and subtle sweetness to numerous savory dishes. Use it to flavor proteins like chicken, pork, or salmon, or pair it with bacon for a mouthwatering, sweet and smoky treat. Try whisking it into salad dressings to give your greens hints of caramelization or bring out the natural sweetness of veggies by drizzling maple syrup over tomatoes, squash, potatoes and mushrooms.
Drinks & Desserts
Maple syrup’s versatility extends from the plate to the glass! Add a dash to your morning coffee or tea, or use it to spice up a classic old fashioned or whiskey sour cocktail. It also makes a drool-worthy addition to these Maple Caramel Bacon Brownies, used as a sweetener for whipped cream or drizzled over scones, ice cream, pies and more.
Looking for more ways to use maple syrup in your everyday cooking? Click here! From all of us at Price Chopper & Market 32, happy maple sugaring season!
Food Connects Us!
The 51st National Nutrition Month® Celebration!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN, FAND
March is National Nutrition Month®! This year’s theme is “Food Connects Us.” This education and awareness campaign is led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the largest professional nutrition association in the world. Launched 51 years ago, it continues to raise awareness about all of the benefits eating well brings to our health and our lives.
So much about food connects us – to family, to community, to culture and spirituality. Food nourishes relationships and fuels exploration. Family recipes connect generations, affirming and honoring shared memories and history. Food transports us around the world via culinary journeys where we discover new foods and flavors, plate by plate, without leaving our own table. Food delivers joy and caring, through celebrations and challenges.
The information used to create these connections is empowered by the education and work of Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists (RDNs) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTRs). We are trained from molecules to menu, from farm to physiology, and required to continue that training throughout our careers, to ensure we can deliver authentic, safe, wholesome, nutritious, appetizing food to individuals and populations. Our work facilitates food and nutrition-focused prevention, healthful growth and lifelong vitality, and treatment of injury and illness. RDNs continually drive food and nutrition research and communications that are evidence-based and cutting edge. It is a dynamic profession, and I am grateful and proud to be part of it in this role for our company and the communities we serve.
Food connects us – our Market 32 and Price Chopper teams hope you and your family can create all the joy, nourishment, health and healing you need with the foods we offer in our stores. The warmth of a bowl of soup, the excitement of a special cake, the perfect ingredient for your new recipe, the treat in the lunchbox that gives a little moment of love to your child, and the crunch of an apple that energizes you and supports local farmers – food connects us all.
Happy National Nutrition Month®!
We believe that great meals don’t have to come with a high price tag. Our Value Meal Program is designed to bring you delicious, budget-friendly recipes every week—each costing under $4 per plate! Whether you’re feeding a family or just looking for easy, affordable meal ideas, we’ve got you covered. This week, we’re featuring Pasta Bake, Shepherd’s Pie, and Italian Wedding Soup—hearty, comforting dishes that are simple to make and full of flavor. Enjoy quality meals without breaking the bank, and stay tuned for more tasty, wallet-friendly recipes every week!
Pasta Bake
Shepard's Pie
Italian Wedding Soup
1lb Ground Beef M32 85% Lean Ground Beef |
Barilla Pasta |
| Rinaldi Sauce |
Pics Pizza Blend Cheese |
McCormcik Italian Seasoning |
| PICS Grated Cheese-3oz |
1lb Ground Beef M32 85% Lean Ground Beef |
Market 32 Russet Potatoes |
Market 32 Yellow Onions |
Pics Beef Broth |
| Pics Mixed Vegetables |
1lb Ground Beef M32 85% Lean Ground Beef |
Fresh Express Spinach |
Pics Chicken Broth |
Pics Orzo |
Garlic |
Celery |
| Market 32 Baby Carrots |
Market 32/Price Chopper has taken a big step to support wellbeing and fresh produce access for SNAP participants in the Schenectady and Syracuse market areas. January 2025 marks the launch of a great partnership between the Field and Fork Network, managers of the Double Up Food Bucks Nutrition Incentive program, and our company.
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) is a nutrition incentive program that matches SNAP purchases of qualifying fresh fruits and vegetables via Catalina coupon rewards. DUFB provides a $1 for $1 match up to $20 per day to be spent on a future shopping trip.
As a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, I am thrilled to see this program come to our stores and communities. The program ensures participants can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables they like and can prepare and rewards them to ensure they can purchase it again, building the habits that deliver improved wellbeing over time. It is a model that has proven its value since it was started in Michigan in 2009. The coupons can only be redeemed on fresh fruits and vegetables from the Produce department, doubling SNAP benefit power on these items.
DUFB benefits more than SNAP participants – it supports families, farmers and local purchasing, and communities. That ripple effect is critical to the success of the program and the farmers growing local fruits and vegetables. DUFB is currently operating in 38 counties across New York States and supports the work of over 550 individual produce vendors. The program is operating at 60 different farmers markets, farm stands and CSA programs, 65 grocery stores, and 155 individual mobile market sites.
In 2024, more than $1.7 million Double Up Food Bucks were spent by NYS residents, a more than $700,000 increase from 2023. Since the program’s inception in 2014, Field & Fork Network has distributed over $3.6 million in Double-Up Food Bucks to communities across the state. The Double Up Food Bucks program is currently running in 27 states and is administered by individual organizations and agencies.
Market 32 and Price Chopper have been part of healthy food access for over 80 years, and we hope to see this program continue to expand in our communities and stores. Learn more about this important program here.
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
When it comes to cooking delicious meals on a budget, finding recipes that offer great value without sacrificing flavor is key. In this blog, we’re bringing you two classic dishes—Beef Stroganoff and Chicken Stir Fry—that are not only easy to make but also cost-effective and packed with taste. Whether you’re in the mood for creamy, comforting stroganoff or a quick, savory stir fry, these recipes will help you stretch your ingredients while still delivering a satisfying meal. Let’s dive into these budget-friendly, flavor-packed dishes!
Beef Stroganoff
Chicken Stir Fry
CAB Sirloin |
Fage Sour Cream |
Market 32 Whole White Mushrooms |
Market 32 Bulk Onions |
Egg Noodles |
Pics Canned Beef Broth |
| Garlic |
Market 32 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs |
Success Boil in Bag rice |
Pics Soy Sauce |
Pics Stir Fry Vegetables |
Pics Canned Chicken Broth |
| Garlic |
OR Try This FUN Spin!
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to indulge in sweet treats, delicious meals, and heartfelt moments with the ones you love. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, a cozy night in, or a fun gathering with friends, we’ve got everything you need to make the day extra special. From decadent desserts to festive recipes and thoughtful gift ideas, let’s make this Valentine’s Day one to remember!
WE GOT YOU COVERED FOR SOME DATE NIGHT IDEAS!!
- Heart-Shaped Pizza 🍕 – Make homemade pizza and shape the dough into a heart for a fun and delicious dinner.
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberries 🍓 – An easy yet elegant treat for any Valentine’s celebration.
- Strawberry or Raspberry Pancakes 🥞 – Start the day with heart-shaped pancakes topped with fresh berries and whipped cream.
- DIY Hot Chocolate Bar ☕ – Set up a station with marshmallows, whipped cream, caramel, and sprinkles for a cozy treat.
- Cupid’s Mocktail or Cocktail 🍹 – Mix a fun pink or red drink with sparkling water, fruit juices, and garnishes.
- Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board ❤️ – A mix of cheeses, fruits, chocolates, and nuts in a festive heart-shaped arrangement.
- Love-Themed Cupcakes 🧁 – Bake cupcakes with red and pink frosting, sprinkles, and cute toppers.
- Homemade Pasta Night 🍝 – Make pasta from scratch and serve with a rich, romantic sauce.
- Red Velvet Cake or Brownies 🍰 – A classic Valentine’s dessert for any sweet tooth.
- Sweetheart Trail Mix 🌟 – Mix popcorn, pretzels, chocolate, and candy hearts for a festive snack.
If you’re looking for a simple yet flavorful seafood meal plan, you’re in for a treat! This week, we’re featuring two restaurant-worthy dishes that are surprisingly easy to make at home: baked cod and shrimp scampi. These recipes are packed with fresh flavors, rich in protein, and perfect for a balanced, satisfying meal. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or planning a special dinner, this combo offers the perfect blend of light, flaky cod and garlicky, buttery shrimp scampi. Plus, we’ll share tips on how to pair these dishes with the right sides for a complete, nutritious meal.
Baked Cod
Shrimp Scamp
Cod Fillet |
Asparagus |
Cherry Tomatoes |
Pics Parmesean Cheese |
| Lemon |
Market 32 Farm Raised Shrimp |
Pics Parmesean Cheese |
Lemon |
Garlic |
Pics Pasta |
| Broccoli Crowns |
OR TRY THIS FUN SPIN!!
Pizza Plays for the Big Game
Hosting for the big game this weekend? Pizza is a great game day option to impress your guests. And we have a variety of pizza plays for you to score big. Try out one of offerings so you’re ready to in time for kickoff.
Crafted with stone-fired pizza dough and topped with fresh ingredients, our great-tasting pizzas are ready when you are – just take ’em and bake ’em. Featuring scrumptious varieties like Pepperoni, Margherita, Meat Lovers, Mushroom & Blue, classic Cheese, and more.
Our crispy pan pizzas are covered with the finest, freshest toppings from corner to corner, generously layered on top of our 100% natural whole milk mozzarella cheese, and pizza sauce, made from vine ripened tomatoes. Our pizza is baked fresh in 500° ovens for an authentic old-world taste with our signature crispy bottom. Our pizza is thicker than a New York style, yet thinner than a Chicago style pizza. We use 100% natural whole milk mozzarella and only the freshest toppings.
Our new and enhanced takeout meal options are perfect game day, especially our new Pizza and Wings option. Now you can get 2 Pizzas and 2Lbs. of Wings for $34.99. Order it hot and ready, or cold to bake at home when you’re ready to eat. Plus, we’ve shortened our order lead time to 24 hours to better accommodate you’re planning. Impress your guests for the big game and order today.
We offer a variety of frozen pizza toppings through our PICS line of products. Choose a couple of your favorites, and you’ll be ready for gameday with guests in no time. Our exciting options include BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, Buffalo Style Chicken and much more. With our new Brewery Crust style to elevate crispiness and enjoyment.
Looking to have some fun in the kitchen ahead of the game? We have all the ingredients you need to make your own homemade pie, just the way you like it. Shop our collection of pizza-making essentials now.