home.grown. Outdoor Decorating!
There are many perks to fall in the Northeast. Great food, fun activities, Halloween, and especially: outdoor decorating! We love seeing our communities go all out in seasonal spirit, jazzing up their homes with all of the fall essentials. We have everything you need to outshine your neighbors, thanks to our awesome group of Northeast farmers. Turn your home into an autumn masterpiece with home.grown. plants and ornamentals from Price Chopper & Market 32!
If you’re preparing for fall, pumpkins are a must. We source our mini pumpkins, pie pumpkins and carving pumpkins from the same Northeast farmers that provide us with summer crops like tomatoes and peppers. The same goes for our corn stalks! Many of the decorative corn stalks we have bunched and ready for placing on your front porch are the same stalks that produced the sweet corn you enjoyed this summer.
Gourds are another fall decorating staple that are grown by our local farmers. Did you know that gourds are a member of the squash family? Nowadays they serve as decoration only, but back in ancient times they were consumed as a food item!
Flowers aren’t just a spring and summer thing: Our stores offer a variety of mums that are ideal for fall decorating. Our mums are grown in the Northeast, just like our pumpkins and gourds!
Decorating is one of the best things about fall. Pumpkins, corn stalks, gourds, Indian corn and mums are all staples of the season, and we’re proud to source them from our neighbors here in the Northeast. Thanks to the hard work of growers like Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville, NY, Plainville Farm in Hadley, MA and many other Northeast farms, we’re able to provide high-quality local products throughout the changing seasons.
From pumpkins to peanut butter, when it’s made or grown here, we get it here. Don’t miss out on the fun this season: Head over to your local store and start decorating!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
June 7th is World Food Safety Day, set to create awareness and good practices that keep us all healthy and enjoying good food. This is the 6th World Food Safety Awareness Day, created by the World Health Organization and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) to highlight the need for good practices that help us prevent, detect and manage food safety concerns.
We have a global food supply, whether produce and other commodities travel across the county, or around the world before reaching our stores and homes. Food safety practices and traceability are critical to keeping us all safe.
Why is this so important?
Food-borne illness is almost completely preventable. Children, elderly, and those with chronic illness are at the highest risk for adverse outcomes in any emergency, so it pays to be prepared for unexpected emergencies. Being prepared, especially during times of crisis or emergency, reduces the risk of encountering bacteria, viruses, parasites and contaminants that cause over 200 different illnesses. Many of these concerns are on the radar and actively managed, but there is no replacement for the most important protection, your own healthful food safety habits. Check out the top 5 tips to prevent food safety issues on this video here.
Helping our customers feed and care for their family is part of our mission. That is why we have shared these important resources. Food safety is everyone’s business!
Check out some great information and guides shared by The Partnership for Food Safety Education:
- Food Safety During Severe Weather (PFSE)
- Food Safety for Power Outages (CDC)
- Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (FDA)
- Emergencies and Food Safety (USDA)
Find more resources at World Food Safety Day 2024 (who.int) and Partnership for Food Safety Education (fightbac.org)
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
March is Frozen Food Month, and to say we are excited would be an understatement. We are here to bring you delicious, easy recipes as well as introduce our Daily SurPRIZE Game! Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out!
First and foremost, why are frozen foods so spectacular? One of the most significant advantages of frozen foods is their unparalleled convenience. In today’s fast-paced world, where time is of the essence, having a freezer stocked with a variety of options means having quick and easy meal solutions at your fingertips. Whether it’s a busy weeknight dinner or a spontaneous gathering with friends, frozen foods offer the flexibility to whip up delicious meals in minutes.
Moreover, frozen foods eliminate the need for frequent grocery runs and reduce food waste by extending the shelf life of perishable items. They also provide access to seasonal produce year-round, allowing consumers to enjoy their favorite fruits and vegetables regardless of the time of year.
Now for the fun part…recipes you can make with frozen foods! Check a few of them out below:
Strawberry-Orange Smoothie: This seven-ingredient recipe is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a snack!
Instant Pot® Tortellini & Vegetable Soup: This vegetable soup is sure to warm you up on a cold day! Add in any protein of choice.
Air Fryer Avocado-Veggie Egg Rolls: This recipe is the best appetizer for your next gathering!
Frozen Tropical Bark: With summer just around the corner, practice making this Frozen Tropical Bark recipe! Refreshing and delicious.
Lemon-Pepper Chicken & Rice: Give chicken a new twist with this flavorful recipe!
Remember that game we mentioned above? Don’t think we forgot! Each day until March 23rd, you have a chance to win a variety of prizes, including AdvantEdge Rewards Bonus Points, exclusive eCoupons and more by playing our Daily SurPRIZE game! Be sure to check it out each day here.
Exploring Latin and Asian Cuisine
Two of the more popular international cuisines are Latin and Asian! Both offer an exciting variety of flavors and dishes. We love these cuisines not only for their wonderful tastes but for the inspiration and rich tradition they bring to our tables. We’ve highlighted some recipes that we love – and if you’re interested in exploring these cuisines further we’ve included our full collection of recipes for each!
Latin
Chorizo & Egg Chilaquiles: Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican breakfast dish, where corn tortillas are lightly fried and simmered in a brothy sauce. In this version, chorizo and egg work together to create a delicious morning meal.
Empanadas: Empanadas are discs of pastry packed with meat. This recipe features a delicious tomato, onion, and garlic and beef mixture.
Grilled Chicken Mole: Mole is a traditional sauce and marinade used in Mexican cuisine. It’s full of flavor and elevates every dish its featured in, much like this Grilled Chicken recipe.
Instant Pot® Mexican Pork Pozole Rojo: This Mexican Pork Pozole Rojo is a delicious winter comfort food. Full of flavor and warmth to help you through the rest of winter.
Chocolate Pepita Bark: Pepita is a pumpkin seed, which is a common ingredient in Mexican cuisine. In this dish, the chocolate, pepitas, and added chili powder make for a delicious dessert or late night snack.
Check out our full collection of Latin recipes: http://bit.ly/3EtSszt
Asian
Chicken Banh Mi Bowl: In Vietnamese cuisine, banh mi is a baguette with a thin and crisp texture, typically served as a sandwich with meats, vegetables, herbs & spices. In this recipe, we take these common ingredients and feature them in the increasingly popular bowl form.
Instant Pot® Korean Country Ribs: These Korean Country Ribs are coated and cooked in a mouth-watering broth mixture for a tasty twist. Use the Instant Pot® to make things easy!
Orange-Soy Baked Salmon: If you’re looking for a refreshing meal that hits the spot every time, this Orange-Soy Baked Salmon is the way to go. Your tastebuds will jump for your joy after enjoying this dish.
Thai Red Curry Shrimp & Green Beans: Thai Red Curry is perfect to warm you up in the cold winter. Shrimp and green beans are a natural complement to an already palette-pleasing taste.
Grilled Orange-Teriyaki Steaks with Grilled Scallions & Bell Peppers: Try out this recipe for a flavorful twist on steak. If you’re already a big fan of steak, this recipe is a perfect addition to your repertoire.
Check out our full collection of Asian recipes: http://bit.ly/3SpMRA8
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
The Big Game is here once again! Each year, this football game brings fans, family, and friends together to cheer on their team and enjoy festive foods that score big on flavor and tradition. Did you know? U.S. households will eat an estimated 1.4 billion chicken wings on Sunday! Even if you are only there for the half-time show, you are bound to find something to crunch and munch. The surprise play you don’t want to watch? Any issues with food safety that can knock your event off the go-to list. Keep bacteria on the bench with some fresh tips and resources to ensure your party is positioned to win!
Ordering food?
Make sure someone (adult) is home to get the delivery*, check temperatures (danger zone is 40 – 140 degrees/2 hours) and packaging to be sure nothing is tampered with or left at an unsafe temperature for any length of time.
*Notify the company if you suspect tampering or that perishable food was left out too long. Don’t eat the food, or even taste it to see if it is safe.
Cook, Serve or Save
Time your order and serve delivered prepared foods when you receive it. If you are not serving right away, follow storage directions and refrigerate or freeze items until you are ready to cook them.
Pre-Game Prep
Keeping best practices for winning at food safety every day in mind as you plan and set up your event. Check your food thermometer to be sure it is working or purchase a new one. Wash hands, counters, cutting boards and serving utensils. Repeat washing hands as different foods are handled or prepared. Have plastic bags and storage containers ready to use so putting foods away is easy and quick.
- Clean— When handling raw meat and poultry, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and clean and sanitize surfaces often with soap, water and a sanitizer.
- Separate— Don’t cross-contaminate. Use separate cutting boards, plates and utensils to avoid cross-contamination between raw meat or poultry and foods that are ready-to-eat.
- Cook— Cook to proper internal temperatures, checking with a food thermometer.
- Chill— Refrigerate promptly and do not leave food out at room temperature for over two hours.
Buffet Play
Set up the buffet so hot foods, like wings, can be kept hot, and cold foods, like deli wraps and salads, can be kept cold. Slow cookers and chafing dishes are good choices for the range of snacks and appetizers that may require heat to maintain enjoyment and safety. A tray with ice or ice packs is good for cool foods, unless your location is very warm. Consider keeping perishable foods out for two hours or less – then get them properly stored to minimize food waste.
End Zone
The game is over, leftovers are packed away, and the kitchen/buffet is clean and ready for the next meal. Leftovers can be kept refrigerated for 3 to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months. To serve safely, reheat to an internal temperature of 165 F.
Post-Game
Odds are you will share happy pictures (or sad, depending on which team won) of your party with friends and family via text and social media. Should anyone that attended let you know that they became ill after the event, next steps would be to ensure they get medical attention immediately and get some guidance from your local health agency. It can happen to anyone, even when best practices are strictly managed. You cannot see, taste, or smell harmful bacteria. Some guests, especially young children and those older than 65, may be more vulnerable to exposure. Reporting foodborne illness is critical to keeping food safe for everyone.
If you or a family member experience symptoms of a serious foodborne illness, seek medical attention and contact your local health agency.
The CDC public health gateway can help you locate your local health agency.
Questions? Try these toll-free federal food safety hotlines. For meat, poultry, or pasteurized egg products, call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). For all other food products, call FDA’s Food and Cosmetic Information Center at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366).
New Year, New Recipes
We’re on a mission to keep expanding our library of recipes and our at-home menus. The new year is a wonderful time to add some new options to our repertoire. Whether it’s foods we haven’t tried before or new variations of old favorites, new dishes keep life fresh and exciting! We’ve put together a list of recipes for you to try in 2023. Check it out and enjoy!
Chicken Banh Mi Bowl: In Vietnamese cuisine, Banh Mi is a short baguette with thin, crisp and soft crust. Typically served as a sandwich, where chicken is a popular variety. This recipe turns that popular sandwich into a bowl, with all the common features of a delicious Banh Mi.
Chicken & Roasted Beet Harvest Salad: If you’re looking for a fresh, new salad recipe this Chicken and Roasted Beet Harvest Salad is the answer. Roasted beet adds a delicious flavor to the dish and compliments chicken beautifully.
Slow Cooker Farro & Garbanzo Mujadara: Mujadara is a staple dish in Arabic culture. Consisting of lentils cooked together with sauteed onions and grains, in this case farro. Try it for a tasty twist to your normal routine.
Moroccan Turkey Meatballs with Barley & Lentils: Experience meatballs like never before, featuring Moroccan flavors that will make your mouth water. Meatballs offer a variety of options when it comes to flavoring and this may be one you have yet to try.
Chili Lime Portobello Fajitas: These Chili Lime Portobello Mushroom Fajitas make for an epic taste adventure. Plus, they’re a lovely alternative if you’re looking to fill your fajitas with something other than chicken or steak.
Baked Zucchini Fries: Need a good appetizer to add to your skillset? Try these Baked Zucchini Fries. They’re so good and they add a unique variation into the fried foods game.
Garlic Shrimp Over Parmesan Grits with Bacon & Pepitas: Elevate your shrimp & grits with this superstar recipe! Parmesan, bacon, and pepitas blend beautifully and take this already delicious dish to a whole new level.
Grilled Swordfish Kabobs with Peanut Chili Sambal: Need some new seafood recipes? We’ve got you covered. Try these Swordfish Kabobs with Peanut Chili Sambal. Yum!
Indian-Spiced Cauliflower with Garbanzo Beans and Tomatoes: Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that often doesn’t get taken to its full potential. Try this Indian-Spiced Cauliflower for an example of the wonder’s cauliflower can do for your taste buds.
Pepper-Crusted Steak with Red Wine-Shallot Sauce: Last but not least, give this Pepper-Crusted Steak a try! Complimented with a delicious Red Wine-Shallot Sauce this one is sure to please for a lovely evening at home.
Back-to-School Allergy Planning - What You Need to Know
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN
Food allergies are a very stressful issue for children and families. Given how diverse our food supply is, and the potential for foods to be ingredients or potential exposure to allergens in kitchens and prep areas means every mouthful is meaningful.
There are nine food allergens identified as having significant prevalence that must be clearly labeled by law. The Food Allergen Labeling and Protection Act [1]was rolled out in 2004 and has been an important tool for those navigating these issues. The original eight allergens are: milk, soy, peanut, fish, shellfish, wheat, (tree) nuts, and eggs, and sesame was added to the federal list in the Spring of 2021.
One of the most common and most concerning is peanut allergy. Sensitivity can range from slight to life-threatening, and the issue may not be on the radar until a frightening health episode. For many with peanut and other severe allergies, it is critical to maintain and carry an epinephrine auto-injector in case of accidental exposure. Family, childcare providers, friends, school nurses and teachers should all be trained to read food labels to avoid allergenic foods, understand signs of exposure and have an emergency response plan. To ease this process, Food Allergy Research and Education, a non-profit supporting those with allergies, has an emergency plan resource document.
The Price Chopper/Market 32 Pharmacy Team is conducting an awareness campaign about epinephrine auto-injector management, ask your pharmacist to assist with keeping these vital devices ready if they are needed. Work with your healthcare provider to ensure an emergency plan is in place.
There is some good news – strong research[2] has shown it is possible to avoid developing a peanut allergy. Infants that show early signs of possible allergy issues, including family history, eczema and egg allergy may be on the road to a peanut allergy as well. If identified early, and coordinated/supervised by an allergist, pediatrician and registered dietitian-nutritionist, it has been shown that peanut allergy development can be mitigated/reduced with very controlled micro-doses (6-7 grams) of peanuts over time, and timing of that intervention is key. Ideally, the process should start when the baby is just starting on foods, at about the 6-month mark. It should NOT be attempted without coordination and supervision of experienced healthcare providers. It is a recent development in allergy prevention and care, discussion of any concerns should occur at one of the first pediatrician visits, so risks can be assessed as soon as possible. Early and medically supervised intervention could offer significant health and quality of life benefits if peanut allergy can be avoided.
[1] https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa
[2] Togias A, Cooper SF, Acebal ML, et al. Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States: Summary of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-Sponsored Expert Panel. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017;117(5):788-793.
https://farrp.unl.edu/for-consumers
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!
Now that the weather seems like it’s finally cooling off for good: We offer a variety of tasty, local winter squashes that are perfect for your favorite cold weather meals!
November is prime time for winter squashes, and we’re proud to source our hard squashes from farmers here in the Northeast, like Torrey Farms in Elba, NY, Plainville Farm in Hadley, MA, and Mazza Farms in Essex, VT. While many Northeast folks stick with classics like butternut and acorn for cooking and baking, there are a variety of other winter squashes out there that have just as much flavor: we’re here to shed some light on some of those lesser-known winter squashes.
Some decorators use the underdog vegetables below on their front porches and fireplace mantles, but they’re actually delicious relatives to favorites like acorn and butternut. Check out the info below!
Sweet Dumpling Squash (pictured above) is a smaller winter squash averaging 4 inches in diameter and weighing less than one pound. Its shape is similar to that of an acorn squash, with an ivory colored skin and green, yellow, or orange stripes running vertically down the sides. Sweet Dumplings are extra tasty when cut in half, baked and drizzled with home.grown. maple syrup. Also, with their bowl-like shape they’re perfect for stuffing with meat, cheeses, and vegetables.
Raw Organic Delicata Squash Ready to Cook With
Butter Kin fall squash at the farmers market
Small blue hubbard squash at the farmers market
Our Saratoga summer giveaways are winding down but we have one more exciting contest for our fans, courtesy of Heineken! Do you like to pair different beers with certain foods? If so, we have the perfect event for you! Tell us your favorite beer and food combination for a chance to win four tickets to an evening beer and food pairing dinner at the Gideon Putnam hotel in Saratoga! One of the talented chefs at Putnam’s restaurant will personally suggest and recommend different beer and food pairings—sure to please anyone’s palate! The dinner will be held on September 29th and four invitations will be sent to the winner!
Comment below as well as on our Facebook page with your ideal beer and food pairing by Tuesday, August 28th at 2:00PM to be entered to win! Read official rules here.