Holiday Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Price Chopper

Tis the season! Each year November rolls around and we begin to prepare for the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and more: it’s a certainly a busy time. Recently a new holiday has emerged into the mix and seems to gain popularity every year. This holiday is now known as Friendsgiving!

Friendsgiving is a product of the millennial lifestyle. Breaking traditions and doing things differently is common among younger generations today, even in the celebration of holidays. Some may live and work away from their families and some may not have the time and means to travel for Thanksgiving. Sometimes it’s simply more comfortable and more fun to celebrate with friends. Plus, these days the definitions of family are expanding and close friends are often turned into chosen family.

In many cases, Friendsgiving is celebrated not in place of Thanksgiving, but in line with it: Friends gather together the weekend before or after Thanksgiving with their favorite cuisine. This is something that has gone on for a long time, but somehow it’s become its own holiday, and the celebrations continue to grow larger.

The popular TV show “Friends,” has been given some credit for the emergence of Friendsgiving. People watched Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, and Ross celebrate Thanksgiving together each year, and decided they wanted to do the same. Yet, it can’t be confirmed that this is the exact origin of the holiday. In fact, Merriam-Webster points out that the term “Friendsgiving” can only be traced back to 2007, while “Friends” ended in 2004. Either way, the show portrays the perfect picture of what Friendsgiving is all about.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays, but we also love Friendsgiving. Is there anything better than hanging out with close friends while enjoying a delicious meal? Plus, if you happen to celebrate both Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving, you get to enjoy basically double the amount of incredible food. Hats off to you if you celebrate both!

If you haven’t celebrated Friendsgiving yet, we recommend giving it a go this month. We’re here to help you get everything you need! Visit your local store or find all your essentials at shop.pricechopper.com.

Price Chopper and Market 32 can help with your Easter celebration – from planning that Easter brunch or dinner to creating a unique basket your children will love! This first article will inspire you to decorate a table that’s sure to get you & your guests in the spirit of spring! Easter Elegant Place Setting Dining Table with Vase of Tulips

Easter Elegant Place Setting Dining Table with Vase of Tulips

While there is something to be said for tradition, it can get a wee bit monotonous, but a tweak here or there preserves it while allowing some creativity. One way is by simply changing your tablescape. Envision your table as a blank canvas and use it to set the stage for your holiday meal i.e. mix and match dishes, vary patterns but stick to the coordinating colors, etc. Make a dramatic statement or keep it simple! Create a tablescape with pastels and seasonal décor. A small Easter egg tree with hollowed out eggs or edible ornaments makes a great centerpiece while eggcups can be used as mini vases or placard holders. Small chocolate bunnies or eggs can be used decoratively as well, and then enjoyed as a special take-home treat. A spring-inspired tablescape is another option that lends simple beauty. A vase filled with fresh flowers brings a bit of the outdoors in. Lilies, daffodils, and my personal favorite tulips, are all wonderful harbingers of spring. — Author: Maureen Rowan Murphy, Manager Consumer Trends, Nutrition and Lifestyles Written by Maureen Murphy

Although it’s the season for holiday parties and special meals it’s also the season when many people find themselves gaining an extra 5-7 lbs. from overindulging in sweets, dips, and more. With a few simple tips and modifications your guests will still enjoy the party and their hips will thank you come January! Simple tips & cooking modifications:

Serve veggies, pretzels, or baked pita chips for dipping instead of potato chips
Serve shrimp cocktail and a veggie tray for lighter snacks
Use low fat or nonfat dairy products to replace higher fat counterparts
Serve whole grains – breads, rolls, pasta, etc.
Flavor roasts and vegetables with fresh herbs and a little grated Parmesan cheese instead of butter and/or salt
Roast meats and poultry on a rack in a roasting pan
Skip the gravy entirely or at least skim fat off (every tablespoon of fat discarded amounts to 120 calories and 13 grams of fat)
Use fat free milk or reduced sodium chicken broth when making mashed potatoes, and add garlic and herbs to enhance the flavor
Season vegetables with herbs, spices, balsamic vinegar and/or lemon juice instead of butter or heavy sauces
Reduce sugar called for in a recipe by a third
Substitute an equal amount of applesauce or prune puree for at least half the oil, margarine, or butter in baked good recipes
Substitute a graham cracker crumb pie crust for the traditional pastry crust, and use half the butter or margarine called for in the crumb crust recipe, adding a little liquid to moisten if too dry
Have water or diet soda available for guests to choose instead of higher calorie and sugar beverages like alcohol, soda or juice
Skip dessert and serve fresh fruit for a light end to the meal

Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs

GARELICK FARMS LIMITED HOLIDAY ITEMS

Garelick Farms TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Peppermint Milk has the delicious chocolaty taste of regular TruMoo with a hint of refreshing peppermint flavor. TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Peppermint milk is also nutritious as it starts with lowfat white milk from Garelick Farms and is packed with calcium and vitamins A & D! Warm it up for hot cocoa with a peppermint twist! Garelick Farms Holly Nog is a creamy egg nog flavored beverage perfect for any holiday gathering. Garelick Farms Holly Nog starts with Garelick Farms reduced fat milk and has fewer calories than regular egg nog. The Garelick Farms Limited Holiday Items are sure to win over kids and adults alike! Try both TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Peppermint Milk and Garelick Farms Holly Nog while supplies last. Visit www.GarelickFarms.com for more information.

POM WONDERFUL BLENDS

More Americans were introduced to pomegranate products last year than any year in history. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is the nation’s best-selling

pomegranate juice and helped kick off the country’s pomegranate craze more than a decade ago. POM Wonderful is launching new blends to complement its pure pomegranate juice with delicious flavor varieties that appeal to the whole family. POM Hula evokes an off-the-map beach getaway with a mix of pomegranate, pineapple and organic apple juice. POM Mango offers a delectable mix of pomegranate, mango and pear juice. POM Coconut mixes pomegranate juice, coconut water and pineapple juice. The new blends slip POM’s iconic curved bottle into eye-catching tropical graphics in a convenient 12 oz. size. POM Hula shimmies into a green grass hula skirt, POM Coconut pairs POM’s signature red wrap with white coconut and green leaves, while POM Mango features a splash of yellow with green leaves. Look for POM Wonderful Blends in the Produce Department.

The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Committee and Price Chopper are happy to announce that we are giving away two Family Weekends to the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll! Lake Placid will be hosting this year’s Fifth Annual Holiday Village Stroll December 7^th-9^th, 2012. This destination village is known for its majestic mountain setting and for hosting two Olympic Games. Two lucky families will be chosen to stay in Lake Placid and enjoy the endless activities, nightlife, shopping, dining, and entertainment throughout this special weekend. We are asking you to nominate a family you know who could really use a special weekend getaway. Tell us why this family is in need by posting on our facebook page and commenting on our blog below. As a special thank you from Price Chopper, the nominator of each winning family will also receive a $100 Price Chopper gift card! Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, November 13th at 5:00pm. Please post your entry both on our Facebook Page and on our Blog to be qualified. Some of the highlights of the weekend include:

Holiday skating party with free skate rentals
Children’s holiday crafts at High Peaks resort
Holiday gift wrapping and wine tasting
Story time at the Mirror Lake Inn
Yule Log Hunt at High Peaks resort
Mids Park Holiday Celebration with a tree lighting and Santa
Santa’s Arrival in Mids Park
Gingerbread House at Generations
Free Matinee Viewing of Polar Express
One family will win a two night stay at the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid with breakfast each morning in the Dancing Bears Resturant. This package is valid for the Holiday Village Stroll Weekend (December 7^th-9^th, 2012). Make sure to like the High Peaks Resort on Facebook!

A second family will be chosen for a two night stay at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid. A special welcome bag will be provided upon arrival. The Golden Arrow is the only U.S. resort to receive the Audubon 5 Leaf rating (the highest possible) for their eco-friendly practices. This prize may be redeemed for the Holiday Village Stroll Weekend (December 7^th-9^th, 2012). Learn more about the Golden Arrow Resort on their Facebook Page! “Like” the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Facebook Page to learn more about the weekend events. Please view the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Weekend Giveaway Contest Official Rules Here. Contest package awarded to each family is at the discretion of the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Committee. We cannot accomodate any special requests or changes.