Mission Style Burritos by Jodie Fitz

1 Rotisserie cooked chicken

1 – 15 oz. can of refried beans, traditional or black bean

½ cup PICS sour cream

2 tablespoons taco sauce

Fresh salsa

2 pounds PICS frozen corn

1 green bell pepper

1 lime

Fresh cilantro

Avocado

PICS shredded Mexican cheese blend

Tortilla wraps, large

PICS butter

  •  

 

 

 

Remove the chicken from the bones and cut the chicken into small pieces.

Remove the refried beans from the can and place them in a bowl.

Stir the sour cream and taco sauce together.  Keep it refrigerated until you are ready to build your burritos.

Prep the salsa by either opening a container or making it (see below).

Cook the corn and drain it. 

Wash the green bell pepper, remove the seeds and dice it.  

Chop a ½ cup of fresh cilantro.

Stir the corn, bell pepper and chopped cilantro together.  Cut the lime in half and squeeze the fresh juice onto the corn mixture and stir it together.

Remove the skin and seed from the avocado and cut it into slices.

Steam the tortilla wraps by placing one on a plate, placing a damp paper towel over the top and put it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Add the ingredients to the center of your tortilla; refried beans, fresh salsa, the corn mixture, the chicken, the cheese and fresh avocado.

Fold the tortilla burrito style by folding in the sides and rolling it up.

Melt a little butter in a skillet style pan; just enough to coat it.  Toast the burritos on either side like you would a grilled cheese.

Rotisserie Chicken:  You can find this in the prepared food area at your Price Chopper and Market 32 Supermarkets.

Salsa:  You can find fresh salsa in the produce aisle at your Price Chopper and Market 32 Supermarkets.  Or, you can make your own.

Simply place 1 pint of grape tomatoes with ½ cup of finely diced sweet onion into a mini food chopper or food processor and chop the ingredients.  Add in 1 green bell pepper that’s been rinsed, seeded and diced along with 1 clove of peeled garlic and chop them together with the tomatoes and onions.  Add in a ½ cup of fresh cilantro and 1 tablespoon of PICS balsamic vinegar.  Chop again and serve.

Extra Corn:  Simply serve it on the side or add it to the top of a salad if you have extra.

Spanish Rice:  Spanish rice is a great side dish and can be added into the tortilla as part of your burrito or served on the side.

The Plastic Knife:  If you have younger children, they can help to cut many of the ingredients in the recipes to help strengthen this motor skill.  For example, cut the bell pepper into strips and let them cut it into small pieces.  Or, remove the avocado from the skin, let the children cut it into strips.

Cooking with Kids: Every recipe is filled with life skills that help to encourage children’s confidence in the kitchen.  Here are a few to focus on when making this recipe;

  • Measuring ingredients
  • Stirring
  • Cutting skills
  • Knife Skills
  • Dicing
  • Avocado prep
  • Burrito folding
  • Stove top safety
  • Following directions
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

New Items: It's Skinny Pasta

It’s Skinny™ doesn’t look like other pasta.

Oh pasta. So many ways to enjoy, but so many carbs! After centuries as the world’s go-to comfort food, isn’t it about time for an update? Skinny reimagines pasta to give fresh thinkers the freedom to feast on more creative eats, without the constrainment of unhealthy carbs. From spaghetti and meatballs to rich noodle soups, pasta has spent centuries as the world’s go-to comfort food. But after all this time of pairing the ingredients we crave with needless carbs and calories, isn’t it about time that some fresh thinker asked, “Couldn’t we make this better?” That’s why they created It’s Skinny, the 9-calorie noodle that grants you the freedom to enjoy your favorite pasta and rice dishes without guilt. Made with an ancient Japanese plant called Konjac, It’s Skinny is full of fiber, remarkably low in carbs, and amazing at capturing all the comforts you crave. So go ahead. Get creative. Fill a bowl with the biggest, richest, wildest flavors you can dream up. After all, when your pasta only has 9 calories, no ingredient is off the table. It’s Skinny time.

Enjoy pasta reimagined. No Guilt , No Hassle, That’s the Skinny.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

March is National Nutrition Month!

Ellie Wilson

MS, RDN Manager, Lifestyles and Wellness

March is National Nutrition Month®, time to celebrate and activate to capture the bounty and benefits of food! National Nutrition Month® is an annual nutrition education initiative from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For 48 years, Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist members (now more than 100,000, the largest professional nutrition organization in the world), have led the food and health conversation, sharing all the benefits eating well and being active can bring to your life. The central theme for 2021, “Personalize Your Plate”, recognizes that family, history, culture and community all influence what we eat, and there are many flavorful, inspiring ways to bring food and health together.  

If you believe there is room to get more benefits from the food you eat, check out some of my favorite tips and hacks from the Academy to power your plate in 2021:

    1. Take time to enjoy your food.
    2. Include healthful foods from all food groups.
    3. Use a grocery list to shop for healthful foods.
    4. Fuel for school or work with a delicious, nutritious breakfast.
    5. Keep healthy ingredients on hand.
    6. Keep food safety front and center.
    7. Share meals with family and friends, in your home and virtually!
    8. Hydrate healthfully.
    9. Learn how to read Nutrition Fact Panels.
    10. To get personalized nutrition advice to meet your goals, see a registered dietitian nutritionist!

Take credit for the good choices you are already making and consider what you could add to your efforts to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Check out our website and learn more about the Know Your Colors nutrition guides, health and wellness articles on the Price Chopper blog and Pharmacy pages, Price Chopper You Tube videos, the Kids Cooking Club and the healthy recipes – explore the website and store for more information and inspiration. Enjoy eating well with us for National Nutrition Month!

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

3 Reasons You'll Love Little Leaf Farms Lettuce

Didn’t think you could “love” lettuce? Lett-uce tell you why Little Leaf Farms is deliciously different:

  1. You’ll love Little Leaf Farms lettuce because they show their lettuce love. Their baby greens are grown in an environment where every condition caters to exactly what the lettuce needs. These pampered greens are harvested at the peak of flavor, giving you a balanced and refreshing crunch that will make you crave your next salad.
  1. Little Leaf Farms lettuce is grown close to you! Did you know that 95% of lettuce in the United States is grown on the West Coast? That means it takes 10+ days to get to your local grocery store. Little Leaf Farms baby greens on the other hand waste no time – traveling from their greenhouse in Devens, MA to your local Price Chopper in the same day. This means that they will stay fresh in your fridge for two weeks or more and you’ll never have pick through slimy, wilted greens.
  1. Sustainability and food safety are built into every level of the Little Leaf Farms 10-acre greenhouse. They grow their greens using state-of-the-art technology to harness natural resources like the sun and recycled rainwater, and they never use harmful chemicals, pesticides, or GMOs. Their automated system ensures that Little Leaf Farms lettuce never comes in contact with human hands and harmful pathogens, so their greens are always clean and safe to eat. You don’t even need to wash them – just pop open the container and enjoy!

For your next salad, drizzle Little Leaf Farms greens with their simple yet delicious signature vinaigrette:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

New Items: FAGE BestSelf® Yogurt

NEW FAGE BestSelf® Lactose Free Greek yogurt is here! Discover the heavenly taste of real dairy Greek yogurt without the lactose. FAGE BestSelf is available at Price Chopper|Market 32 in three delicious 5.3oz flavors – Vanilla, Strawberry and Blueberry.

It is rich, creamy, low-fat and protein-packed Greek yogurt that’s unbelievably lactose free – allowing you to enjoy with confidence. FAGE BestSelf contains 100% natural ingredients and is Non-GMO Project Verified.

Try these easy, delicious, and lactose free recipes!

Mixed Berry Smoothie with FAGE BestSelf

5 minutes · Perfectly creamy with 100% natural ingredients, our new Greek yogurt is not just delicious, it’s lactose free. Add FAGE BestSelf to your favorite smoothie recipe for the boost you need.

Produce

  • 1 Banana, fresh or frozen
  • 2 cups Berries, fresh or frozen mixed
  • 1 Blueberries
  • 1 Mint
  • 1 Raspberries
  • 1 Strawberries

Condiments

  • 2 tbsp Agave maple syrup or honey

Nuts & Seeds

  • 1/2 cup Almonds

Dairy

  • 1 1/2 cups Milk

Frozen

  • 1 cup Ice

Other

  • 1 ½ cups FAGE Total 5% FAGE Total 2% FAGE Total 0% or FAGE BestSelf
Pineapple Turmeric Smoothie

5 minutes · Kick-start the week with this refreshing smoothie! It’s made with our new FAGE BestSelf Greek yogurt that’s not just tasty, it’s surprisingly lactose free.

Produce

  • 1 Banana, frozen or fresh
  • 1 tsp Ginger, fresh
  • 2 cups Pineapple chunks, frozen or fresh

Baking & Spices

  • 1 tbsp Turmeric, fresh

Dairy

  • 1 cup Milk

Other

  • ½ cup FAGE Total 5% FAGE Total 2% FAGE Total 0% or FAGE BestSelf Plain
Winter Citrus Yogurt Bowl

5 minutes · Creamy, dreamy FAGE BestSelf Greek yogurt pairs perfectly with bright, seasonal citrus to give you that much-needed boost without the lactose.

Produce

  • 1 Blood orange
  • 1 Grapefruit
  • 1 Mint
  • 1 tbsp Pomegranate seeds

Nuts & Seeds

  • 1 tbsp Granola or nuts

Other

  • 2 cups Fage total 5% fage total 2% fage total 0% or fage bestself plain
  • 1 Naval orange peeled and thinly sliced

For recipes, and to learn more about FAGE’s products, please visit:

 – FAGE’s website

FAGE’s Facebook

FAGE’s Instagram

FAGE”s Pinterest

FAGE’s YouTube

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Seafood Smarts for Heart and Health

Ellie Wilson

MS, RDN, Lifestyle and Wellness

If you are thinking more about eating well and supporting better health with food, you are not alone. The good news is, there is one move you can make to add foods that bring benefits for heart and mind at every age and stage – eat more seafood.

The Seafood Team at Price Chopper has gone hook, line and sinker off the deep end to make sure you have fresh, delicious choices. Waiting for you in the Seafood department, beautiful Fresh Chilean Salmon Fillet, amazing colossal scallops, (super tender and the perfect serving size for young children), premium shrimp and a wide variety of other fillet options are all ready for your favorite family-friendly Fast Fresh Beach Tacos recipe, a cutting edge twist on international flavors like Maple Gochujang Roasted Salmon with Shiitake Mushrooms Charred Red Cabbage, and grilled seafood recipes like Tequila Lime Shrimp Skewers with Grilled Fruit Salsa. Chef tip – many recipes are adaptable to your favorite seafood item, fresh or frozen, though cooking times may vary. Grilled recipes can also be oven-baked or broiled – make it your own!

Time-crunched? Seafood fits perfectly into a busy schedule, cooking up in an average of about 10 minutes. Catch a great deal and enjoy a M32 seafood and vegetable dinner with Seafood meals available in the GrabNGo case.  Salmon Florentine Pinwheel with Broccoli is just one of these just-right portioned Market 32 Seafood Meals that bake in their own tray for quick cooking and cleanup.  Watch for AdvantEdge bonus points – what a great way to benefit waist and wallet!

Need any more reasons to dive in? Seafood is a nutrient-dense food – lean protein, omega 3’s, Vitamin D, and minerals like iron, selenium, zinc and iodine are all part of the package seafood offers. That is straight from the updated recommendations released by the FDA and EPA last year.  In this update, the FDA and EPA enhanced their recommendations and guidance with a Best and Good choices list, (more than 20 recommended items are in stores!) and shared some evidence-based guidelines for women who might become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers and young children. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, encourages starting children on seafood at 6 months or older – a bright beginning for smart food habits. Fresh, frozen and canned/pouch all count, and fit every appetite and budget. Only one third of Americans eat seafood each week, with the average intake just below 3 ounces per person – about half the twice-per-week recommendation of the American Heart Association and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. So, get with the guidelines and enjoy more seafood each week!

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

10 Ways to Love Lemons and Limes

Lemons and limes are major culinary collaborators, complimenting and enhancing many flavors, used in beverages, baking, and dishes from breakfast to dessert. They are essential to some cuisines – lemons front and center in Mediterranean and Italian dishes, limes synonymous with Southwestern, Caribbean, Thai and Mexican specialties. Every chef, foodie and dietitian has favorite ways to use the juice, zest and fruit of these citrus superstars.

Good to know:

  1. Lemons and limes should be washed under cool running water before use.
  2. A large lime or medium lemon will yield about ¼ cup of fresh juice.
  3. Store lemons and limes in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks
  4. Lemons and limes can be frozen – sliced in rounds or quarters, frozen individually on a parchment covered sheet pan, then bagged for use within 3 months.
  5. Add lemon or lime juice to pan sauces at the end of cooking, after removing from heat.
  6. Too much lemon and lime can curdle dairy – check ingredient ratios for best results.
  7. Lemon or lime juice can be used to minimize browning in apples and potatoes
  8. Fresh zest is best – lemon and lime zest lose flavor with exposure to air
  9. Lemon juice can substitute/reduce the need for added salt in some recipes.

Power pairings – lemons and limes are easy to use with a variety of herbs and spices. Check out this luscious list for some inspiration!

Lemons love:

Butter, basil, ginger, honey, pepper, rosemary, garlic, parsley, thyme, oregano, Dijon, parmesan, dill, blueberry, and raspberry.

Lavish limes in dishes with:

Coconut, curry, chili, cilantro, coconut, chipotle, mango, hoisin, red pepper, jalapeno, cranberry, raspberry, and blackberry.

Bring that zing to your table with some great recipes:

Chicken with Lemon Herb Mushroom Sauce

Leftover Lemony Pork Kale White Bean Fettuccine

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Dip  (also a great sauce for chicken or seafood!)

Coconut Ginger Key Lime Bars

Sheet Tray Chile Lime Steak Fajitas

Grilled Lime Chicken Bell Pepper Panini with Chipotle

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Healthy Red Velvet Cupcakes by Jodie Fitz

3 PICS eggs, large

1-cup buttermilk

¾ cup PICS brown sugar

¾ cup PICS granulated sugar

2 teaspoons PICS vanilla extract

4 oz. PICS cinnamon applesauce

½ cup PICS pureed beets (see below)

1 ½ cups PICS all-purpose flour

½ cup PICS cocoa powder, unsweetened

1 teaspoon PICS baking soda

1 teaspoon PICS baking powder

1 teaspoon PICS salt

1-tablespoon red food dye

 

 

 

 

 

Combine the eggs, buttermilk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, applesauce and pureed beets together in a bowl.  Whip the ingredients together using an electric mixer.  

 

Once they are mixed well, add in the dry ingredients;  the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  

 

Mix in the red food dye.

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

 

Line a cupcake/muffin tin with cupcake liners.  Fill the cupcake liners with the batter.  Bake the cupcakes for 25 minutes.

Pureed Beets:  Simply purchase sliced or diced PICS beets.  Drain the liquid.  Place the beets in a food processor, mini chopper or blender and puree them until the look like a purple applesauce.

 

Original Red Velvet Cupcakes:  When this recipe originated, the cupcakes turned a natural burgundy through a chemical reaction that took place with certain ingredients.  Over time our ingredients have changed and cocoa powder is now alkalized so the chemical reaction no longer naturally occurs.  

 

Red Food Dye:  If you have an allergy to red food dye, you can eliminate the red food dye all together.  The color will lean towards a darker burgundy.   A typical red velvet recipe requires ½ cup of red food dye.  This recipe allows us to greatly reduce the amount of red food dye used.

 

Top it off!  Simply serve with a traditional Cream Cheese Frosting by combining a ½ cup (1 stick) of PICS butter at room temperature with 8 oz. PICS cream cheese at room temperature, 3 cups of PICS confectioner’s sugar and 2 teaspoons of PICS vanilla extract.

 

Pipe it on top of the cupcakes using decorating utensils or simply fill a quart sized snap and seal freezer bag and clip a corner to pipe on the frosting.

 

Cooking with Kids! Every recipe has lessons, small and big, that encourage life and cooking skills. Here are a few to focus on:

 

  • Measuring ingredients

  • Level ingredient measurements

  • Pouring

  • Pureeing

  • Food processor safety

  • Scooping

  • Baking 

  • Oven safety

  • Following directions

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie by Jodie Fitz

3 cups PICS fresh frozen strawberries

1 ½ cups PICS low fat milk

1 tablespoon PICS unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon PICS vanilla extract

2 tablespoons PICS honey

 

Add the fresh frozen strawberries, milk, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and honey into the blender.  Blend well; until everything is thick and creamy like a milkshake.

 

NOTE:  Make sure the 1-tablespoon of cocoa powder is a level measurement.

 

 

 

Dairy Allergies?  Swap the low fat milk with your favorite dairy free milk alternative; rice milk, almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, etc.

 

Fun Facts:

 

            •           A strawberry can have up to 200 seeds on it!

            •           Strawberries are a source of vitamin C.

            •           Cocoa powder has been dated back before the Mayans; an ancient civilization.

 

Cooking with Kids! Every recipe has lessons, small and big, that encourage life and cooking skills. Here are a few to focus on:

            •           Measuring ingredients

            •           Level ingredient measurement

            •           Blending

            •           Blender safety

            •           Pouring

            •           Following directions

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Beer and Chocolate Pairings

Brandon Carbonare

Calling all beer fans and foodies! Valentine’s Day is around the corner and although we love the traditional heart-shaped box of chocolates and bouquet of roses, why not up your tradition to a Valentine’s Day Experience? We’re talking about beer and chocolate pairings – that’s right, beer and chocolate. Interested? Read all about some of our favorite pairings.

First up, Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA. This beer has a very unique brewing process, by boiling over 60 different hops for a full hour a pungent, citrusy, and grassy flavor is born. All without being overly bitter. This hop-forward golden amber India pale ale provides piney and citrusy notes with a crisp mouthfeel and slightly lingering bitterness. You can find it year-round, measuring in at 6% ABV with an IBU of 60. With a beer like this, you’ll want to pair it with a spicy or salty dark Chocolate. Elements of spice and salt both pair nicely with the contrasting crispness from the IPA and mellow together with the finishing subtle bitterness of both the beer and the chocolate.  There really is no going wrong with this combo and would make for a perfect after dinner treat.

Our 2nd round is for the pilsner lovers out there. Let’s take a look at Pilsner Urquell! First brewed by Josef Groll in 1842, Pilsner Urquell was the world’s FIRST golden pilsner lager, changing the world of beer forever. Pilsner Urquell’s signature flavor balances sweetness from the triple-decocted malt, and bitterness from our Saaz hops. The thick head of dense, wet foam adds smoothness and seals in flavor and aroma. With a refreshing crispness from natural carbonation, then subtle caramel tones and a clean finish with a pleasing hoppy bitterness. This Czech beer rates a 4.4% ABV and IBU of 40 – pairing perfectly with a medium body dark chocolate. Our chocolate of choice for this beer is dark chocolate truffles. These decadent poppable pearls deliver a uniquely smooth and rich gourmet taste, and there is no going wrong with a smooth dark chocolate center covered in a delicate dark chocolate shell.

Next up we’re going local, to the capital region’s own Brown’s Brewery. Engaging, dark, and bold, Brown’s Oatmeal Stout is an ever-popular ode to the classic English Stout, earning Brown’s the prestigious gold medal at the World Beer Cup. An approachable, easy to drink, rich, and silky-smooth glass of pure delicious indulgence. Coming in at 5.25% ABV and an IBU of 20, this stout pairs with something a little different – coffee flavored dark chocolate. The bold flavors of the stout work perfectly with the just as bold flavor of the coffee beans in the chocolate bar. Give this pairing a go if you’re a true coffee lover.

Staying with the spirit of local, our next beer hailing from Cooperstown, we have Ommegang Three Philosophers. Rich and complex, this tour de force is a glorious blend of elegant Belgian-style quadruple ale and authentic Belgian kriek, its malty depth and gentle sweetness enhanced by sparkling carbonation and a serendipitous touch of cherry. This Beer packs a punch at 9.7% ABV and an IBU of 21. For this beer, we recommend being adventurous. Try some unique varieties of dark chocolate, flavors of cinnamon, cayenne, oatmilk, and more all work with this versatile brew.  These pairings can be customized to give you a unique experience every time and allowing Ommegang’s unique beer to really shine.

Now on to our final pairing, we take a look at Unibroue’s La Fin du Monde, a Top fermented Blonde Belgian triple, coming in at 9% ABV and an IBU of 19. Unibroue’s Flagship, this beer is medium bodied with a pleasant, lingering warm finish, a fine, sustained, and slow effervescence and a white, creamy, generous head. Brighten up your pairing and your day with orange or citrusy dark chocolate. Delicious velvety chocolate with a hint of orange for a bright and citrusy accompaniment works beautifully with this wonderful beer, you can’t go wrong with the warmth of a Belgian triple and orange chocolate, a match made perfect.

While we may have reached the end of today’s pairings, that doesn’t mean there aren’t more out there. Let us know on social media if you try any of these suggestions or just let us know know if you have a recommendation that would be a great combination. Thanks for sticking around and joining us on our pairing adventure.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Shop Beer and Chocolate Pairings

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest