Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
Happy National Nutrition Month! This unique annual celebration of the benefits food brings to our lives marks 50 years the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been working to create awareness that better health is built on the transformational power of nutrition. The theme this year, Fuel for the Future, recognizes that food choices and sustainability are always intertwined; fueling the future means eating well at every age and stage, and caring for the earth that provides our food.
How can you make this event meaningful for you and your family? Check out these 10 tips to fuel eating well with the environment in mind, this month, and every month.
-Learn about local foods and eat in season. What is your favorite local fruit or vegetable?
-Recycle packaging and containers as much as possible – everyone can be part of the solution!
-Try new fruits and vegetables, or double up on servings of the ones you enjoy – more is better, for you and for the earth.
-Explore foods through flavors and cultures – we live in a global community and learning about cultures through foods creates connection and communication.
-Eat meals and snacks together – family meals are key to better family communications, stronger social skills, better grades, and healthier eating.
-Plan shopping and meals to reduce waste and save money while staying nourished.
-Include children in planning and making meals and snacks when cooking at home. They can also help clean up! The more food skills children have, the more choices they have as they grow.
-Sip smarter – tap water, flavored or sparkling waters or teas without added sugars, in reusable containers, keep you hydrated and healthy.
-If you want a creative, personalized food and health plan, a registered dietitian-nutritionist is the right professional partner. Find one in your area at https://www.eatright.org/find-a-nutrition-expert.
-Practice gratitude for your body and health by eating a variety of foods – fresh, frozen, and canned are all part of a nourishing plan.
Want to discover new recipes? Check out some of our sites:
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
Who can resist the sweetness of strawberries? Strawberries are not only delicious and juicy, but they are a very popular fruit. According to a 2021 survey, strawberries are among the top favorite fruits for Americans. In fact, the average American will consume 3.4 pounds of strawberries per year, and 94% of United States households eat these delicate fruits.
While strawberries are a delicious snack on their own, there are many different ways to cook or bake with them as an ingredient. Some ideas include making smoothies or ice cream, creating a strawberry dressing, or even making your own jam or jelly. Whatever you decide to do with your strawberries this season, be sure to first stop by your local Price Chopper and Market 32 to pick out packages of these fresh fruits!
In need of some recipes? Check out a few fruity ideas from our website!
Strawberry-Rosé & Poppy Seed Shortcake: Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked biscuits on a Sunday morning. Serve with strawberries & PICS whipped cream to complete the meal!
Strawberry-Orange Smoothie: Whether you need a breakfast on-the-go or a quick pick-me-up, this smoothie will help power you through your day!
Strawberry, Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Asparagus & Feta: Fresh strawberries add the perfect amount of sweetness to this salad. Feel free to add in Market 32 chicken or turkey breast for a delicious addition to this meal.
Happy National Strawberry Day!
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
Homemade Soup Contest Favorites!
National Homemade Soup Day is here, and we are celebrating with the entries from our Homemade Soup Recipe Facebook Contest. We received a number of mouthwatering recipes, and dwindling down the list was certainly challenging. Thanks to all who participated…we’re off to enjoy some new soup recipes!
Check out our winnning recipe Douglas’ Tomato Soup as well as more of our favorites below!
Tomato Soup from Douglas in Binghamton, NY
One can of undiluted condensed Tomato Soup.
One can of un-drained diced Tomatoes.
1/4 Tsp Dried Basil
Dash of hot sauce or more to taste.
Stir together while heating just to the point of boiling.
Enjoy.
Chicken Noodle Soup from Laura in Syracuse, NY
Fill 4 QT pot 2/3 of way with water.
Add 4 chicken drumsticks and bring to boil.
Skim fat as it appears until it is cooked out.
Add 2 stalks of celery, a tomato that has been skinned, 2 potatoes, cubed, a small onion, baby carrots to taste and 2 tsp of salt.
Cook an hour.
Serve with soup pasta of choice.
Homemade Potato Soup from Kimberly in Selkirk, NY
Take 1 lb bacon — slice into 1 inch pieces fry good and brown; put bacon in 5 qt kettle
Take 4 large white potatoes, peel and dice into 1/2 inch cubes put in pot
Take 6 to 8 1 inch boiling onions left whole — put in pot
Add a tablespoon of left over bacon grease
Fill pot 2/3s full with water
Add salt and pepper to taste
Boil until onions are fully cooked(approximately 45 minutes)
To finish add a tablespoon of butter, and 1 large can of evaporated milk to the soup.
To serve break up day old white bread place in your bowl and add soup, grab a spoon and Enjoy!
Very Easy Lentil Soup from Dawn in Poughkeepsie, NY
Sauté 1/2 minced onion and 1 clove garlic minced in olive oil
Add 8 oz tomato sauce and 8 oz chicken broth
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1/2 tsp. Oregano
Add one can Progresso Lentil soup
Heat through
Spoon into bowls add cooked rice or cooked ditalini pasta
Pepper Soup from Cinzia in Winsted, CT
3 bell peppers of any color (or mixed colors), diced
1 large onion, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 cups water
1 cup vegetable or beef broth
1 large can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Optional: Cayenne pepper to taste
In a large soup pot, sauté peppers and onions in oil. Add water, broth, and crushed tomatoes. Add seasonings. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Serves 4.
Optional: Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
Beef Cabbage Soup from George in Binghamton, NY
3/4 ground beef (can use left over steak,or burger)
1 diced large onion,
2-3 cups diced cabbage
2-3 diced fresh carrot
2-3 minced garlic
If beef is uncooked sauté in large pot ,when pink is gone , pour off most of grease, add the vegetables and sauté for 5 minutes (can skip but adds some flavor)
Add remaining
1 box beef broth
1 can 280z diced tomatoes
1-2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
Bring to boil and let simmer until veggies tender.
Enjoy over cold noodles or rice (helps cool it down)
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
What seemed like a mild winter has turned into many inches of snow…all at once. It’s times like these where we don’t feel like budging, and we just cannot seem to get warm no matter what! At Price Chopper and Market 32, we have some delicious ways for you to get warm! Take a look below at some of our warm beverages.
Hot chocolate:
Warm chocolate with marshmallows and whip cream hit the spot! Some of our hot chocolate options include:
- PICS Hot Cocoa Single Serve Cup
- PICS Hot Chocolate Packets with Marshmallows
- PICS Sugar Free Hot Chocolate Packets
- PICS Hot Cocoa Mix
Recipe Alert! Mexican Hot Chocolate
Not feeling the traditional hot chocolate today? We understand. Try out this delicious Mexican Hot Chocolate made with PICS whole milk, cinnamon, cayenne peppers, and chocolate morsels.
Tea:
There are so many ways to make tea to your liking. Try adding in PICS honey, PICS sugar packets, or even a splash of PICS milk! Some of our flavors include:
- PICS Chai Tea K-Cups
- PICS Black Tea Bags
- PICS Decaffeinated Black Tea Bags
- PICS Green Tea Bags
- PICS Decaffeinated Green Tea Bags
Recipe Alert! Warm Berry, Tea, & Cider Punch
Coffee:
If we listed out all of our PICS coffee, the entire page would be filled! Here are just a few of our coffee options:
- PICS Ground French Vanilla Light Roast Coffee
- PICS House Blend Medium Roast Single Serve Cup Coffee
- PICS French Vanilla Cappuccino Single Serve Cup
- PICS 100% Colombian Ground Coffee
- PICS Half Caffeine Medium Roast Single Serve Cup Coffee
Recipe Alert! Viennese Coffee | LavAzza
Remember – Warm weather is coming, but for now, a cup of Joe will have to suffice!
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.
Life is Short - Eat the Spaghetti!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
Pasta makes the world go round! Let’s face it – pasta can be paired with almost any meal, or be a meal of its own. At Price Chopper and Market 32, our focus today is specifically on spaghetti, because January 4th is National Spaghetti Day. Be sure to join us in celebrating today by trying some of our delicious recipes below. You can find a variety of pasta recipes on our Price Chopper Website and our Price Chopper Ready Website.
Did you know?
- The average Italian consumes about 62 pounds of pasta per year. That is the same weight as a female Golden Retriever!
- Sicilians created the first modern spaghetti noodles in the 12th century.
- Spaghetti today is about 10-12 inches long, but it was much longer when it was first invented.
- Spaghetti and meatballs are an American dish, not Italian.
- Spaghetti has evolved over the years. Today, you can find different varieties including gluten free, whole grain, protein, and veggie spaghetti.
Try some new recipes!
Anchovy Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti with Fried Capers: While this dish is drastically different from your traditional pasta and meatballs, you will not be disappointed. The fresh taste of olive oil, parmesan cheese, lemon, and crushed red peppers are sure to be nothing short of delicious!
Chicken Teriyaki Noodles: Quick, easy, filling, and tastes like a Hibachi restaurant!
Slow Cooker Spaghetti with Italian Sausage: Dinner ready in 16 minutes? Say less! Pair this meal with some fresh bread from our bakery.
Happy National Spaghetti Day!
Introducing Barilla Al Bronzo: Pasta With Extraordinary Sauce Grip
New from Barilla is Al Bronzo pasta, a line of premium pasta made with a reserve batch of non-GMO durum wheat and expertly crafted using innovative micro-engraved bronze dies for a robust texture and extraordinary sauce grip. You can find Al Bronzo in the pasta aisle in 6 delicious shapes: Spaghetti, Bucatini, Linguine, Mezzi Rigatoni, Penne, and Fusilli.
Try Al Bronzo in these two delicious recipes. Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni with Tuscan Ragout is a hearty recipe made with three kinds of meat that will leave you and your family craving more. The homemade pasta sauce features beef, pork and lamb simmered with fresh plum tomatoes, garlic, rosemary and sage. The wide opening of the Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni is the ideal shape for capturing the meat sauce. Al Bronzo Bucatini with Lemon, Ginger, Parmigiano & Thai Basil features an amazing combination of ingredients where the fresh lemon and ginger are balanced by the Parmigiano cheese and the Thai Basil leaves. Served over Al Bronzo Bucatini, this recipe is the perfect weeknight meal.
Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni with Tuscan Ragout
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Total Time: 40 Minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 box Barilla®
- Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni pasta 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- 1 white onion chopped
- 2 leaves fresh sage
- 1 sprig
- fresh rosemary
- 1 clove garlic gently pressed
- ¼ pound ground beef
- ¼ pound ground pork
- ¼ pound ground lamb
- ¼ cup red wine
- 2 fresh plum tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken stock
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Romano cheese to taste grated
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet; add onion, sage, rosemary and garlic; allow the onion to sweat for 10 minutes over low heat.
- Add beef, pork and lamb; cook until the meat begins to stick to the bottom of the pan; deglaze with red wine and continue cooking until the liquid is reduced well; discard the rosemary, sage and garlic.
- Meanwhile, blanch and peel tomatoes, remove the seeds and cut the pulp in dices; add to the meat sauce along with chicken stock; simmer until the liquid is evaporated; season with salt and pepper.
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and toss with the sauce.
- Finish with cheese and remaining olive oil.
Al Bronzo Bucatini with Lemon, Ginger, Parmigiano & Thai Basil
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 box Barilla® Al Bronzo™ Bucatini pasta
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- ½ lemon, zested
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
- ½ cup Thai basil leaves, julienne
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Cook pasta three minutes less than package directions.
- Meanwhile, in a skillet sauté garlic and ginger in 2 tablespoons olive oil for a minute, add lemon juice and 1 cup pasta cooking water, bring to a simmer.
- Drain pasta and toss with lemon juice mixture over high heat, add pasta and more pasta cooking water as needed.
- Turn off heat, finish with remaining olive oil, cheese, lemon zests and black pepper. Top with basil before serving.
For more recipe inspiration, please visit https://www.barilla.com/en-us/al-bronzo.
Chocolate Now, Dinner Later!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
Everywhere we look, we are surrounded by chocolate, chocolate, and once again…chocolate! It is the best time of the year to be creative and festive. Speaking of creativity, have you ever wondered how to make your own chocolate? We found a fun and easy chocolate recipe that would be a great activity for the family, or for you to try on your own!
Five main ingredients are needed to make your own chocolate:
- 1/4 cup Unsweetened Cacao Powder or Cocoa Powder
- 1/8 cup Dry Milk Powder
- 2 ¾ tablespoons Cacao Butter
- 1/8 teaspoon Salt
- Chocolate mold
- Sweetener (optional)
- Candy Pieces (optional)
Step 1: Add 1-2 inches of water to a medium saucepan. Next, insert a heat-proof bowl on top of the saucepan. Bring water to a simmer (not boil) and add tiny, proportional pieces of cacao butter into the heatproof bowl. The cacao butter should not be touching the water. Whisk the cacao butter frequently.
Step 2: Once the cacao butter is melted, add cacao or cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, dry milk powder, and any other add-ins to the heat-proof bowl. Stir these remaining ingredients until completely blended.
Step 3: Pour the chocolate mixture into the molding of your choice. Transfer to the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
Step 4: Try not to eat all the chocolate at once!
Not feeling up to making your own chocolate. We understand! At Price Chopper and Market 32, not only do we have fantastic chocolate dessert recipes, but we also have a wonderful Bakery Department that strives to go above and beyond for our customers. We have so many options to make your holiday season extra special!
Other digital sites where you can locate our chocolate-filled recipes:
Some holiday must-tries!
Chocolate Cinnamon Scones: Chocolatey, cinnamony, and festive! You cannot go wrong with these Chocolate Cinnamon Scones. Try pairing with your favorite PICS coffee blend or PICS hot chocolate.
Double-Chocolate Peppermint Bark: With only four key ingredients, these are easy to make and do not have to look any specific way. No pressure when making this delicious dessert!
Minty Hot Chocolate: Exactly how it sounds – This mint hot chocolate is everything and more! Be sure to give it a try.
Homemade Chocolate Source:
Cacao, Cocoa, and Chocolate: What are the Differences?
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire while drinking a delicious cup of hot cocoa. Cocoa can be used for so many different food recipes, as well as in drinks. Before we get into that, what exactly is cocoa, and what is the difference between cacao, cocoa, and chocolate? Let’s dive in!
Cacao (pronounced kuh-kau) comes from the Theobroma cacao tree which is Native to South America, West Africa, and parts of Asia. Cacao and cocoa are essentially the same thing, but in different forms. Cocoa is made from cacao, to put it simply. Cacao is the natural form, whereas cocoa is more processed. Cacao tends to have a bitter taste compared to cocoa which is sweeter.
Now that we understand the difference between cacao and cocoa, where does chocolate fit into the picture? Chocolate is made from cocoa powder mixed with other products, such as milk, sugar, and cream. Depending on the type of chocolate and where you buy it from, there may be other ingredients mixed in, such as almonds, cranberries, sea salt, etc.
Check out some of our easy and delicious recipes! Happy National Cocoa Day!
Spinach, Black Bean, & Corn Salad with Chipotle-Cocoa Vinaigrette: Who says salads can’t be fun? Try this nutrient-packed salad with a cocoa twist!
Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins: Are you a fan of muffins? Try this super easy recipe for a breakfast on-the-go!
Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches: It may be cold outside, but a warm chocolate chip cookie with ice cream in the middle will make anyone’s heart melt!
