Spring Has Sprung with home.grown. Floral
We’re proud to partner with local greenhouses to bring you quality, fresh floral. This spring, decorate your home with the best our region has to offer!
Casertano's Greenhouse and Farm - Cheshire, CT
If you ever find yourself in the state of Connetiicut, you may stumble upon the multi-generational Casertano’s Greenhouse and Farm. Originally founded by Presco (Louie) Casertano, this family owned business has been passed down through the decades creating a successful and well-loved name for itself. Deeply rooted in family values and wonderful products, Casertano’s feels immense pride for their wide selection of plants and greenery. What started as a humble farm market, has grown tenfold in the last few decades as the Casertano team has, collectively, over 400 years of nursery and greenhouse experience.
The Casertano family has dedicated their lives’ work to creating a workplace that will allow their greenery to flourish, while gaining experience from across the globe. This thriving New England farm has undergone several transformations, while actively diversifying its offerings. What started as a veggies and flowers market has now encompassed various gardening realms such as ground covers, perennials, grasses, annuals, wreaths, roping, and an extensive selection of embellished Christmas products.
Kurt Weiss Greenhouses Inc. - Moriches, NY
Nestled in the beautiful state of New York the multi-generational Kurt Weiss Greenhouses have grown highly successful for their tightly knit family values and beautiful greenery and flowers. Originally created by German immigrant, Otto Muller, Kurt Weiss Greenhouses have trickled through the care of various generations in his family. The entire operation is now run by third, fourth and fifth generation family members and continues to power on strong!
What started out as a humble florist shop, has now developed into a multi-faceted greenhouse that offers “foliage, flowering potted plants, bedding plants, perennials, annuals, mixed combination planters and much more.” Through the decades, the Kurt Weiss Greenhouses have seen different phases of optimization, and now ranges over one million square feet and has beautiful, updated facilities to aid each location’s differing geographical diversities.
NY Apple Recipe Roundup - 10 Ways to Love a Bag of Apples
Ellie Wilson
MS RDN
Apples From New York™ are in season, and in the store! One of our favorite Home.grown crops, New York Apples are a quick snack, or a culinary chameleon – so versatile and easy to enjoy! Making your way through a bag or tote of New York apples is a smart way to add flavor, fiber, crunch and nutrition benefits to every meal and snack. Check out this fun recipe roundup that will make you look forward to that apple-a-day in some new ways!
New York apple agriculture is very important – New York is second in the USA for apple production. The farm families that grow apples are multi-generational stewards that carefully nurture the land and trees, to ensure you get delicious, nutritious fruit for your family meals. September is #FamilyMealsMonth, no better time to explore new ways to eat well as a family, and add some new meal and snack ideas if you are navigating new school routines and need some inspiration.
Home schooling? Use the website resources and crunch on apples as you learn about farming, local foods, cooking, history, agriculture, science, and nutrition – children of all ages will love these lessons!
Store smart – keep apples crunchy and fresh by storing in the refrigerator or a cool, dry space. Wash apples before using for recipes or snacks by rubbing skins briskly under cool running water.
Apple-palooza!
- Simple snack – grab that apple for a mid-morning crunch or afternoon munch.
- Slice and serve – apple slices are a super snack, and easy with an apple slicer. Pack them fresh with a squeeze of lemon to keep them from browning, dip into PICS Peanut Butter or dust with cinnamon for a fresh twist.
- Breakfast boost – grated fresh apples are a quick and easy addition to overnight oats recipes, PICS yogurt parfait (vanilla/apple/walnuts/yum!) – love them on my PICS Shredded Wheat cereal with milk!
- Salad savvy – Chopped apples are a great addition to salads, including many of the fresh salad kits in the store. Try any one of your favorite apple varieties with Fresh Express Poppyseed, Sweet Kale or Honey Pecan salads. Some PICS Cheddar Cubes or pulled Market 32 Rotisserie Chicken make the meal in just a minute!
- Sandwich smart – PICS Flour tortillas/pita or your favorite Market 32 Bakery bread are a great base for a ham or turkey/apple/cheddar quesadilla or panini. Pulled pork with grated apple or a side of apple coleslaw with pecans are fresh takes on old favorites. Or, try your new favorite Chicken Apple Kale Slaw Wrap.
- Snack attack – No-bake apple “donuts” will win the day and sneak some nutrition into afternoon snacks. Peel and core two apples, then slice into rings. Spread peanut or almond butter (you can call it icing, we won’t tell!) on one side of the ring, and top with crushed cinnamon cereal, nuts, pretzels or even sprinkles.
- Sweet and savory – New York apples will help you make quick dinner magic with some fresh takes on sheet pan and skillet meals. Each meal below serves 4.
- Apple Panko Skillet Chicken – (4) Market 32 Apple Panko Chicken Cutlets, made fresh in the Meat Department, sautéed in PICS Olive Oil until done (160F) – pair them up with a quick New York apple and onion sauté and a warm fresh Bakery cornbread muffin.
- Apple Sheet Pan Dinner – Chop (2) New York apples, (2 small) yellow onions, and (2 medium white or yellow) potatoes in a one- inch dice. Add 1 bag (fresh or frozen) Brussels sprouts and place on an oiled sheet pan with (about 1 Lb.) Market 32 Chicken Tenders or Skinless Thighs, OR Market 32 Sweet Chicken or Italian Sausage, OR cubed pork tenderloin. Roast at 400F for about 30 minutes, or until meat is done (160 F) and vegetables are tender and caramelized. If using sausage, be sure to turn them once during cooking.
Apple Cider Chicken and Cabbage – Place aluminum foil in a sheet or roasting pan, oil lightly with PICS Olive Oil or vegetable oil spray. Lay about 1 Lb. of Market 32 Skinless Chicken Breasts in the center. Surround with (3-4) peeled, chopped New York apples. Roast for 25 minutes at 350F, then baste with ½ cup of New York Apple Cider mixed with 1 tsp PICS Dijon Mustard. Roast for an additional 10 minutes, until chicken is 145F and apples are tender. Serve with warm Market 32 Bakery rolls and sautéed fresh cabbage.
Fun in the Kitchen
The Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club has some amazing apple recipes, like this one for Apple Pie Ice Cream Apple Pie Ice Cream. Cooking and baking can be part of home -schooling lessons – measuring ingredients promotes math skills, and reviewing recipes supports reading and science skills.
Learn more about the many varieties of home.grown. Market 32 New York apples you can find in our stores. Tips, hacks and amazing recipes can all be found here. Enjoy!