Get Your Grill On!

Maureen Rowan Murphy, Manager Consumer Trends, Nutrition and Lifestyles

I believe the best gift is the gift of time-time spent with those we love. While my Dad is no longer here, one of my fondest memories is the last Father’s Day I spent with him. Not only did we have quality time together, but I grilled and served one of his favorite meals. Had I not tackled my grilling “fears” that cherished memory would likely not exist. While always comfortable cooking in the kitchen my comfort level didn’t extend outdoors. The grill was uncharted territory, and one day I made up my mind that I had to change that. I learned the basics, and then jumped right in and fired up the grill!  Sure, there were a few grilling mishaps, but as my confidence grew so did my skills. I guess you could say it was trial by fire! Now I’m viewed as the grill master in my house. If you’re intimidated like I was, here are tips to help you on your way to becoming a grill master! Gather It Up

• Gather everything up to avoid leaving food unattended on hot grill
• Wire brush
• Long-handled matches/lighter and charcoal for charcoal grill
• Long handled tongs
• Metal spatula
• Basting brushes
• Skewers
• Grill basket
• Meat thermometer
• Clean platters and utensils
• Heavy duty oven mitts

Fire It Up

• Reduce food sticking by taking a paper towel dipped in a little oil, and using tongs, wipe evenly over the grates
• Preheat grill 10 to 15 minutes to ensure it reaches the proper temperature as well as kill any possible bacteria
  • Grilling Temperatures – High: 400-450°F for high; medium-high: 350-400°F; medium: 300-350°F; low: 250-300°F
  • A properly heated grill sears foods on contact, keeps the insides moist and helps prevent sticking
  • Keep a spray water bottle for gas or charcoal grills nearby in case of flare ups
  • Don’t use cooking spray on a hot grill

• Sear the meat to seal in juices and capture its best flavors
  • Turn grill down after searing so food does not burn outside and remain raw inside

• Use tongs when turning meat or poultry to keep natural juices inside
• Turn food only once – the less you flip, the more the flavor develops
• Apply sauces and glazes during last 10 minutes to avoid potential flare-ups

Keep a Lid on It

• Close grill lid to enhance smoky flavor and keep moisture in

Cook It Safe

• Use a food thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature
  • Steaks, roasts and chops:             145°F with a 3 minute rest time
• Ground beef, pork, lamb and veal: 160°F
• Poultry, including ground poultry: 165°F

Give It a Rest

• Let meat “rest”, tented with foil, about 10 minutes before cutting

Spending time with your Dad and grilling up his favorite meal on Father’s Day- Priceless!!

Keep Your Food and Family Safe This Summer!

After a long winter and cool spring, temperatures are finally warming up making everyone eager for outdoor picnics and barbecues. While these temperatures are ideal for that, they also provide a perfect environment for bacteria and other pathogens in food to multiply rapidly and cause foodborne illness. You can help prevent harmful bacteria from making your family sick by avoiding the “Danger Zone” and following the “Core Four”. The Danger Zone:  temperature range between 40°F and 140°F

• Keep food out of this range as foodborne bacteria can grow rapidly to dangerous levels that can result in illness
  • Always keep cold food COLD, at or below 40°F, in coolers or in containers with ice or frozen gel packs
  • Keep hot foods HOT, at or above 140°F, on the grill or in insulated containers, heated chafing dishes, warming trays or slow cookers
  • Reheat foods to 165°F

Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often

• Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food
• Clean kitchen surfaces, dishes and utensils with hot water and soap

Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate

• Have one cutting board for produce and another one for meat, poultry and seafood
• Use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked foods
  • Wash plates, utensils, and cutting boards that held raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs before reusing
• Marinate in the refrigerator and not on the counter keeping raw meat/poultry separate from any veggies you might be using
  • If you plan to reuse the marinade as a sauce be sure to boil it first to destroy any harmful bacteria or make extra to set aside before adding raw meat/poultry
  • Cook: Cook to safe internal temperatures
• Use a food thermometer to ensure food is thoroughly cooked
  • Whole cuts of meat (steaks, chops and roasts) – 145°F with a 3 minute rest time
  • Ground beef, pork, lamb and veal- 160°F
  • Poultry, including ground poultry- 165°F
  • Fish – 145°F
  • Leftovers – 165°F

  Chill: Refrigerate promptly

• Refrigerate perishable food within one hour in hot weather (above 90°F) and within two hours if temperatures are below 90°F
• Place leftover foods in shallow containers for quick cooling

Never taste foods you think might be unsafe.  Most food poisoning bacteria are tasteless, colorless, and odorless.  When in doubt, throw it out!

Raise a Glass to Dairy Month!

Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN  Senior Nutritionist

June 1st is a holiday for our dairy farmers – it is World Milk Day, and kicks off the annual celebration of Dairy Month and all that dairy brings us! Full of flavor and nutrients, packed with protein, familiar and affordable, wholesome dairy brings richness to so many foods. Across the Northeast, dairy is considered a unique “natural resource”, which supports healthy people, healthy communities and a substantial and sustainable positive impact on local economies. We use milk, yogurt, butter, and cheese to bake, batch, sip, and savor our way through delicious and nutritious meals and snacks. Welcome to Dairy Month, an annual national celebration of all that dairy brings us. There would be no dairy without dairy farming, which encompasses time-honored heritage and forward-thinking scholarship – this industry keeps innovating, and is full of hard working, passionate people that ensure animals have the best care, and milk is the highest quality. About 97% of dairy farms are family-owned, generation after generation that have moved the industry forward and treat animals, land and the future with reverence and respect. Dairy also delivers crucial nutrients – milk, yogurt and cheese contribute 51% of calcium and 58% of Vitamin D for just 10% of the calories in the overall American diet. The Great American Milk Drive also kicks off in our stores today – with a $1 or $5 donation at the register, you can join in and get milk to children and families that are less food secure. Check out our Facebook Live visit with our friends at Ivey Lakes Dairy in Stanley, NY, follow the blog, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram learn more about how fresh, nourishing dairy foods make their way from the farm to your table, and the delicious ways you can enjoy them. In case you couldn’t tell, we love dairy – Price Chopper and Market 32 are highlighting dairy and dairy case items all month – you will love the selection and the savings. Celebrate with us! Happy Hour Just Got a lot Closer! It’s American Craft Beer Week and we’re celebrating! We’re proud to team up with local craft brewers in each of our Northeast states, bringing some of the best regional tastes to our stores.  Thanks to their continuous hard work and brewing efforts, this exciting week can be celebrated the right way: at home in the Northeast. Happy Hour just got a lot closer! Check out some of our featured local brewers below.   Genesee Brewery, Rochester NY  We’ve been teaming up with the folks at the Genesee Brewery for over 40 years! Located in Rochester, NY, Genesee Brewery was founded in 1878 and has since become one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in the country. Genesee Beer is brewed with six-row barley, malt, corn grits, and hops from the Yakima Valley. They offer classic varieties such as Genesee Cream Ale, Genesee Light, and the newly introduced Genesee Ruby Red Kolsch.   Susquehanna Brewing Company, Pittston PA Located in Pittston, PA, at Susquehanna they live and work by the slogan “Brewed Right,” pointing out their drive to make delicious beer, the correct way for their Northeast Pennsylvania customers. If you’re ever in the Scranton area, pull up a seat at the brew house tasting room to sip some Pennsylvania beer while it’s being brewed in front of you!   Woodstock Inn Brewery, North Woodstock NH North Woodstock, NH is home to one of the premier breweries in the state: The Woodstock Inn Brewery. Woodstock Inn was the third brewery to open in New Hampshire, and since then has grown into a 37-barrel production facility, home to two dozen year-round and seasonal brews.  Raspberry Weasel Wheat Ale and Last Chair Ale are just a couple of the many delicious options that Woodstock has available for the season.   Two Roads Brewing Company, Stratford CT Two Roads was created by four friends who made it their goal to start a craft brewery. Located in Stratford, CT, Two Roads focuses on putting unique spins on classic beer styles, striving to make each taste their very own. Paste Magazine named the brewery one of the ten best in America. Not to mention, their beer has won many awards of its own, including their Belgian Style Lambic Ale at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival!   Druthers Brewing Company, Saratoga Springs NY   Druthers Brewery was assembled in 2012 and has quickly become a popular destination in Saratoga Springs, NY. The brewery contains a 10 barrel brewing system that supplies the beer. Druthers offers an ever-changing and updating beer menu, however, their seasonal brews are always a hit. For this time of year, try Brevity Wit, a Belgian-style wheat beer spiced with sweet orange peel and coriander. Made with 40% wheat, the flavor is fruity, light, and refreshing for thewarm weather.   Berkshire Brewing Company, South Deerfield MA Berkshire Brewing Company was founded in 1994 in South Deerfield, MA. Their goal was to continue the tradition of high quality craft beer in the region, something they have definitely accomplished. See for yourself by trying their classic beers like Drayman’s Porter, a sweet, dark-ruby brown ale with hints of chocolate malt and mocha, topped off by a hop bitterness. Or drink for the season with a Gold Spike Ale, a pale golden ale with a crisp, clean malt flavor, perfect for the transition from spring to summer.   von Trapp Brewery, Stowe VT Inspired by brews from the Austrian countryside, von Trapp Brewery in Stowe, VT, puts an American twist on these mouth-watering tastes. Opened in the spring of 2010, von Trapp now brews approximately 50,000 gallons of beer each year, available year round and seasonally. Bohemian Pilsner, a two-time award winning beverage, has a spicy citrus flavor, combined with a dry, peppery finish. Also available, Kolsch Style, an ideal summer ale that experiments with German hops to create an enjoyable, hoppy adventure.   Enjoy American Craft Beer Week and celebrate our local brewers with us! We love bringing these tastes to our stores and hope to continue working with these partners for the long haul. In the meantime, remember to enjoy responsibly. Cheers!

How Peanut Butter Met Jelly

Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN, CDN

April 2nd is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Day! The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a lunchbox icon, enjoyed by generations. Just as iconic are two of the brands America has grown up with – Skippy Peanut Butter, and Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly. How they got together went something like this…

• 1894 – Peanut butter was invented, but it is oily and hard to transport
• 1918 – Welch’s “Grapelade” (jam) is introduced, and added to U.S. soldiers rations
• 1922 – Joseph Rosefield invents processing to keep ground peanuts and peanut oil blended
• 1923 – Welch’s brings their famous Concord Grape Jelly to market
• 1932 – Joseph Rosefield starts his own company, Skippy Peanut Butter

  Timing was key – a few years later, World War II and American soldiers marched across nations. Shelf stable, high protein Skippy Peanut Butter and delicious Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly sandwiches went with them. After the war, returning soldiers shared their love for this dynamic duo with friends and family, and the rest is PBJ history. This uniquely American meal maker has the right stuff to be a go-to staple:

• Taste and texture: sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy – something for everyone
• Thrifty and practical – budget friendly and quick to make
• Comfort food – PBJ sandwiches are easy to enjoy, every day or once in a while
• Food safety – no cooler required, PBJ sandwiches are good travelers

  What’s the right way to cut a PB&J sandwich? There’s always some energetic debate about the right way to cut a sandwich, and since today is PB&J Sandwich Day, we’re putting the debate front and center! Visit our Facebook page today to vote on your favorite PB&J cut and join in on the sandwich cutting conversation!

Happy Hydrating with 2Natural Blends!

Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist

Water is essential – we cannot live without it. Our bodies feel and function best when well-hydrated, and water is the top pick to meet that need. We also need water to support good performance in sports or any physical activity. But, we struggle to stay hydrated – busy and distracted, whether working or playing – dehydration sneaks up on us, and is not easy to detect. Have you ever felt fatigued mid-afternoon even though you rested well the night before? Dehydration is often the culprit. Children are particularly vulnerable – and younger ones often uncooperative with parent efforts. Adding fruit can inspire better water intake.  Cutting fruit up, finding a container that keeps the fruit in and lets the water out, making it easy to grab and go – those were tougher problems to solve, until a mom from upstate New York put it all together. Denise Wist tapped into a natural spring in her small town of Morris; invented a special recyclable bottle; and infused the spring water with cut fruit. Now a woman-owned business, 2Natural Blends infused spring waters deliver a fresh take on healthy beverages. Busy moms, anyone looking for hydration options that are calorie-free or no added sugar will love exploring flavors like lemon-cucumber and pineapple-mango. Simple water, with a twist! We love supporting exciting, Northeast-based food business and we are happy to be the first retailer to share these fun refreshers! When it’s made or grown here, we get it here. Learn more at http://2naturalblends.com/, and if you’re in the Oneonta area, sample each of 2Natural’s unique blends at our Oneonta store, every Saturday in April from 11am-2pm!

Mussel Magic in March

Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN, CDN  Senior Nutritionist

March is warm and cold, sunny and snowy, cloudy and clear – every day is different.  As schedules heat up, having something easy on hand for a warm lunch or dinner is always a good idea. Pier 33 Mussels are frozen fresh and go from freezer to skillet. Easy to season and savor, a glug of olive oil around the pan, a generous pinch of parsley, chopped garlic, and a splash of wine, and you can serve up a simple entrée over pasta or steamed veggie noodles in 10 minutes. They shine as a quick addition to a Manhattan clam chowder, and marry well with a bold curried coconut sauce – check out this Thai Red Curry Mussels recipe (https://www.pricechopper.com/recipes#/10969.) They also pack a nutrition punch as a good source of B12, selenium, zinc, and folate. Pier 33 mussels are a versatile and delicious way to add seafood to your day, and get you closer to the two servings per week recommended for good health. Check out other varieties in the frozen seafood case. Try today and save $1.00 off any TWO (2) Pier 33 Mussels with AdvantEdge e-Coupon through March 31^st! Don’t forget their fresh frozen salmon – quick to cook and easy to enjoy, lean protein and omega 3s will get you energized for spring! Written by Jane Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs March 4, 2018

TROPICANA COCO BLENDS

Discover NEW Tropicana Coco Blends! Tropicana Coconut fruit blends are a light and refreshing drink.  A blend of Tropicana Juice with a splash of refreshing coconut water for a delicious light taste. Tropicana Coco blends have no artificial flavors or sweeteners.  Your favorite OJ brand isn’t just for breakfast anymore!  This refreshing drink is perfect for any time of the day and has all the nutrients of Coconut water. Spring and summer are just around the corner, so try this new blend of tropical juices with coconut water and dream of lazy summer days to come! Find New Tropicana Coca Blends in the Refrigerated Juice section in the Dairy aisle. Written by Jane Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs March 4, 2018

OPRAH’S O THAT’S GOOD!

Oprah brings you O, That’s Good! – a new line of her favorite comfort foods with a nutritious twist.  Made with real ingredients and no artificial flavors or dyes, these delicious soups and sides are easy to prepare and ready in minutes to feed your whole family.  The twist is the added goodness of hearty vegetables like butternut squash and cauliflower! Find O That’s Good! delicious soups and sides in the Refrigerated Deli section. Rediscover your favorite recipes thanks to a whole new nutritious twist.   

Shingrix, The New Shingles Vaccine is Here!

Written by Kim DeMagistris, PharmD, RPh Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarkets You may have heard about the shingles vaccine and wondered, “Should I get this new vaccine?” or “Do I need the new vaccine if I already received Zostavax?” Shingles is a painful rash that develops in about 30% of people. As we get older our immune systems don’t work as well and because we have been exposed to chickenpox as kids, the virus is already inside us waiting to erupt as Shingles! The shingles rash usually presents with blisters and can be painful and itchy. Sometimes the rash will go away after a couple of weeks but some patients have lingering pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia. Other complications of Shingles can include blindness¹. Shingrix is now recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for patients 50 and older. Most patients born before 1968 will be eligible for this vaccine and if you have had Zostavax then you will need to be revaccinated with Shingrix! Shingrix is more effective than Zostavax and we now know that Zostavax boosts your immunity for only about five years. That means that after five years of receiving Zostavax, you may no longer be protected.² It is easy to be vaccinated! Just speak with your local Price Chopper/Market 32 Pharmacist for more information. Shingrix is given as a two dose series, which means you will get a second shot about two months after the first. When patients receive both doses of Shingrix, the vaccine is about 97% effective.³ Get vaccinated today! Click to see where the vaccine is offered. You can also learn more about all our Pharmacy+ services here. For more information about shingles and the Shingrix vaccine, check out the information below from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html   References:

1. Immunization Action Coalition. Shingles (zoster): questions and answers. Information about the disease and vaccine. http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4221.pdf. (Accessed October 29, 2017).
2. Clinical Resource,Shingles Vaccine: FAQs. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter. December 2017.
3. Product information for Shingrix. GlaxoSmithKline. Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. October 2017.