How to Build Your Own Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards present a thoughtful selection of meats, cheeses and accompaniments that make for low maintenance, snack-style meals. They’re perfect for entertaining and encourage mixing and matching of ingredients that create unique, flavorful bites. The art of composing a charcuterie board can be as simple or as sophisticated as you’d like. Use these quick tips to create your ultimate charcuterie board.
Meats
The heroes of the board, charcuterie meats range in taste from mild to spicy and come in varying textures from delicate to thick and chewy. Rich, cured charcuterie meats are excellent in small doses, so choosing two to three meats to feature is sufficient. Try melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto, smoky salami, spicy chorizo or zesty pepperoni.
Cheeses
When selecting cheeses, consider texture, flavor, type and style. Draw inspiration from your meats – mellow out rich meats with soft cheeses like mozzarella, Brie or goat cheese. Pair milder varieties, like prosciutto, with complex cheeses that have eclectic profiles such as pungent blue cheese or sharp Manchego.
Fruits & Preserves
Seasonal eating applies to boards too! Sliced fresh fruit and berries are perfect for summer boards while winter boards give citrus, grapes and dried fruits a place to shine. No matter the season, our home.grown. produce offers the freshest, locally sourced, in-season fruits year-round. For a spreadable, fruity component, give our Pear Mostarda recipe a try!
Bread & Nuts
Slices of toasted bread or assorted crackers can balance the tastes of your board’s strongly flavored ingredients. Nuts can also intensify the crunch factor. Use shelled and salted varieties such as pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios and almonds.
The best charcuterie platters have a little bit of everything – so don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different components. For more charcuterie inspiration, see page 30 of our Ready magazine!
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How To Make An Easy, Yet Impressive, Gingerbread House
Houses come in many shapes and sizes, but only one features frosting, cookies and candy – the gingerbread house! While spending more time at home this holiday season, making gingerbread houses provides priceless memories. For hands-on holiday fun, gather the family to draw up blueprints, then construct the best gingerbread houses on the block!
Use the tips below to create eye-catching holiday masterpieces and enter them into our gingerbread house contest!
The Flavorful Foundation
Homemade gingerbread fills the kitchen with fragrant aromas and is a snap to bake! To make the dough:
- Gather the ingredients and amounts needed based on the recipe you’re following. Typical ingredients include brown sugar, all-purpose flour, eggs, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, ground nutmeg and molasses.
- Roll the dough into discs, then refrigerate overnight.
- Use house-shaped cutters or look online for foolproof patterns of proportional house pieces.
- Cut out the structure, bake and cool completely.
Building and decorating work best if you bake the dough one day, then assemble the next. If you don’t have time to bake homemade gingerbread, your family can still enjoy this timeless tradition using gingerbread kits or graham crackers. Constructing gingerbread houses, whether scratch-made or store-bought, is guaranteed family fun!
Endless Possibilities for Décor
When building your house, you don’t want it to crumble or tumble. Royal icing is strong, reliable and will hold everything together. Use white royal icing to assemble your house and give it a stunning snow-covered look, or mix it with food coloring for a pop of color!
Next, let your imagination run wild! Decorate your house with sweets such as licorice, jellybeans, gumdrops, colored chocolates, bite-size cookies, miniature marshmallows, candy canes and peppermint candies. Add windows with icing, make wreaths out of chocolates or create a gumdrop path! Browse examples of designs to inspire your own unique creation.
Building gingerbread houses fosters creativity, with everyone on the construction crew contributing fun ideas for creating your holiday masterpiece. Find more holiday recipes and activity ideas at pricechopperready.com!
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Check out last year’s winners!
Pineapple for the Holidays
Did you know that pineapples are a showing of hospitality? It’s true! Back in history, pineapples were so rare that they would be used as centerpieces of parties. Though not to be eaten, but simply admired. They became a sign of hospitality and sparing no expense for those you care about.
In the 19th century, the pineapple became a holiday centerpiece. A seasonal display like the ones we decorate with today, featuring items like apples, pinecones, holly, and fir leaves surrounded the star pineapple in the center of the display. At this time the pineapple was more readily available, allowing it to also be used in baked goods, candied, or to add sweetness to the punch.
These traditions carry on today. They may not be the first thing comes to mind, but pineapples make for great decorations and are an excellent ingredient in holiday recipes. In fact, check them out for $1.99 in our ad this week, as your holiday preparation kicks into high gear.
Check out some of our favorite pineapple recipes this year:
Hawaiian Ham: This Hawaiian Ham is a good meal for any holiday celebration.
Slow Cooker Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pineapple Tacos: Super tasty and full of flavor!
Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders: These sliders are great for celebrating.
Fresh Fruit Kabobs with Key Lime Coconut Dip: Fresh fruit and delicious key lime coconut dip makes an awesome combination.
and this delicious recipe for Pineapple Fried Rice…
Holiday Cookies How-To
One of our favorite parts of the holiday season are the tradition and coziness of holiday cookies! Whether you’re enjoying dessert with family and friends or leaving a tasty treat for Santa, cookies play an important role in holiday celebrations. They’ve become a staple of the season!
Did you know that the tradition of leaving cookies out for Santa began during the Great Depression? It was a lesson in giving and doubled as a sign of appreciation from young children for the gifts they received, even in economic hardship. This tradition continues today as children thank Santa for his hard work during the holidays. And cookies continue to be a vital part of celebrating.
At Price Chopper & Market 32, our PICS line offers a delicious variety of cookies. From your favorites like Chocolate Chip, to hidden gems like Dutch Cocoa there is something for everyone. Plus, there is no better combination than cookies and milk, and our lineup of PICS milk makes for the perfect sidekick.
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If you’re looking to be more extravagant with your cookies this year, check out some of these awesome recipes.
Double Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Sandwiches: PICS Cookies go great with PICS Vanilla Ice Cream and this delicious recipe highlights that pairing. Try it with strawberry ice cream for some Neapolitan flair!
Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal & Dried Cherry Cookies: These delicious Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal & Dried Cherry Cookies combine all the best things about cookies into one. Soft, warm, and delicous these will be a hit with the whole family.
Hot Chocolate Cookies: Chocolate cookies featuring marshmallows and peppermint candies, just a warm cup of hot chocolate in a cookie. These cookies were made for the holidays!
Classic Sugar Cookies: Sugar cookies are a must-have in your holiday collection. This classic recipe does it right.
Paradise Fruit Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fruit is another excellent element to holiday cookies. These Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are fruity and tasty, adding a fun element to your lineup.
Check out the video recipe below for Pineapple and Cranberry-Orange Thumbprint Cookies. Yummy and perfect for the holidays!
We hope you have a wonderful time baking and enjoying holiday cookies this season! Stop by your local Price Chopper & Market 32 or visit us online for everything you need to get the job done right.
Wishing you a happy holiday season!
We Love NYS Apples!
NYS Apples are in 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 tote of New York apples is a smart way to add flavor, fiber, crunch and nutrition benefits to every meal and snack. Check them out for $0.99 lb. on the cover of our ad this week!
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. This hard work and dedication results in tons of awesome New York apple flavors, check out some of our favorites.
Empire: First introduced at the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY in 1966, empires are the perfect mix of sweet and tart flavors.
Red Delicious: Discovered on accident by an Iowa Farmer, Red Delicious apples are mildly sweet and crisp. The Iowa farmer brought them to a fruit show in Missouri, where they were named Red Delicious.
Golden Delicious: Golden Delicious apples originated on Mullins’ Family Farm in West Creek, Virginia by a chance of seeding. Mellow, sweet and juicy, these apples are excellent for cooking and baking.
Fuji: Developed at Tohuku Research Station in Morioka, Japan, Fujis are super sweet, juicy, and crisp. They are excellent for cooking.
Mcintosh: Discovered by John McIntosh on his Canadian Farm. He transplanted the seedings and as they matured began to produce delicious apples. Now, Mcintosh’s are the most cultivated apple in the US. Sweet-tart, tender, and crunchy, they are perfect for baking and cooking.
Honeycrisp: Developed in Excelsior, Minnesota at the University of Minnesota’s apple development program. Honeycrisps are also great for baking!
Jonamac: Developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY and introduced to the public on September 21, 1972. Jonamacs are crisp and fragrant, sweet and spicy.
For more information on yummy apple varieties visit Hudson River Fruits website and don’t forget to head to your local Price Chopper & Market 32 for your $0.99 lb. tote bags!
They are perfect for fall charcuterie boards!
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Combined Companies Will Maintain Separate Brands But Create Scale and Bring Efficiencies to Local Shoppers
Schenectady, N.Y./Williamsville, N.Y. — With the regulatory review process complete and approval from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received, Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets today announced the closure of their merger, as proposed earlier this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will be managed locally by their respective leaders and continue to be referred to by their established brand identities, but will be owned and overseen by a new parent company, Northeast Grocery, Inc. As previously announced, Scott Grimmett, the current president and CEO of Price Chopper/Market 32, will lead the new parent company. He will also serve on its board of directors as will Frank Curci, former Tops Markets Chairman and CEO.
The agreement cements a powerful alliance between the two storied independent grocery chains, as it virtually doubles their collective footprint in the Northeast. With increased scale across their now-combined footprint of nearly 300 stores, the merged companies are better positioned to leverage increased value for customers; advance shared opportunities for innovation; and fortify the depth of their expanded workforce, community, and trade partnerships, thereby becoming stronger and more competitive.
“We’re appreciative of the FTC’s diligence in reviewing this merger and grateful to have received all of the necessary approvals. Now, we can dedicate ourselves to bringing these two storied grocery chains together, leveraging best practices, developing new opportunities, and finding efficiencies that will help us continue to deliver distinctive shopping experiences,” said Grimmett.
The regulatory review process by the FTC mandates the divestiture of 12 of the combined companies’ stores. C&S Wholesale Grocers (C&S) has been approved to purchase all 12 stores. GU Markets LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers, will operate these stores. C&S will continue to recognize the union workforce at these locations. The 12 Tops stores to be divested and purchased by C&S Wholesale Grocers are:
Cooperstown | 5 Commons Dr. | Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326 |
Cortland | 3932 State Route 281 | Cortland, N.Y.13045 |
Norwich | 54 E Main St. | Norwich, N.Y. 13815 |
Owego | 1145 NY-17C | Owego, N.Y. 13827 |
Peru | 50 S. Main St. | Peru, N.Y. 12972 |
Rome | 217 Erie Blvd. W. | Rome, N.Y. 13440 |
Rutland | 14 N. Main St. | Rutland, V.T. 05701 |
Saranac Lake | 156 Church St. | Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12972 |
Sherrill | 87 E State St. | Sherrill, N.Y. 13461 |
South Watertown | 1330 Washington St | S. Watertown, N.Y. 13601 |
Warrensburg | 3836 Main St. | Warrensburg, N.Y. 12885 |
Watertown | 22050 Seaway Shopping Ctr. | Watertown, N.Y. 13601 |
“We believe that this merger will be a positive for our membership, preserving union jobs and strengthening the company’s prospects into the foreseeable future,” said Frank DeRiso, president of the UFCW Local One. “We are pleased that we have an agreement with the new owner and they are committed to retaining all of the existing union jobs and contracts. We would like to thank the office of the NYS Attorney General, Senator Chuck Schumer and our UFCW International Union for their guidance, assistance and cooperation during this complicated process. This merger will benefit both consumers and union members.”
Blaine Bringhurst will serve as president of the Price Chopper/Market 32 business and John Persons as the president of the Tops Markets business. Dave Langless, the Chief Financial Officer of Tops, will serve as the parent company’s CFO.
Northeast Grocery, Inc. will be headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., as will Price Chopper/Market 32. Tops Markets will retain its main office in Williamsville, N.Y.
“Completing the details of this merger marks a major milestone for the management teams of both Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops,” said Grimmett. “And I’m confident that our teammates and associates are excited about it and will continue to deliver excellence.”
We Have You Covered for ThanksVegan!
As passionate food lovers, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite days of the year. There are so many delicious entrees, sides, and desserts to enjoy. We always love trying new dishes, and this holiday we are looking forward to some vegan options. Check out the recipes below that are guaranteed to make your ThanksVegan celebration a success!
ThanksVegan Appetizer: Pumpkin Hummus
1 can PICS Chickpeas, drained
3/4 cup pumpkin purée
2 Tbsp. tahini
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. olive oil plus more, for garnish
Roasted pumpkin seeds, for garnish (optional)
1 bag PICS Mini Pretzels
- Place all the ingredients except the olive oil, pumpkin seeds (if using), and pretzels in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer to a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Top with the roasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.
- Serve with pretzels for dipping.
Makes about 2¾ cups
ThanksVegan Entrée: Butternut Squash Bird’s Nests
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. + 1 teaspoon oil (olive or avocado)
1 pkg. PICS Butternut Vegetable Noodles
½ onion, chopped and sautéed
1 can PICS Chickpeas, drained
1/2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh herbs, for garnish (optional)
- In a skillet, sauté the garlic in the oil for 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Toss chickpeas in rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Create separate piles (“nests”) of squash in a baking dish, fill each nest with chickpeas, drizzle with oil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve immediately with fresh herb garnish, if desired.
Makes 3 servings
ThanksVegan Dessert: Pumpkin Pie Spice Chocolate Ice Cream Floats
4 scoops PICS Very Chocolate Vegan Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
4 oz. bourbon or dark rum (optional)
Chilled ginger ale
Optional toppings: vegan whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice
- Place 1 scoop of the ice cream in a tall chilled glass.
- Add the bourbon or rum, if using, then fill to the top with ginger ale.
- Top with vegan whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Makes 4 servings
Vegan Strawberry Shake2 scoops PICS Strawberry Vegan Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
1 cup PICS Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- Place ice cream, almond milk, and strawberries into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Makes 2 servings
Shop ThanksVegan!
If you are anything like me, mealtime is always a last-minute preparation occasion. I am either missing ingredients or have simply run out of time to get something on the table for my family. Have no fear, as the newest line of Carolina® Ready to Serve Rice is here to save the day, and some time!
Carolina® Ready to Heat Jasmine Rice is a fast and convenient way to put delicious flavor, with quality you can trust, on every plate. This long grain variety is precooked, but made with no added preservatives and no MSG. Now, you can enjoy all of the delicious aromatic taste of traditional Thai Jasmine Rice, in less time, and without skimping on quality or flavor. This ready to heat product is microwavable and ready in 90 seconds providing a meal that is not only quick but high value. It’s apparent that Carolina Rice puts their heart and soul into giving you and your family delicious tasting products, using Non-GMO Project Verified Jasmine Rice. It is also perfect for a variety of dietary needs including Gluten Free and suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets.
You can find these tasty varieties in the rice aisle at Price Chopper/Market 32:
- Jasmine White
- Garlic and Olive Oil Jasmine
- Cilantro Limón Jasmine
The real question is…which NEW Carolina® Ready to Serve Rice flavor are you going to try first?
Asian Chicken & Jasmine Rice Salad
This nutritious Asian salad made with a prepared sesame dressing and shredded cooked chicken makes a quick and easy lunch or dinner.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 pkg (8.8 oz each) Carolina® Jasmine Rice RTS
1 bag (12 oz) prepared shredded coleslaw mix
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup shelled edamame, cooked
1 seedless orange, segmented
1/2 cup prepared sesame dressing
2 tbsp lime juice
1/3 cup roasted cashews
Instructions:
- Prepare rice according to package directions; let cool. Toss together rice, coleslaw mix, shredded chicken, edamame, orange segments, sesame dressing and lime juice.
- Divide among bowls. Sprinkle with cashews before serving.
Tip: Use canned mandarin orange segments for easy preparation.
Burrito Rice Bowl
Perfect for busy nights, this family-friendly chicken and rice bowl only takes minutes to prepare with shredded cooked chicken.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 pkg (8.8 oz each) Carolina® Jasmine Rice Naturally Flavored Cilantro Limon RTS
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/4 cup guacamole
Instructions:
- Prepare rice according to package directions.
- Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with chicken, lettuce, cheese and cherry tomatoes.
- Drizzle ranch dressing over top. Serve with guacamole.
Tip: Substitute pulled pork, shrimp or black beans for chicken.
Rice and Beans Skillet Dinner
This take on a New Orleans favorite is ready in minutes – so you can let the good times roll.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 pkg (8.8 oz each) Carolina® Jasmine Rice Naturally Flavored Garlic & Olive Oil RTS
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 red pepper, diced
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 can (19 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp thinly sliced green onions
1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions:
- Heat oil in large skillet set over medium heat; cook onion, celery, red pepper and Cajun seasoning for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are slightly softened.
- Increase heat to medium-high; stir in rice, pinto beans, tomato sauce and 1/4 cup water. Cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through and sauce is thickened.
- Remove pan from heat; stir in parsley, green onions and lemon juice. Divide evenly among bowls.
Tip: For smoky flavor, sprinkle cooked and crumbled bacon over each serving.
New Items: Bantam Bagels Mini Stuffed Pizzas
Bantam Bagels – the most unique and exciting way to eat New York’s most iconic food, burst into NYC’s bagel-sphere in 2013, changing the way that people eat the iconic bagel. Since reinventing the bagel, Bantam has quickly become the go-to brand for foodie-focused disruption. Bantam grasped the attention of all carb loving, calorie conscious, on the go foodies of New York City and beyond!
Bantam is the brand that takes the classic bagel you absolutely love and stuffs it full of everything you want to go on top of a great bagel, on the inside. From their everything bagel stuffed with veggie cream cheese, to bagels stuffed with soft scrambled egg, cheddar cheese and bacon, Bantam makes breakfast accessible, fun, portable and not to mention, delicious!
Now, Bantam Bagels is excited to introduce the newest way to enjoy an iconic bite of New York City with their brand new Mini Stuffed Pizzas! We’re talking real deal NYC pizza dough, stuffed with mouthwatering marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and more. These handheld pizza snacks are perfect for mobile munching, or easy and delicious dinners. Now available in Margherita, pizza dough stuffed with marinara, mozzarella and basil & Pepperoni, pizza dough stuffed with marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni!
Surviving the toughest bagel critics – New Yorkers, The Oleksaks continue to believe if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and that is a classic New York story.
Shop new Bantam Pizzas in the frozen section of a Price Chopper near you!
New Items: Doritos 3D
Doritos 3D Crunch is a new, unique snack with intense crunch and bold twists on fan-favorite flavors -a whole new way to experience Doritos.
Try Doritos 3D Crunch Chili Cheese Nacho for a savory chili and cheese flavor that will have you coming back for more, or try Spicy Ranch for a twist on your favorite creamy ranch with a kick of heat.
Doritos believes there’s boldness in everyone. They champion those who are true to themselves, who live life fully engaged and take bold action by stepping outside of their comfort zone and pushing the limits.
Step outside your comfort zone and try Doritos 3D at your local Price Chopper & Market 32 today!
