New Whole Deal Steals!

by raleigh, April 30, 2009 | Permalink

The sales changed over yesterday and there are some new fantastic deals to be had! Grab your Whole Deal booklet and take advantage of these!

Cooking sauces from San J are on sale, taking the price from $3.69 to 2/$6. Using the 55 cent coupon from the Whole Deal, this brings the price down to $2.45. These are awesome sauces and can help you create a really good meal really quickly. All the flavors are excellent and I am sure there is one that will please your palate! They come in Peanut marinade and dipping sauce, Asian BBQ, Teriyaki, Sweet and Tangy, and Szechuan. You can find these in the International aisle, directly across from the pasta sauces.

Back to Nature cookies and crackers are also on sale. The normal price for these tasty treats range from $3.39-$4.69 and they are on sale for 2/$6. Using the 70 cent coupon in The Whole Deal, the price drops to $2.30, a great deal! The Back to Nature cookies are always a popular treat and come in Classic Creme, Fudge Mint, Peanut Butter Creme, and also Cinnamon Graham Sticks. They also have a great line of crackers that are perfect for entertaining. Stock up now! The crackers are available in White Cheddar Flax, Poppy Thyme, and Sesame Tarragon.

Also, make sure that you are picking up a Whole Deal booklet every time that you come in and using the buy-one-get-one-free coupon for 365 pasta. This is such a great deal and pasta is ideal to have stocked in your pantry. There are more varieties than ever to choose from, and getting them at half price can’t be beat!

What to do with all these strawberries?

by raleigh, April 27, 2009 | Permalink

So, now that you’ve gone strawberry picking, you find yourself with five pounds of these succulent deeep red berries. You couldn’t stop yourself in the field, but what are you going to do with all of them? As soon as you pick them and on the way home you may think that you could eat all of them, each one a burst of perfect springtime taste. By the time you get home, you may be rethinking that plan.

There are so many ways to use and preserve strawberries and with a lot to work with you may find yourself getting creative. Get creative! Your taste buds will thank you! You could just wash them, destem them, and throw them in the freezer. This is a quick and easy fix for an abundance of berries. Use them in smoothies or thaw them slightly to use in desserts or baked goods.

Have you ever tried making strawberry jam? It is remarkably easy and there are great recipes throughout the internet. With just a little research I am sure that you will find a recipe and technique that suits you. It is also a great way to experiment with the process of canning (which is also quite easy) and a perfect way to take advantage of seasonal produce at its peak.

Use as many as you can while they are fresh and at their ripest! Throw them into cereal, ice cream, yogurt, fruit salads, strawberry shortcake, chocolate covered strawberries, strawberrry crepes or pancakes, or try something totally new!

Lately I have been enjoying a simple salad that includes strawberries. I use the 365 organic bagged salads (which, by the way, are a fantastic deal at $1.99 every day!), throw in sliced strawberries, toasted pecans, some fresh goat cheese from Celebrity Dairy in Siler City, and top it off with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or some 365 Raspberry Vinaigrette. Nothing tastes better on a warm sunny day than this delicious salad. Enjoy your berries!

Strawberry Season!

by raleigh, April 26, 2009 | Permalink

I hope that you’ve gotten a chance to get out and see some farms this weekend for the Piedmont Farm Tour!

This is a great time of year to visit local farms to experience something else really special: fresh strawberries! Yes, the long winter wait is over and it is time again for the delicious, juicy, and unbeatable taste of a fresh North Carolina strawberry. Going out to a local farm to pick your own is a great way to spend an afternoon!

One of my favorite places to visit (strawberry season or otherwise) is Vollmer Farm in Bunn. It’s not too far from Raleigh and well worth the scenic drive. They have an awesome family farm that features a pick-your-own organic strawberry patch at this time of year and pick-your-own pumpkins during the fall. They have such a great time and love visitors! They also have a great country store on the farm that features gifts and farm decor, as well as a homemade ice cream shop. What more could you ask for? Check them out here! http://www.vollmerfarm.com

Another great farm that will start their pick-your-own strawberries next Saturday (May 2nd) is Hilltop Farms in Willow Springs. Just south of Garner, Hilltop Farms grows organic produce that is frequently found in the Raleigh Produce department. You may have also met Farmer Fred Miller, who plays with his band (Big Head Dog) at least a couple times a year during events out in front of the store. He and his wife run the farm and it is also a really great place to visit. Check them out, and happy picking! http://www.hilltopfarms.org/

Piedmont Farm Tour this weekend!

by raleigh, April 22, 2009 | Permalink

One of the greatest things that you can do to be connected to our local farmers is to go out and see their farms! This weekend is a perfect opportunity to do just that.

This weekend (April 25 & 26) is the fourteenth annual Piedmont Farm Tour sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. The tour keeps getting bigger every year and now features 40 farms! You can find more information on their website, including maps and listings of all the farms that are included. http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/ You can even buy your button to get into the farms, which is good for both days.

The maps are divided into small regions of the Piedmont, which make it easy to plan out which farms you might want to visit. The descriptions of the farms are really great and can help you to choose which farms you most want to see and which ones work for you and your family or friends. There are also designations that let you know if there is something on the farm that would be great for kids, which ones have restrooms, and if the farms have lunch or snacks available.

Grab the kids, pack up the car, and head out to some farms this weekend! The weather will be perfect for getting to know our amazing local farmers and getting connected to the places where it all begins.

Green Home Tour Kickoff Party!

by raleigh, April 20, 2009 | Permalink

Are you interested in learning more about incorporating green elements into your home? Check out the Triangle Green Home Tour! This is a great opportunity to tour 36 local homes that feature a variety of green building features incorporated into varying styles and price ranges of homes. The tour will be held this weekend and next and you can learn more about it here: www.TriangleGreenHomeTour.com

To help kick this great event off, there is a kickoff party at the store this Thursday, April 23, from 6-8pm. There will be live music and the Seafood department will be selling delicious catfish plates. You will be able to pick up tour guides at the store before and during the party and these guides will serve as your “ticket” to the self guided home tour. There will be members from the  association at the party to answer questions about local services and the tour.

It’s a great excuse to come to the store to join a party and learn more about green building! See you then!

365 Milk Rules!

by raleigh, April 17, 2009 | Permalink

In case you haven’t noticed, the price of milk keeps getting lower! This is great news for all us milk lovers who can now enjoy a gallon of skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk for only $2.69! 

Not only is the milk that you will find at Whole Foods Market the best tasting milk around, but the cows that so graciously provide it to us have not been treated with rBGH, a growth hormone frequently given to animals to increase milk production. So, what’s the difference between the 365 coventional milk and the organic version? The organic milk is also free of rBGH, and the cows that produced the milk were fed certified organic feed. Everyone’s food and drink choices are based on their own priorities, but the 365 milk is a great option for many people who are mainly concerned with the presence of hormones in their milk.

The case discount that applies to many other items throughout the store applies to milk, too. A case of milk consists of 4 gallons, which many families could go through well before the sell-by dates which tend to be generous.

Speaking of a nice cold glass of milk…Newman’s cookies are on sale again!! You can choose from Original, Chocolate, Hint-o-Mint, Wheat and Dairy free Original, or the Ginger-oh’s. Nothing could top a nice cold glass of milk with a few of these tasty cookies. On sale for 3/$10 (from $4.69), it is a great time to enjoy this classic treat for less!

New Whole Deal Steals!

by raleigh, April 15, 2009 | Permalink

The sales changed over today and there are some new steals to be had using coupons from the Whole Deal.

One of my favorites is the Indian entrees from Tasty Bite. They are regularly $3.39 each, but on sale right now for 3/$7 (or about $2.34 each). Using the coupon in the Whole Deal, the cost per box is $1.84! These yummy meals are located in Grocery in the International foods section (across from the pasta and sauces) and do not need to be refrigerated. They come in sealed packages that you boil in water to heat, making them a perfect meal idea for a number of opportunites including camping. There are four great flavors available at the store: Bombay Potatoes, Kashmir Spinach, Madras Lentils, and Punjab Eggplant. I like to heat two different varieties and enjoy them on top of some steaming hot brown rice for a really satisfying meal. You could also add some of the garlic naan from the Bakery to bring it all together.  

Also look in the International aisle for a number of products from Thai Kitchen that are on sale. They have a great line of stir-fry noodle kits that are great to have on hand to create a quick and delicious meal with some meat or tofu and some veggies. Look for your favorite flavors including Pad Thai, Lemongrass and Chili, and Roasted Sesame. Thai Kitchen also has other products on sale, including cans of coconut milk and Thai simmer sauces, and the 75 cent coupon in the Whole Deal applies to all of them. Great time to stock up!

The Cascadian Farm cereal sale has been extended! If you missed out on this great deal last week, be sure to take advantage of it now. The $1 coupon is a great one on top of this great sale.

Happy saving!!

Smoked Salmon for half the price?

by raleigh, April 13, 2009 | Permalink

Do you love smoked salmon but see it as a luxury that you can not treat yourself to often? There is a little secret gem in the Seafood department that you may not know about that could really make your day.

There is a great variety and selection of smoked seafood in the case just around the corner from the main Seafood case. If you are headed back to the Meat department, it will be on your right, just as you pass Seafood.

In this case, you will find beautifully packaged smoked salmon, including some from a great company called Wooodsmoke. Their smoked and trimmed salmon is exquisite and would make a very impressive centerpiece to any party along with some dill and capers. Their one pound package of this smoked salmon is $23.99. Sure, this is great when you are having that big fancy party, but what if you just want to have it to enjoy with your bagel, cream cheese, and coffee on a lazy weekend morning?

Check out the shelf that holds all the sauces and marinades (in the same case) where you will also find packages of “Nova Trimmings.” Guess what this is? This is the same smoked salmon from Woodsmoke, just not quite as fancy. When their chefs trim those beautiful filets, there are pieces that get trimmed off. They are sent to our Seafood department where they package it up and sell it for half the price. That’s right, this is $11.99 a pound. You won’t find consistent and thin slices of smoked salmon in these packages, but the bigger pieces actually tend to have more of a concentrated smokey and delicious flavor to the so it is a great trade-off .

You may not want to serve it as it is at a party, but with some creative carving you could easily dress up some appetizers. It is really great for adding to everyday meals, such as eggs or with pasta or as you would enjoy traditional smoked salmon. Enjoy the rich life! Eat more smoked salmon!

More Great Deals

by raleigh, April 10, 2009 | Permalink

Here are a few more things that are on sale this week that deserve some attention….

Drunken Goat Cheese is on sale over in Specialty right now. This tasty cheese is a semi-soft goat cheese that is soaked in wine for three days and then aged over two months to give it its distinctive taste. It is on sale for $13.99 a pound (saving you $2) and you can get a good sized slice for just a few dollars.  It is great for eating on its own, or you can get creative and do something different with it! Here is one of my favorite recipes from the Whole Foods Market website for Drunken Goat and Arugula Quesadillas….yum! http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=1735

Immaculate Baking Company is a wonderful small company located in Flat Rock, North Carolina and have been making fantastic cookies since 1995. They started with several goals in mind: Bake well, be creative, have fun and give back. They have acheived all these goals! One of their newest creations is cookie dough that can be found in the Dairy section, appropriately near the milk. These cookies are so easy to bake- they are in individual rounds that you drop right onto the baking pan. These cookies come out soul-satisfyingly warm and perfect every time. You can find them in several flavors: Chocolate Chunk, Triple Chocolate Chunk, Vanilla Sugar, Oatmeal Raisin, and Peanut Butter. They are on sale for $3.39 a package (from $3.99). They say that they are Cookies with a Cause, and they mean it. They give back to communities through “artreach” programs, bringing the joy of art to kids and adults alike while paying homage to the folk art that inspired them to start the whole thing. Support local producers, cookies, and art at the same time! http://www.immaculatebaking.com

Whole Deal Steals!

by raleigh, April 8, 2009 | Permalink

There are times when all the planets align and the stars shine just right and sales and coupons come together at the same time. This is one of those times! There are several products that are featured in the Whole Deal with a great coupon that are also on sale, making them an unbelievable deal.

In the Dairy aisle, check out the Stoneyfield Farm organic yogurts. They are on sale for 69 cents a cup (from 99 cents), and there is a coupon for Buy 5, Get One Free. Yogurt is such a perfect treat to have on hand for breakfast or with lunch or a nice sweet treat after dinner. If you take advantage of this deal, you will save $2.49. Not bad!

Cascadian Farm ceral is also featured in the Whole Deal with a great $1 off one box coupon. This is a great coupon in itself, and it is made even better by the fact that all their cereals and granolas are on sale for 2/$7. The normal price for one box of the cereal (including the raisin bran, honey nut o’s, Cifford Crunch, multigrain squares, and purely o’s) is $4.49, but they are on sale for $3.50 a box. With the coupon, you will only pay $2.50, bringing the price down by almost 50%!

Another great line that is on sale is from Seeds of Change. They have created wonderful products for years, starting from their line of organic seeds to promote sustainable and diverse agriculture. Through a natural progression, they began making organic foods and now offer frozen entrees, pasta sauces and more. The coupon in the Whole Deal is good for one of two items that are both on sale: Indian simmer sauces or microwavable rices. The Indian simmer sauces come in three flavors- Korma, Tikka Masala, or Jalfrezi- and make it easy to create a dish with authentic Indian flavors. The normal price for these sauces is $4.49 and they are on sale for $3.39 each. With the $1 coupon, you will pay $2.29 a jar!

Be sure to check these great deals out! The planets and stars will be aligned for this occasion only until next Tuesday, so be sure to take advantage of these while you can.