The colors of summer

by raleigh, June 28, 2009 | Permalink

By this time in the summer you can start looking around your yard, patio, or even the windowsill of your apartment and see the opportunity for more color. Summertime in all its sunny glory is the time when gardens can easily flourish and at about this time, it is easy to see where some added flowering color could make your world even more beautiful.

Check out the display of plants as you enter the store. There are some real beauties out there, from the purple coneflowers to the sunflowers, already healthy, growing, and ready to be transplanted into your yard. There are stunning hibiscus flowers out there, as well, that produce some of the most dramatic and biggest blooms that you could ask for in your yard. Also, don’t forget about all the herbs and easy annuals!

Looking for something else to perk up your summer garden? Just talk to Jenny or Michelle in the garden center! They are full of so much great information and can answer your questions about where and when to plant and how to make the most of your picks.

Don’t have the room or desire to grow your own? You can still take advantage of the season’s best, with breathtaking 5 stem bundles of sunflowers for sale right inside the store. They are on sale for 2 bundles for $10 right now making it a really affordable way to add a little sunshine to your world! They are also grown locally in Pantego, NC, making them even sweeter.

Feeling Just Peachy

by raleigh, June 26, 2009 | Permalink

Still thinking about those ripe, juicy peaches, huh?

Me, too.

I’m making smoothies, eating them with ice cream and yogurt, sliced in cereal, and still looking for more ways to enjoy these yummy fruits. Roddey was sampling a delicious dish this Wednesday that featured peaches. He melted some butter in a skillet, added sliced peaches, walnuts, dried cranberries, brown sugar, a dash of cinnamon, and a touch of rum. Let it simmer down in the pan for just a few minutes and you will have delicious glazed peaches with a touch of tart from the cranberries. Serve that warm along with some cold vanilla ice cream and you have got a winner!

Still looking for more peaches? Be sure to come out tonight for our Peach party! All the peachy fun starts at 6:30!

Peach Party!

by raleigh, June 24, 2009 | Permalink

Looking for something fun to do this Friday night? Stop by the store where we will be having a Peach Party out on the front porch!

‘Tis the season for fuzzy sweet peaches (which you will find in abundance on sale inside the store for only 99 cents a pound right now!) and what better reason for a party? Come and join us for an evening packed with a plethora of peach foods to taste, a Peach Princess to read stories, face painting, activities for kids, and music starting at 6:30.

Bring the kids, get your peach taste buds ready, and come on out Friday night! It will be a peachy good time!

Summer Series on the Porch

by raleigh, June 22, 2009 | Permalink

Fridays during summer mean something really great around the Raleigh store…..time for the Summer Series on the Porch! This is a great tradition that has been going for a few years now and a great way to wind down after a hard week at work.

Every Friday night, from 6:30 to 8pm, you will find a great local performer, duo, or trio out on the front porch for your enjoyment. These are awesome musicians that love to share their talent with the community and provide a great atmosphere for a casual dinner or drink. Pick up a chilled bottle of wine or a few beers from Specialty, a slice of pizza, some sushi or a fresh salad, and relax out on the porch with a friend or two.

The performers are different every week, so come out and hear some great music! Crys Matthews is featured this Friday, and you will really love the music. Hope to see you there!

Father’s Day!

by raleigh, June 19, 2009 | Permalink

It’s a wonderful (and warm) weekend to celebrate all things dad!

Whether you are planning an outdoor grill-out or a cooler get together inside the house, you can find everything you want to feed your family for the occasion on sale!

First, let’s keep everyone cool. There are several bottled iced teas on sale, making it easy to serve that traditional Southern favorite with a twist to please everyone’s palate. Teas from Sweet Leaf, New Leaf, and Steaz are all on sale so pick up a few, throw them in the cooler, and let the chilling begin.

Also, in Specialty, you will find the annual Top 10 Wines list for summer. There are ten wines listed, deliciously described, and most often you will find one being sampled every day in the wine section. A cool, crisp glass of wine is a great compliment to a hot summer day.

Looking for something to grill? Both the flavored burgers in Meat and also the wild salmon burgers in Seafood are on sale, as well as several other easy grilling choices.

Looking for something more indulgent and gourmet for Dad’s day? Check out the CCS Cheese Ravioli in Specialty. Normally close to $8 a package, they are on sale for a mind-blowing $2.67! What a deal! There is  some great Whole Pantry pesto on sale in Grocery which would be delicious with the ravoili. Also, the olive bar is $8.99 a pound this week (saving you a dollar a pound), which is a great option for dressing up the ravioli. When you pick out the olives, roasted tomatoes, capers, and marinated artichoke hearts that you desire you can really get a lot for your money!

Also, look in Grocery for a beautiful BBQ grilling set. It is on sale for $19.99 (saving you $13!) and would be a great gift for many dads.

However you decide to honor your dad, or any other important dads in your life, make it a good one!

Seasonal Produce Abounds!

by raleigh, June 17, 2009 | Permalink

Just walking into the store and seeing the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables that come with this season can quickly bring a smile to your face! There are also so many wonderful local options to choose from which make it really easy to truly eat in season.

I tasted some of the nectarines that are on sale right now for $2.49 a pound and they could not be more perfectly delicious. Bursting with flavor and juicy goodness, they are the best that the summer season has to offer.

Check out the beautiful organic tomatoes that are on sale for only $1.99 a pound. If you are growing your own garden, it may be early still for your own tomatoes to be ripe, but these are an excellent way to hold you over until your own are ready for the picking.

As soon as you walk into the store, you will notice a great display of plump, local blueberries that are on sale for $2.99 a pint. These are so sweet and delicious, it is hard not to eat them by the handful!

If you are interested in really local and delicious blueberries, you could go check out Vollmer Farm in Bunn, where they have started  pick-your-own blueberries this year! They open up this weekend for picking and are so excited about sharing their different varieties of blueberries with everyone. This is truly a family friendly farm and they love visitors! Check them out here: http://www.vollmerfarm.com/ It is well worth the drive and your kids will thank you!

Great class this week with Chef Guna!

by raleigh, June 15, 2009 | Permalink

There is a really wonderful class that is scheduled for this week that will feature Raleigh’s own Chef Guna! You may know her by her smiling face and warm demeanor from the the Front End, but she has a wealth of culinary knowledge and expertise that is simply incredible.

Guna is originally from Singapore, a country where the flavors of India, China, Indonesia, and Europe are all present and intertwined. Speaking as someone who has had the immense pleasure of enjoying Guna’s home cooking, I can not recommend this class more! You will not find anyone as warm and wonderful and Guna and learning to cook four different dishes with her is worth well more than the $5 class fee.

The class is this Thursday, June 18th, at 6:30pm. Sign up at Customer Service or by calling the store at (919) 828-5805. You won’t be disappointed!

In the meantime, check out Guna’s newly launched website: www.chefgunasway.com

Tasty treats and cheap body care

by raleigh, June 13, 2009 | Permalink

Stop on by the Seafood counter with all those smiling and friendly faces for a great deal this week. Check out their wild caught salmon burgers on sale for $2.99 each. You can try them in teriyaki, jalepeno cheddar, lemon herb, spinach feta, or vidalia. These are a really quick and easy way to prepare salmon and are versatile when serving, as well. You can throw them on a bun with some fresh tomato, lettuce, and pickles, or you could just place the hot patty on top of a fresh, crisp spinach salad. The possibilities are endless!

Yummy peaches from Georgia are coming into season, now, too! Ah, the delicious days of summer. You can pick up some of these juicy treats for only $1.49 a pound right now.

Over in Whole Body, their 365 shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion are all on sale for 5 for $20 (in the big 32 ounce bottles). I am a huge fan of these, they are really affordable and provide a great every day item free of parabens and artificial additives. At this price, you can’t beat it! They come in several scents: mint, grapefruit, lavender, and unscented. A lot of people love to get the unscented variety and add their own oils, customizing the bottle for their own taste. It is a great time to check them out if you haven’t before.

Deals of the Day

by raleigh, June 10, 2009 | Permalink

The summer madness seems to have subsided just a bit, but there are still some great deals in the aisles! I have heard that the summer madness is going to be making a monthly appearance throughout the hotter months. Stay tuned for more details on that!

In the baking aisle, check out the Kashi TLC crackers up on the top shelf. Several flavors are on sale (including seven grain, honey sesame, and fire roasted vegetable) for 2 for $6. Check out the Whole Deal for a coupon good for a dollar off two boxes to help save even more. These are really tasty crackers and have all the whole grain goodness and love that all Kashi products contain. They are great for just snacking and are excellent for dipping or topping with so many possibilities.

Also, over in Specialty, one of my favorite products is on sale. Look in the refrigerated case with the packaged cheese for braided string cheese. This item is usually $5.99 each, but are on sale for $1.99 right now!! They are available in three flavors: marinated with herbs, smoked, and the original. They are so delicious, you may just find yourself ripping the package open in the car and snacking on it on your way home. This may be more likely if you are pregnant….the theory is still being tested. They are really delicious, in the car or anywhere!

New Whole Deal booklets are here!

by raleigh, June 7, 2009 | Permalink

When you get to the store, be sure to pick up the latest edition of the Whole Deal! There are over $30 in coupons contained in it, and also lots of great ideas for shopping on a budget.

The first recipe that you will come across is for watermelon lemonade and it sounds perfect! It uses only fresh watermelon, lemon juice, water, cane sugar, ice, and fresh sprigs of mint if you have it. Can’t you just taste that tart watermeloney goodness right now? Seedless watermelons are still on sale for $2.99 right now, so this is a perfect time to try that recipe out!

There are several weekly meal and picnic planners included throughout the booklet which set up a great template for making the most of your time and ingredients. There is also a “Learn to Cook” section, which is really helpful and makes it easy to learn to do things yourself (and for less). In this edition, they feature whole grilled chicken which really is an easy dish to put together. Don’t forget that if you buy a whole chicken from the Meat department one of the Team Members can cut it up for you, making it even easier.