Build a Better Lunch Box

by raleigh, July 31, 2009 | Permalink

Whether you are sending your kids off to school or packing your own lunch box for the day, there are some great resources on the Whole Foods Market website that can bring a whole new life to what can get old and tired.

You can find a list in Produce (near the bananas) that creates a really easy template for building that better lunch box helping you to choose options that cover all the nutritional needs for the meal and also providing some new ideas that can really brighten up your lunch! You can also access that ready-made list online as well as a plethora of other lunch box and back to school tools here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/backtoschool/

Going back to school (and work) can be so much more fun when you know you have a great lunch to look forward to!

Barbara’s Puffins

by raleigh, July 29, 2009 | Permalink

Are you on the eternal quest to find new and exciting cereals? It is a passion that many of us share because cereal is such a perfect snack or meal at any time of the day.

One of my favorites is Puffins, a cereal from Barbara’s Bakery. It comes in cinnamon, honey rice, orignal, and peanut butter flavors. You could eat it straight out of the box and enjoy its light and crispy texture or let it soak in milk for a minute or two to let the flavors really come out. They are also gluten free, a big bonus for anyone who wants to avoid wheat!

Puffins is named after the animal of the same name. Barbara’s has a particular fondness for them and named this cereal after the bird in an attempt to bring attention to these awesome little creatures. They were almost extinct from the coast of Maine when a dedicated effort came together to reintroduce and establish the puffin population. Through this cereal, Barbara’s Bakery has been able to be a part of this and help the puffins live and flourish!

Puffins cereal is on sale right now for $3 a box, and with the $1 coupon in the Whole Deal, you can bring home some Puffins of your own for a mere $2 making it a great time to stock up!

Sheri Castle Summer Tomato Class

by raleigh, July 27, 2009 | Permalink

One of the true gems of the Raleigh store are the Sheri Castle classes that are offered every month in the Lifestyle Center. For a mere $20 class fee, you get to be entertained and enlightened by the amazing Sheri Castle as she prepares a seasonal dish to tantalize your taste buds and increase your confidence in the kitchen. She knows food and she loves to share!

One of my favorite classes that she teaches is during the summer. They are always different, but it seems that almost every year there is one that has a heavy emphasis on tomatoes. She has a class coming up on Thursday August 6th  at 6:30pm that is all about luscious summertime tomatoes. Recipes will include Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho, No-Cook Cherry Tomato and Fresh Herb Pasta Sauce, and Green Tomato Pie. Wine pairings are served with each generous sample and she always provides recipes and guidance to the class so that you can recreate the dishes at home.

If you have never been to a Sheri Castle class, get together with a friend or two and treat yourself! Not only will you learn a great deal about ingredients and techniques that you may have never considered, but you will also have a great time doing it and will leave with a happy tummy!

Be sure to register early for this class, her classes do tend to sell out. Just call the store at (919)828-5805 or come to Customer Service to get your name on the class list.

Enjoy those tasty tomatoes of summer!

Local Pulled Pork Barbeque on sale!

by raleigh, July 22, 2009 | Permalink

Be sure to stop by the friendly Meat department this week where you can find NC pulled pork barbeque for only $3.99 a pound! This is truly North Carolina eating at its best. You can get enough to feed a crowd and at this price it will not break the bank. It is already fully cooked and ready to go, you just have to heat it in the microwave or steam it on the stovetop. Add some malt vinegar or maybe some hot sauce, and you are ready to go.

You can build your own dream plate! I know that mine includes barbeque, baked macaroni and cheese, and fresh North Carolina greens sauteed in olive oil and garlic. While we are at it, maybe an ear of corn on the side would be good, too. There is also a great classic potato salad on sale over in Prepared Foods for $1.99 a pound and that would be a great compliment to this barbeque, as well.

However you decide to dress it up, you can’t go wrong at this price. Support our local farmers! Eat North Carolina pork!

Roddey’s famous corn sauté

by raleigh, July 20, 2009 | Permalink

Many people that come to our store are familiar with Roddey who cooks up creative dishes with seasonal ingredients every Tuesday and Wednesday morning in Produce. One of his most popular dishes ever is his corn sauté. This seemingly simple dish is deceptively delicious and the distinct taste will linger in your memory for hours until you try and figure out what was in it so that you can recreate it at home. I’ve seen people come back to the store after having tried this dish, hours or even days later, with a certain look in their eyes, pleading with someone to find the recipe.

What makes this dish so special? It might be the uncommon combination of ingredients that takes you off guard and comes together to make a delicious and quite satisfying dish that hits every taste bud with several different textures, too. Never tried it? Here’s how you make it.

You’ll need several fresh ears of corn shucked off the cob, a small onion (vidalia, yellow or red are just fine), about a quarter cup of dried cranberries from bulk, a quarter cup of pecan pieces from bulk, a clove or two of crushed garlic, a tablespoon of olive oil, a few tablespoons of ginger tamari sauce (you’ll find this treasure in the seafood sauce cooler, around the corner form the counter and on the way back to the Meat department), and a sprinkling of ground black pepper.

Start by heating the olive oil in your pan and adding the corn, diced onions, and garlic. Let this cook down for just a minute and start to soften and add the cranberries and pecans, followed by the ginger tamari sauce. Let this simmer down for a couple more minutes to let all the flavors really come together. Sprinkle with black pepper, stir, and take a taste of one of the most wonderful dishes that you never expected.

Be sure to stop by and say hi to Roddey, and thank him for creating this Raleigh tradition.

Great times in Raleigh this weekend!

by raleigh, July 17, 2009 | Permalink

We’ve got some great things going on this weekend at the store! Tonight, for our Summer Series on the Porch, we have William D. Burton and his guitar on tap. He is one of our favorites and has played numerous times in our Series since we began it several years ago. He has played with some of the greats and is a really entertaining performer. Come grab some dinner and stay for the show out front. You will be glad that you did.

Also, join us this Sunday from 12-3:00 for a fun outdoor mini fiesta to help celebrate El Pueblo, Inc, who we are featuring this month in our Community Spotlight. El Pueblo works to support the Latino community in NC and to promote cross-cultural understanding.

We are excited to be hosting Colombian musician Pavelid Castaneda Florez for the event. Pavelid will entertain us with South American music played on his harp. Our celebration will also include free food and beverage samples with a Latin flair and colorful Latin American crafts for sale!

Hope to see you at both events!

Summer Madness Sale returns!

by raleigh, July 15, 2009 | Permalink

The return of the madness is upon us!

What does the madness mean for us this time around? Well, last week I was amazed at the plump juicy red cherries for only $2.99 a pound, and this week they have gone on sale for an incredible $1.99!!! Thoughts of pies, cobblers, yogurt, and pit spitting contests are running through my brain….

Check out the Bakery where the organic sandwich bread (white or wheat) is buy-one-get-one-free. Two loaves of organic bread for $3.49 can’t be beat! This bread freezes really well, so be sure to stock up on this great deal.

Ben and Jerry’s is still on sale, and don’t forget the coupon in the Whole Deal. Lining up the sale with the coupon makes these dreamy pints only $1.50 each.

Cruise on by the Seafood counter where you will find wild jumbo shrimp for $7.99 a pound, saving you over $5 a pound. Throw these Texas shrimp on the grill and enjoy every bite!

Up in Whole Body, there are French milled vegetable soaps buy-one-get-one-free, so you get two big bars for $5.99. These are perfect to keep stocked for quick gifts and will thrill any recipient. I’m partial to the lemon verbena scent, but the lavender and gardenia scents are also out of this world.

Stop by Floral this week, too, where you can add a bright burst of color to your home with a 10-stem bunch of gladiola for only $3! Bring a little sunshine into your life!

Ben and Jerry’s for $1.50?!

by raleigh, July 12, 2009 | Permalink

Yep, it’s true.

Right now all you smart and hungry deal seekers can get delicious Ben and Jerry’s famous Vermont ice cream for only $1.50 a pint. They are all buy-one-get-one-free right now, so you get two for $3.99. But wait! There is a $1 coupon off two pints in the Whole Deal booklet, bringing the price down to a mere $1.50!

So whether you are a fan of Chunky Monkey, Cinnamon Buns, Americone Dream, Cheesecake Brownie, or Phish Food……now’s a great time to stock that freezer! What a great deal!!

Feed the Farm CDs available now!

by raleigh, July 10, 2009 | Permalink

Feed the Farm’s first ever benefit CD is now exclusively on sale at all five Whole Foods Markets in North Carolina. The CD, Homegrown Music for the Soil, is a collaboration with North Carolina artists including Chatham County Line, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Tres Chicas, Mike Slaton, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and many more!

The CD is only $9 and all proceeds benefit Feed the Farm, a local non-profit that works to generate and distribute funds to NC farmers who are experiencing an acute financial crisis, as well as connecting them to available resources for support and aid.

Be a part of celebrating North Carolina!

Cool produce for hot Summer days

by raleigh, July 8, 2009 | Permalink

You’ve tried the pool, ceiling fans set on warp speed, and dreaming of glaciers, but still find yourself getting beat by the heat? Try eating some fruit! The cooling juicy taste of the season may just be part of Mother Nature’s coping strategy for these hot Summer days!

As you enter the store, you have to check out the cherries for $2.99 a pound! I can’t remember ever seeing these plump morsels of goodness at this low price. Interested in organic? You’ll pay just a dollar more.

Two pound packs of organic strawberries are only $4.99 a pound! They are deep red and delicious, everything that you could want in a berry. What a deal!

There are still sweet peaches on sale for 99 cents a pound, as well, and you just can’t beat a Southern peach.

The big bins of watermelons (both seedless and with seeds for you seed spitting contest lovers out there) are arriving daily at the store, a true sign that Summer is in full swing.

Ever tried to make your own refreshing popsicles? I love to buy whatever fruits are on sale and make them into my own frozen (and very affordable) treats. Throw them into the blender with whatever you have on hand- orange or other fruit juice, yogurt, milk, use your imagination! Pour it into popsicle molds or even ice cube trays. In just a few hours (or better yet overnight) you will have your very own gourmet Summer treat.