You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Are You a Grill Master?
June 12, 2013
The smell of a grill fired up and ready to cook a delicious meal is one that always makes my mouth start to water. Visions of kebabs, steaks and burgers on the grill dance in my mind, and I start thinking of the perfect grilled meals to make for as many days of the week as possible. My best recipe is probably ribs. My husband and I fire up the grill after I soak the ribs in my secret barbecue sauce all day long, and when they’re done, they’re gone in the blink of an eye. You might even say my recipe is worthy of the title of “Grill Master.”
Do you have a recipe that you think earns you the title of Grill Master, too? Then enter your grillin’ specialty in Food City’s latest Facebook contest for a chance to win a Char-Broil gas grill, a grillin’ tool kit and lots of snacks to make some backyard barbecue fun this summer!
Grill On!
- Meg Jensen, Power Shopper
Food City Cake Decorator Wins International Contest
June 7, 2013
There’s nothing more intriguing than a beautifully-decorated cake. The way the frosting makes the beautiful flowers and designs is something that always causes viewers to take a moment and stare in wonder.
Food City cake decorator, Rebecca Lougheed from Greeneville, TN, is a creator of these kinds of cakes and this week, she WON the 18th Annual International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) Cake Decorating Challenge in Orlando, FL! She was originally selected as a finalist out of 68 entries spanning 31 supermarket chains nationwide.
Rebecca is a cake decorator at the Snapps Ferry Road Food City in Greeneville. In regards to cake decorating, she said, “I’m thrilled to get paid to do something I love so much. It’s really fun to exchange ideas with my customers about the cake they are ordering. The look on their face when they pick it up makes it all worthwhile. I love seeing people happy with my creations.”
You can order cakes from Food City in-store and online at FoodCity.com!
-The Power Shoppers
The Easiest Way to Cool Off
May 30, 2013
How many times do you hear the ice cream truck drive by your house during the warm summer months? Your kids run to the door saying, “Can we get some, Mom, PLEASE?!” with a look of hope in their eyes. Us moms know that it’s not a healthy option to always let your kids indulge in an ice cream treat. Recently, however, I discovered a frozen treat that my kids love (not to mention, it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever made). Follow this recipe below and watch your kids’ faces light up when you tell them they can have this dessert every night!
Watermelon Slushies
Ingredients:
1 watermelon from Food City
Directions:
The night before serving, puree 6 cups chopped seedless watermelon in a blender until smooth, pour into a shallow airtight container and freeze. Let the frozen watermelon thaw slightly, then mash with a fork and spoon into cups.
[Image and Recipe Credit: Food Network]
- Lorrie Stewart, Power Shopper
Fire Up the Grill Vegetarian-Style
May 23, 2013
In the South, it need not be Memorial Day to signify the start of the grilling season. Southern barbecue is a culinary art practiced year round. Traditionally, BBQ involves meat—primarily pork, beef, chicken or lamb—with distinctive regional sauce recipes. But what’s to keep you from grilling some delicious vegetarian-style dishes? During the hot summer months, nothing tastes better than a light yet satisfying meal. With that smoky, delicious flavor, veggies on the barbie are the perfect unconventional southern-summer meal solution. Here are some tips:
- Vegetables best suited on the grill include eggplant, summer squash, mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, asparagus and onions. Steer clear of cucumbers and leafy vegetables with a high water content.
- Cut vegetables into same-size pieces so they cook uniformly. Toss in olive oil and season with herbs, like parsley, sage, rosemary and (you know what comes next!) thyme.
- Alternative proteins, like tempeh and extra-firm tofu (both soybean products), are great when marinated then grilled. Slice into ½ to ¾-inch thick pieces, coat with a teriyaki-based marinade or barbeque sauce. Allow to sit and soak up the flavors for 30 minutes prior to grilling.
- Using skewers or a grilling basket can prevent vegetables or vegetarian-friendly proteins from falling through the grates. Don’t put too much in at one time, as overloading the basket will simply steam the contents.
Happy Grilling!
- Audrey Kessler, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian for Food City. Contact Audrey at RD@foodcity.com.
Growth and Changes at Food City
May 17, 2013
“We continue to improve and modify our stores in the Knoxville market with the end result of hopefully taking better care of the consumer.” – Steve Smith
Get the latest on some Food City initiatives in WBIR’s interview with CEO Steve Smith:
Graduation Day Checklist
May 8, 2013
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss
Perhaps one of the most sentimental times of year is when the school days start to come to an end. What makes it even more emotional is when you have a child that is graduating! Whether its pre-school or college, graduation is a special, busy time that gets here all too quickly. And before you know it, there are invitations to send, parties to plan and presents to buy. To help you with the process, I put together a graduation day checklist below:
Photo from Mixblog
1.) Invitations – As you’re racking your brain for good ideas for invitations to your son or daughter’s graduation, search on the Internet (at sites like this and this) for invitation and party ideas. Or you can check out the great selection in the card aisle at Food City, where Gibson Greeting Cards are also 40% off everyday!
2.) Cap and gown – More often than not, your graduate will find out about ordering these through his/her school, but don’t forget to remind your child to be on the lookout! You definitely can’t graduate without a cap and gown and sometimes our kids forget things oh so very easily. 
3.) Party supplies – Stocking up on party supplies is easy on Food City Direct! You can pick any color scheme you want for your party and order it online. Food City also has a lot of great decorations in-store.
4.) Graduation treats – Order party trays and graduation-themed cupcakes online ahead of time here. Then pick them up on graduation day and you’ll have a fully catered (and delicious) celebration.
5.) The perfect gift – Have you decided what you’re getting your graduate to celebrate one of the biggest accomplishments of his/her life? Knowing how plugged in my graduate will want to be in college next year, I will be choosing a gift from the variety of electronics available on foodcitydirect.com.
What else would you add to the list? Congratulations on making it to this exciting time!
-Katie Swanson, Power Shopper
Mother’s Day Gifts Galore
May 2, 2013
I think Mother’s Day is the easiest occasion to buy gifts for your mom. Since it’s spring, flowers are always a great go-to option. Almost every mom likes to feel pampered as well so there are spa packages. And of course baked goods and candy are there for the moms that like to indulge in a little something sweet. Here’s my top five list of gifts for Mother’s Day 2013 from Food City:
1.) Cake Pops
2.) Begonias
4.) Cucumber Melon Relaxation Gift Set
5.) Mother’s Day Cookies Gift Tote
Happy Mother’s Day!
- Jill Montgomery, Power Shopper
Giving Back to Your Community
April 23, 2013
I’m a huge supporter of giving back to my community and taking good care of our planet. Thankfully, Food City is too! They are supporting two initiatives this year that benefit our planet and community: selling locally grown produce and offering ways to recycle for Earth Day.
Food City’s first initiative makes it so that a lot of the produce and products we pick up each week are grown right in our own community. In the latest Local Growers video, we meet Harvey Lafollette, a grower from Surgoinsville, TN, who provides Food City with beautiful flowers.
Food City’s second initiative gives you two chances to give back to your community in honor of Earth Day this week. On Saturday, April 27, Food City is hosting a Goodwill clothing drive. You can drop your lightly used clothing off at participating locations between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
In order to further eliminate waste and in effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft —you can also bring expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and OTC medications to these locations on the 27th.
You can also help by doing little things like bringing reusable bags to shop and loading coupons onto your ValuCard instead of cutting them out!
– Meg Jensen, Power Shopper
How to Choose Stress-Reducing Foods
April 12, 2013
When the stress sets in, it is easy to reach for salty snacks and comforting sweets like cookies and ice cream. But healthier foods are a better choice. That’s because an overall balanced diet has the ability to improve mood, strengthen the immune system and reduce blood pressure—all actions that can reduce stress. Here are some smart food picks to help you lower your stress level:
Get Your C’s – Foods high in Vitamin C such as oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruits can help boost immune function and lower stress hormone levels. Other not-so-obvious foods containing Vitamin C include red bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, kale and cauliflower. Eat the rainbow and “C” how it helps to lessen your stress!
Be Complex – Whole grains—like brown rice, oatmeal, air-popped popcorn, 100% whole wheat bread or English muffins—as well as vegetables and fruits contain complex carbohydrates, which may help the brain increase production of serotonin. Because serotonin aids in mood regulation, you could feel more upbeat when eating your grains and greens!
Tea Time – Certain teas, including peppermint and chamomile, are frequently consumed for their calming effect and for relieving symptoms of stress, like insomnia and stomach disorders. During cooler weather or closer to bedtime, they are also a nice, warming comfort.
Go Fish and Go Nuts! – Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the flow of stress hormones and protect against depression. Foods rich in Omega-3’s include fatty fish (such as salmon and mackerel) and nuts (like almonds, pistachios and walnuts). Remember to watch your portions: a serving of almonds is 24, pistachios is 49 and walnuts is 14 halves. Delicious foods that make you feel more positive?! That should immediately improve your outlook!
For tips to reduce stress when shopping and planning for healthy meals, visit TNhealthandwellness.com. Click the “Tri-Cities Edition” tab to read my April is Stress Awareness Month: Grocery Shopping Solutions article.
- Audrey Kessler, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian for Food City. Contact Audrey at RD@foodcity.com.
Resources:
Huso D. Fight Stress with Food? Yes, Really! Today’s Dietitian. Available at: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/healthandnutrition/health/fight-stress-with-food.shtml. Accessed March 24, 2013.
UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. Eat Right, Drink Well, Stress Less: Stress-Reducing Foods, Herbal Supplements and Teas. Available at: http://exploreim.ucla.edu/nutrition/eat-right-drink-well-stress-less-stress-reducing-foods-herbal-supplements-and-teas/. Accessed March 3, 2013.
Couponing Made Easy
April 5, 2013
I love using coupons. But they always seem to be getting in the way, out of order, dirty or destroyed. Then the other day I was watching TV and saw this commercial play featuring one of my Power Shopper friends:
After I was done jumping up and down with excitement, I logged on to my.foodcity.com and started loading coupons onto my card immediately. The next time I went shopping, the savings were automatically subtracted from my bill once my card was scanned. Now that adding coupons to my card with eValuCard Savers is so convenient, that’s all I’ll ever use.
Food City’s latest Facebook contest is giving everyone a chance to win a $250 Food City gift card just for having a ValuCard and using it to save in April. Go here to enter!
- Wanda Johnson, Power Shopper
