Author: Rosella Presta

Whether you like your peanut butter crunchy or smooth, these delicious peanut butter recipes will bring lots of smiles to the dinner table. Whether you want savory peanut butter dishes or are looking for a sweet treat with easy peanut butter desserts to round off a delectable dinner evening with friends, we have the perfect peanut butter recipes for you to try.

Savory Peanut Butter Recipes

Peanut butter is the secret winning ingredient in the dishes below. Adding peanut butter to your meals makes them more flavorful, and being high in fiber and protein, it also helps you to stay fuller for longer. Try these savory peanut butter recipes, and you won’t look at your jar of peanut butter in the same way again:

Thai Peanut Chicken– The peanut sauce in this Thai dish really gives it the edge over other Thai dishes. Top Tip- marinade the chicken overnight in the sauce ready to skillet the next day, and your meal will be ready in 5-8 minutes! Quick and delicious, you can’t beat that.

African Peanut Stew– Everyone loves a good hearty stew. This one is sure to become your favorite go-to peanut butter recipe. Packed full of flavor, with earthy spices, this stew is the perfect option when you want something healthy and meat-free.

Spiralized Pad Thai– This dish is so delicious you won’t even realize there are no noodles! A fantastic take on a traditional pad Thai, with the peanut butter adding the perfect nuttiness, this is a great midweek meal. Make extra so you can have leftovers for lunch the next day!

On the Sweet Side

Peanut butter is so versatile we can even show you some sweet peanut butter recipes that we know you’re just going to love. These are some super easy peanut butter recipes for you to make at home:

Peanut Butter Banana Oats– Have these oats for breakfast, dessert, or a snack! The peanut butter adds a depth of flavor that will ensure you are never going to use another oats recipe again.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie– Just reading the title of the recipe is enough to cause mouths to salivate. Chill overnight before blending to create optimum thickness for a dessert or breakfast treat that will leave you feeling very satisfied.

Shop for Peanut Butter at Caputo’s

We would add peanut butter to almost anything! Try adding a dollop of it to make easy peanut butter desserts and treats to turn your boring old recipes into something new and exciting like your own peanut butter fudge recipe or peanut butter cookie recipe. Stock up on peanut butter by shopping online at Caputo’s or in-store and try more of our delicious peanut butter recipes.

From Our Family To Yours

We love the month of March and the start of the spring season at Caputo’s. With the lighter days and slightly warmer temperatures comes a host of fresh seasonal ingredients that really flourish this time of year. It’s time to start putting away your heavy stews and soups and look towards lighter, refreshing fruits and vegetables that pair greatly with different proteins or are great on their own. These are sure to give you a spring in your step in keeping with the season! 

What Produce Is in Season in March 

March foods include a lot of green vegetables! Think of asparagus, artichokes, lettuce, and more. Here is our full run-down of some of our favorite March seasonal foods: 

• Artichokes                                                             
• Asparagus 
• Bananas 
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli 
• Brussel Sprouts 
• Cabbage 
• Cauliflower 
• Celery 
• Kiwi
• Lemons 
• Lettuce 
• Limes 
• Onions
• Mushrooms
• Peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Strawberries

Recipes for March Seasonal Foods 

Check out three of our favorite recipes that include March seasonal food. These recipes will have you delighting in all things spring for the whole season: 

Our Artichoke Pesto and Kale Pizza with Sundried Tomatoes is calling out to be eaten al fresco with friends under some budding trees. The best thing about this recipe is that it is super quick and easy to make, so as soon as the sun is shining, you can invite your friends over and whip this up in minutes!  

Lemon-Baked Salmon with Asparagus is not only delicious but delightfully light and healthy. This is the perfect recipe for when you are looking for simple, clean food that is still full of flavor and feels special.  

Our recipe list wouldn’t be complete without something a little sweet! Strawberry Mango Popsicles are the ideal way to end a scrumptious spring feast or to eat as a snack midway through a sunny afternoon. Mango and strawberry make such a good combination you’ll be making these popular treats every week. 

Shop Your March Seasonal Food at Caputo’s 

We love delighting in recipes that take advantage of the fresh seasonal produce that we offer in-store and online at Caputo’s. Check out more of our recipes that include March foods. We have a handy tool so that you can pop the ingredients straight from the recipe into your cart, so you know you have everything you need to create the best March seasonal food at the click of a button. Or, see us in person and shop at your nearest Caputo’s store.  

From Our Family To Yours

March 8th is International Women’s Day. It is the day to honor and celebrate the achievements of women. 

In thinking about the meaning of this day, I cannot help but to think of two incredible women who deserve so much praise– Romana Caputo and Antonella Caputo Presta. Both women have led a life of sacrifice and are the backbone of our company.

Our matriarch and my grandmother, Romana Caputo, was one of the best women there was. Any person who has crossed her path is sure to tell you a memory centered around her cooking skills, generosity, or classiness. A self taught cook, she spent hours in the kitchen–  preparing feasts, cookies for weddings or parties, or a simple dinner… which could probably rival the best meal you’ve had. No one who encountered my Nonna was left hungry. She loved her family and did everything she could for them, no questions asked. It was her mission to make sure all of her loved ones were happy and she did everything she could to lift others up. She was always there for her husband, Angelo Caputo, as his biggest support and his rock through his long, grueling days of hard work. She made sacrifices to help him achieve his dreams. She had the biggest heart and the kindest soul. The picture of class, she made everyone in her presence feel like a part of her family. It is inspired by her beauty and exceptional cooking skills that we get the name of our private label, La Bella Romana. Translated to the Beautiful Romana,  Angelo created our private label as a way to acknowledge all she did for our family and company. Although gone too soon, she has left a beautiful legacy and we continue to honor her in every way that we can. Her spirit and her mission lives on through her daughter, Antonella.

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My mother, Antonella Caputo Presta, is the rock of our family and a foundational pillar in our company. She has made it her mission to make sure the legacy and work of her parents do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. What she doesn’t realize is that the same traits that she so proudly uses to describe my grandparents are the very same traits that she embodies. Strong, smart, and hard working like Angelo and generous, humble, and classy like Romana… just to name a few. She will never look for credit or draw attention to anything she does, but we would not be where we are today without her. She started working at a very young age. She would take early morning trips to Michigan with Angelo to pick up fresh produce at the age of about 9 years old. She can tell you about the freezing days at the original store on Harlem and Wrightwood, the distinct smell of the store that brings tears to her eyes at just the thought of it, or her exceptional skills in the front end (she could beat anybody in a bagging groceries competition.) She will sacrifice her happiness just to see a smile on the faces of her kids or grandkids. She has taught us the importance of family, which I am so grateful for as my siblings are my best friends. She is always there for advice, a story, a prayer, a hug, a meal, and anything else you may need. 

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I am blessed to have such strong, beautiful women in my life and am so grateful to be able to call Romana Caputo and Antonella Caputo Presta my role models.

Happy International Women’s Day to all the beautiful women ❤️

From Our Family To Yours

Pasta… it seems simple right? As an Italian family, we know that pasta is much more layered. When you want pasta for dinner there are a lot of decisions– what cut, what sauce, anything in the pasta. So let’s break it down

The cuts

Pastina

Pastina is a very,very small type of pasta. You can usually find it in soups, but eaten on its own is like the ultimate comfort food! People love to enjoy pastina with an egg, cheese, and so many other options. Some cuts of pastina include stelline, ditalini, orzo, acini di pepe, and more.

Short cuts

A short cut of pasta is one you can pick up using a fork. There are so many shapes and types that it can be hard to choose! Short cuts are usually hollow or have a shape that makes it great to collect sauce or the add-ins. The great thing about short cuts of pasta is that they are great for collecting sauce! You can choose the classic penne or rigatoni– each cut also has different sizes. There is orecchiette which got its name from the shape and it means little ear (plus it’s a Barese favorite,) this shape is great for collecting sauce and add-ins as one side kind of caves in.  Then you also have cavatappi, rotini, shells, farfalle… the options are endless!

Long cuts

A long cut of pasta is one that you usually have to twist with a fork. These are great for smooth sauces or heavier sauces! Twirling the pasta around the fork makes it a great vessel for scooping up sauce. Long cuts range from incredibly thin like angel hair to thicker like laganelle. There’s even bucatini which is round with a hole through the middle. 

Add-Ins

There are tons of items you can add into your pasta to really change the flavor and make it even more delicious!

• Sausage crumbles
• Broccoli or rapini 
• Chili flakes
• Toasted breadcrumbs
• Ricotta or mozzarella
• Red peppers
• Peas
• Fresh lemon zest

Top with fresh parmigiana or pecorino romano and you have a tasty dish!

Want some pasta dishes to try out? Check out these 4 recipes!

Crispy Cauliflower and Garlic Pasta

Full of delicious flavors and unique, this pasta is a simple must try!

Baked Bocconcini and Gnocchi in a Rich Tomato Sauce

Creamy, velvety, and cheesy… what more can you ask for in pasta? Fresh cheese and a delicious sauce, this will warm you up!

Creamy Lemon Pasta with Bacon and Peas

A bright and light pasta contrasted with the saltiness of bacon and peas, this pasta is great all year round!

Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli 

This fan favorite pasta is bursting with flavor and sure to please the whole crowd.

These recipes and many more available online on The Recipe Rack

From Our Family To Yours

As the month continues we go into our next holiday… Fat Tuesday! 

Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Tradition has it that you are supposed to eat rich, fatty foods before Lent. Lent starts a period of fasting and reflecting, so many people take the day before as an opportunity to indulge and give into your cravings! 

This celebration is adapted from many different cultures– Carnivale, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, and more. One of our favorite ways to celebrate has been adapted from Polish culture.

A must have on Fat Tuesday– Paczki! Paczki are a Polish donut usually with some kind of sweet filling in the middle. In the month of February there are two days dedicated to enjoying Paczki– Fat Tuesday and National Paczki Day. Fat Tuesday is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) and National Paczki Day is the Thursday before that. This is because in Poland many people indulge in Paczki on the Thursday before Lent, known as Fat Thursday or Tlusty Czwartek. It can be dated back to centuries ago when people would use up all the ingredients in their house before fasting for Lent. The use of eggs, milk, sugar, etc. would result in a delicious treat with a sweet filling. 

Many people believe that not enjoying a Paczki on these days can lead to bad luck… and who would want to risk that?

Looking to indulge on this Fat Tuesday? You’ve come to the right place!

We have a full line of standard and gourmet paczki!  

Standard

The classics that you can never go wrong with! There is a flavor for everyone.

• Raspberry
• Apricot
• Strawberry
• Cheese
• Bavarian Cream
• Cherry

Gourmet

Love the standard ones, but want to spice it up a bit? These fillings made in house take our paczki to the next level. 

• Boston Cream
• Nutella Mousse
• Strawberry & Whipped Cream
• Apple
• Cannoli

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These are must tries! Available on 2/16 and 2/21, we will see you at one of our 8 locations 🙂

From Our Family To Yours

Getting ready to spend your Sunday sitting around the TV with friends and family for a Big Game party? There are tons of things to look forward to on Sunday, but here are three things we’re looking forward to… the game itself, the halftime show, and the food! 

People go all out with their game day spreads, eating the classic football watching foods. If you’re hosting, but have too much to do to think about what food to prep, we have you covered! 

Our catering department has tons of party trays and dishes that are great to feed a crowd. So if you need part of your feast covered.

Here are 5 catering trays that are sure to leave all the fans fed and happy!

Spinach Dip Bowl

This platter includes a Hawaiian Round Bread cut open and filled with our homemade spinach dip. The tray comes with veggies and pita chips for dipping. The best part? The bowl is edible!

Mini Bouchon Sandwich Platter

This platter is a great addition to any feast! A pre-game snack, 4th quarter pick-me-up, or late night snack… these sandwiches are a perfect size. Plus, if there are any sandwiches leftover, they are easy to pack in your kid’s lunchbox the next day. This platter includes a mix & match of Various Mini Sandwiches– Prosciutto & Provolone, Mortadella & Mozzarella, Ham & Swiss, Turkey & American Cheese. Plus, there are 3 different size trays so you can get the amount of sandwiches that works best for you.

American Classic Meat Platter

What’s more American than football? That’s why this deli tray is a must! With 5 different lunch meats on the platter, this is great for everyone. This tray comes with Smoked Ham, Honey Ham, Krakus Ham, Hard Salami, and La Bella Romana Oven Browned Turkey and is available in 3 different sizes

Mini Chicken Caesar Wrap

Another great option is our mini chicken Caesar wraps! Flour Tortilla Wraps, Rolled with Breaded Chicken Strips, Fresh Lettuce, Caesar Dressing & Fresh Parmesan… it’s a delicious and different platter to serve your guests!

Dip-n-Snack Platter

Everyone loves chips and dip! With so many dips to choose from, our dip-n-snack platter is a great option because there is something for everyone. This tray includes Homemade Fresh Pico De Gallo, Homemade Fresh Guacamole, Homemade Fresh Spinach Dip, Homemade Fresh Artichoke Dip, Homemade Fresh BLT Dip, Refried Beans, and Cheese Salsa.

These are just a few of the many options. Browse our catering menu to order whatever you need and stop in for all your gameday needs!

From Our Family To Yours

With February being Heart Health Month, we thought we would highlight a sample of our delicious meals that look after your heart but don’t compromise on flavor. These ideas include heart healthy recipes for dinner, lunch, as well as dessert! Make enough for leftovers to whip up an easy meal with minimal effort.

Heart Healthy Recipes

The American Heart Association is encouraging us to eat a wider variety of foods, and nothing could be easier with the heart healthy recipes we have available for you. Heart healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, cereals, lean meats, deli meats, poultry, fish, and more. You can find all of these ingredients in our four hand-selected recipes specially chosen for Heart Health Month.

Try one of our heart healthy recipes today, knowing you get a delectable, nutritious meal that also keeps your heart happy:

One Dish Dill and Lemon Baked Salmon

We all love a one dish recipe. You can enjoy this heart healthy dish even more by knowing there’s only one dish to clean! Just swap out the butter for trans-fat-free margarine.

Sweet Potato and Spinach Quesadillas

Easily reheated in a skillet, make more than you need, and you have an easy ready-made but heart healthy recipe to have at any time of day!

White Bean Chili

Our White Bean Chili has all the vegetables, lean poultry, and flavor you need from any heart healthy chicken recipe. This low-maintenance recipe can also be cooked in a slow cooker that will be ready for you when you get in from your busy day.

Annie’s Apple Crisp

Just swap out the butter for trans-fat-free margarine and the granulated sugar for sweetener. Enjoy this sweet dessert as a treat to finish off a well-rounded heart healthy meal that leaves you feeling full and satisfied.

For more heart healthy recipes, browse Caputo’s full range of recipes and shop online or in-store!

From Our Family To Yours

As a way to honor our founder, our family, inspired by Angelo’s love of wine, created 2 new wines as a tribute to his legacy and hard work. 

In 2021, we lost the heart and soul of our family and our business, Angelo Caputo. Committed to honoring him and making sure his legacy lives on, we began brainstorming new ways we could do so. Antonella, his daughter, knew a perfect way. 

Angelo always used to say “I work hard and I play hard” and he was well known to have a glass of Cabernet at dinner— a way to end his day after long, grueling hours of hard work. With this in mind, Antonella initiated the process of a private label wine. It is a way to have Angelo’s name grace the dinner table of both our own family—  as anywhere he was surrounded by his family was his favorite place to be— and other families. 

Angelo has a beautiful story, he came here with the goal of living out the American Dream and he accomplished that goal with strength, grit, and humility. We know that so many other immigrants from his generation have similar stories of coming to America in hopes of a better life for their future families. With this wine, we toast to Angelo and to all those who worked hard to accomplish their goals. The back of our Angelo Caputo wine reads this in their honor

“Cheers to Angelo Caputo, an Italian-American immigrant who proudly and courageously lived out the American Dream and loved his family above all else. A toast to his legacy and to the generations of hard workers. From Our Family To Yours, Salute!”

We partnered with a family vineyard in Sonoma County California to create two varieties of Angelo Caputo wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The wine is now available in store and online!

From Our Family To Yours, Salute

The Benefits of Chia Seeds

Did you know that chia seeds come from the plant Salvia hispanica, a part of the mint family? These tiny (2-millimeter) seeds are packed full of goodness and nutrients and are easy to incorporate into your daily diet. So, exactly what are the benefits of chia seeds? Read on to find out, and for some delicious chia seed recipes.

What Are the Benefits of Chia Seeds?

Although small, the benefits of chia seeds are phenomenal. Two tablespoons of chia seeds (about 25 grams) contain:

• 4.1g protein
• 2g carbohydrates
• 8.6g fiber
• 7g fat
• 158mg calcium
• 84mg magnesium
• 93mg iron
• 15mg zinc
• 68mg manganese

Chia seeds may contribute to all sorts of health benefits, including:

• Lowering the risk of heart disease due to the amount of fiber and ALA (an omega-3 fatty acid) they contain. They also help with lowering blood pressure in people with hypertension.
• Promoting bone health. The number of minerals in each portion of chia seeds makes a significant contribution to the amount needed for good bone health. The amount of calcium in 2 tablespoons of milk, for example, is 38.1mg compared to 158mg in the equivalent of chia seeds.
• Reducing the risk of diabetes because the poly-unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber in chia seeds all help to stabilize the body’s blood sugar levels.

Hopefully, these benefits of chia seeds have tempted you to try out some chia seed recipes! Need some inspiration? We at Caputo’s are happy to provide you with delicious recipes for every meal of the day. Try out our 3 nutritious chia seeds recipes that are really simple to make and all use chia seeds in different ways. Enjoy these tasty treats and reap the health benefits that go alongside them! Here are 3 recipes to try that are easy to make and all have chia seeds!

1. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
2. Caramelized Banana Baked Oats
3. Peanut Butter Banana Oat

Easy to incorporate into a meal or snack and full of nutrients, chia seeds are a great ingredient!

From Our Family To Yours

January is the perfect time to focus on self-improvement and try new things. One way to do that is by participating in Dry January, which involves abstaining from alcohol for the entire month. This gives your body a much-needed break after the indulgences of the holiday season and allows you to try new, non-alcoholic drink options.

With that in mind, here are three delicious non-alcoholic sparkling water mixed drink recipes that are easy to make and sure to satisfy your cravings:

Mojito Mocktail:

· ¼ cup lime juice

· ¼ cup simple syrup

· 10 mint leaves

· 1 tsp lime zest

· 1 cup sparkling water

1. In a small saucepan, heat the lime juice and simple syrup over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.

2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the mint leaves and lime zest. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes.

3. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher.

4. Add the sparkling water to the pitcher and stir to combine.

5. Serve the mojito mocktail over ice, garnished with mint leaves and a slice of lime.

Lemon, Cucumber, and Mint Infused Water:

· 2 cups water

· 1 cucumber, sliced

· 1 lemon, sliced

· 5 mint leaves

1. In a large pitcher, combine the water, cucumber slices, lemon slices, and mint leaves.

2. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.

3. Serve the infused water over ice, garnished with additional cucumber slices and lemon slices if desired.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria:

· 1 lemon, sliced

· 1 lime, sliced

· 1 orange, sliced

· ¼ cup cranberries

· ¼ cup cranberry juice

· ¼ cup grape juice

· 2 tbsp lemon juice

· 1 cup sparkling water

1. In a large pitcher, combine the lemon slices, lime slices, orange slices, cranberries, cranberry juice, grape juice, and lemon juice.

2. Stir the mixture until the fruit is evenly distributed.

3. Add the sparkling water to the pitcher and stir to combine.

4. Serve the non-alcoholic sangria over ice, garnished with additional fruit slices if desired.

With these refreshing non-alcoholic sparkling water mixed drinks, your Dry January will be a breeze! For more dry January recipes and mixed drink ideas, visit Caputo’s and explore our selection of non-alcoholic drinks and ingredients.

From Our Family To Yours