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Grilling Season

As school winds down and the warm weather approaches, we know that it is almost summer! Memorial Day Weekend is usually considered the start of summer. Summer means a lot of things to many people. One thing is that summer is equivalent with grilling season! Being able to sit outside and enjoy some good barbecue with people you love creates some of the best summer memories. We can help you create some barbecue memories because we have all the grilling essentials you need this summer!

There are so many things that taste better when they are out on the grill. One of those things is corn. You can either  put the corn on there with the husks and everything or peel the husks, remove the silk, add your seasonings, and let the corn sit on the grill. This gives the corn a delicious and fresh flavor. The grill leaves the corn warmed and with an unmatched and distinct taste. In my opinion, corn on the cob isn’t complete without some butter and salt!

Feeling adventurous? Try grilling your pineapple! You can cut your pineapple into rings or spears, then put them on the grill. Grilling pineapple allows for the natural sweetness to caramelize and gives it a delicious taste that can be used
in so many ways. Some enjoy grilled pineapple with ice cream as a dessert and some even add grilled pineapple to their burgers!

 

Then there is the main event of all barbecues– the meat! Our meat department offers a variety of the freshest products perfect for your barbecue. Our unique items will give your party or dinner a delicious and flavorful twist!

One option is our kabobs. Our chicken and steak kabobs come on skewers with peppers and onions. We also offer some pre-marinated kabobs for a different flavor

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Everyone loves a good burger. Our ground round, chuck, or top sirloin burgers are all incredibly juicy. If you’re looking for something a little different to add to your menu, try our stuffed burgers! With three different options, these can satisfy a range of people. For those who like spicy, try our jalapeno cheddar burgers. For those that like cheese, we offer a blue cheese stuffed burger. For the meat lovers, try our bacon cheddar burgers! These will melt in your mouth and make your tastebuds dance with flavor!

Can’t forget the sausage– our homemade sausage! Our sausage is made in house daily. Our recipe has been tweaked and perfected over the years. It is made th old-world way, by hand using lean pork and private seasoning blend. There is nothing quite like our homemade sausage. Hot or mild, links or rope, traditional or barese– we have it and we have dedicated a lot of time and effort to making it perfect.

We hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day Weekend. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who are currently serving or have served our country,as well as their families. We especially remember the fallen soldiers who gave their lives to protect us.

From Our Family To Yours

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Always Keep Growing

Now that the weather is warming up, it is time to start tending to the garden. The sunshine is sure to help the plants grow! We have recently gotten some new and excited additions to our garden center! These new plants have special features that will change the gardening game. We even have some plants that can help you to teach younger kids how garden!

One of the new types of flowers we have are impatiens! Impatiens go by many different names including jewelweeds, touch-me-nots, and sapweeds. These bedding plants are unique because of the bright colors and the way they grow, impatiens like shade! Impatiens are some of the few plants that actually thrive in the shade as long as they have enough water! You want to make sure you water your impatiens regularly in order to keep the moisture. These bright colored flowers are a great way to add a little diversity to your garden.

The warmer weather usually means that all the bugs come out, especially the mosquitos. The bugs can put a damper on your outdoor activities, but we’ve got a plant to solve that– citronella! A member of the geranium family, these plants carry the scent of citronella. The leaves of the plant can be crushed and then rubbed on your skin where the citronella scent will help to repel mosquitoes naturally. Some people like to plant these near their patios or near the place they spend time outside for easy access.

We will also have Sunfinity sunflowers! These sunflowers were designed to grow continuously, all season long! A unique feature of these plants is that after they are cut, they will re-grow. They have many stems which lead to many flowers- you can cut a flower to bring inside your home and the flower will grow again. It is a clean cut that will leave no messy pollen for you to clean up once inside. They will grow fast and require little maintenance, all you have to do is prune and deadhead them! This allows for beautiful sunflowers to brighten up your home and your home garden all season long!

If you are looking to spruce up your garden, but also help teach your kids how to grow, checkout Chef Jeff’s Plants! There are a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to make your home garden special. The plants for kids include Peter the Pumpkin, Tommy the Tomato, Sherry the Strawberry, and more! Starting Thursday 5/16/19, every child will get a special Caputo’s goody bag with the purchase of a Chef Jeff plant! The goody bags include a special activity book includes details about the plant and how to care for it. The goody bags will also include a few more fun surprises for the kids! These are only available while supplies last, so stop by and get yours soon!

From Our Family To Yours

 

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Easy Ways to Show Mom You Care This Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day so close, we take a moment to think about all the strong women who have had an influence in our lives. We think about all the love and guidance they have given us and use Mother’s Day as an opportunity to say “thank you” for all they have done. If you’re still not sure what to give your loved ones on this special day, we have some options for you!

A simple gift to show you care is flowers– the gift that keeps on giving. With flowers, you are giving a gift that is pleasing to look at, sparks happiness, has a great aroma, and can remind the recipient of you 😉 Our garden centers are open and have an assortment of flowers. From hanging baskets to potted plants, there are many different colors and types that can appeal to anyone. If you would rather have an arrangement, check out our floral department! Our talented florists can create beautiful bouquets and arrangements that will leave your mom impressed!

You can cook her breakfast! Come grab all the fixings you need to make a stay at home brunch. You won’t have to leave your house and it will be delicious. Bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, pancakes, french toast– whatever mom likes, we can help you make! If you want to put a fun spin on french toast, make panettone french toast! Panettone is an italian sweet bread and a fun replacement for your classic french toast recipe. The consistency of panettone makes it a unique meal option sure to please a crowd. While panettone are usually enjoyed on major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day, we have some available now! Maina panettone are wrapped in cellophane and a smaller panettone which make it easier to bake with and to eat individually. The panettone can be given as a gift!

If your mom has a sweet tooth, we’ve got just the thing for you! Available on Friday (5/10) we will have heart shaped cannoli cakes! These cakes are great, especially if you’re in charge of dessert! It consists of yellow sponge cake and cannoli filling. They are shaped in a heart and decorated with beautiful buttercream flowers. This simple gesture shows mom you care while nourishing her stomach, just like I’m sure she did for you!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, especially the moms in the Caputo family. Romana Caputo and Antonella Caputo Presta are both embodiments of strong, incredible women. They have taught us and helped us to grow. They have inspired us and nourished our hearts, minds, and souls. They are each amazing mothers and grandmothers who bring such joy to those lucky enough to have them as influences. Happy Mother’s Day Nonna Romana and Mommy, we love you ❤️

From Our Family To Yours

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Olé

The beginning of May is the start of many festivities– from graduations to Mother’s Day, there is plenty to celebrate. One important celebration that occurs at the beginning of each May is Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo is often mixed up with Mexican Independence Day, but it is actually the celebration of a Mexican Army’s victory over the French at Battle of the Puebla on May 5th, 1862. This victory boosted morale and helped the nation come together and bond over patriotism. Cinco de Mayo has become widely popular in America as a way to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. People nationwide celebrate with traditional Mexican meals and drinks, and we are here to help make your celebration muy bien!

    One way to celebrate is with tacos! Our Addison location is now home to a stainless steel tortilla machine imported from Mexico. This allows us to make fresh tortillas in-house daily! We even fry our tortillas to make our own chips! Like all of our other prepared foods, our tortillas are all natural and have no preservatives. Yellow or white corn, crispy or soft, we’ve got it all! Our tortillas and chips also pair wonderfully with items from different departments! Our chips are delicious with our homemade guacamole and salsas, and you can try our tortillas with our pre-marinated fajita mix from the meat department. The fajita meat and taco meat are already marinated, so all you have to do is cook the meat!

No time to cook, but still want to celebrate? No problem! We also have taco kits in our prepared foods. These taco kits feature pre-marinated meat already seasoned to perfection, our homemade tortillas, and toppings! They are a perfect solution to a taco night on the go because it is easy to prepare.

Every party needs some drinks! From Tecate to Modelo to Corona, we’ve got all your beer needs. Don’t forget about Jarritos– a Mexican soda drink that come in many different flavors. These sodas are great alone or can be the perfect mixer!

We have many options for dessert, but an authentic option (and one that’s on sale!!) is our tres leches parfait! Tres leches is a a sponge cake that has been soaked in a sweet milk and is made up of 3 milks- evaporated, condensed and cream. Ours are featured in a parfait container which makes it easy to transport and easy to share or keep for yourself 😉

Throwing your own celebration? We have plenty of traditional Mexican food items on sale this week– cheese, shredded lettuce, beans, jalapenos, chips, and more! Stop in to get all the items you need to make your fiesta a hit!

From Our Family To Yours

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In Full Bloom

These past few weeks have been rainy and as the saying goes “April showers bring May flowers!” This proves true because our garden center is opening soon! It’s the perfect time to spruce up your home gardens and add a little color to your home and we’ve got just what you need!

Our garden center has been open since pretty much the beginning of time 😉 A few weeks ago, our buyers visited Michigan to check out this year’s crop. We have been buying our vegetables from the same family owned farm in Michigan for over 50 years now! We get a variety of our plants from there including our signature melrose peppers! Melrose peppers are a sweet heirloom pepper perfect for frying! It got its origin in a local Chicago neighborhood– Melrose Park! The story is that a family immigrated to Melrose Park and brought these pepper seeds with them. The uniqueness of the pepper is what makes them so well known. We offer the plants so that you can grow your own Melrose peppers! Some of the other herbs we sell are the classic items you are sure to see in your Nonno’s garden– swiss chard, chicory, mint, tomatoes, basil, and more!

In addition to fruits and vegetables, we have an assortment of beautiful plants to add some color to your homes and home gardens! From hanging baskets to potted plants, we’ve got them all in many colors! Studies have proven that having flowers in your home can increase happiness, reduce anxiety, and can even increase your energy. I know that flowers always make me feel happy– how can you not when you see the beautiful colors?

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We also have some really cool and exciting things for kids this year! We are featuring some of Chef Jeff’s plants which are plants for children. The individual plants are a great way to teach responsibility and watch things grow! These include things like corn, pumpkins, and even popcorn!

Our garden centers are only opened for a limited amount of time. Stop by and browse to see what we have that you need in your home gardens!

From Our Family To Yours

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Earth Day

Now more than ever there is an increasing awareness on sustainability and protecting the environment. On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Earth day is about planning a better future for the environment. It is about talking steps now to help tomorrow. At Caputo’s sustainability is a big part of who we are. We have taken many steps to make sure our practices are good for the environment.

One action we have taken is our lighting. We utilize LED lights in our interior and exterior. LED consumes up to 90% less power, has a longer life, is non toxic, is recyclable, and reduces carbon footprint by a third.

We also us CO2 transcritical systems for our refrigeration. Most refrigerators use freon, which kills the ozone layer and leaks very easily. Our CO2 systems are better for pipelines, non-corrosive, and less likely to leak. CO2 is a huge reduction in our carbon footprint. Our systems are equivalent to recycling 22,229,997 pounds of waste, saving 7,337,324,035 gallons of gas over ten years, and planting 1,657,274,782 trees over ten years!

Another initiative we take is in our recycling. We know that cardboard can pile up in your house. Whether you order things or have boxes laying around, cardboard collects and the proper way to dispose of it is to recycle it. We offer bins in front of our stores where you can drop off your cardboard whenever you want and we will take care of recycling it for you! All you have to do is put your cardboard in the bin and we will properly recycle it! By recycling cardboard, we conserve valuable resources and reduce pollution from production of new materials.

We also have reusable cups. Our 28oz double walled tumblers feature a plastic straw and are suitable for hot or cold drinks. Reusable cups are good because they reduce waste. The number of cups that get thrown out each day is very high, reusable cups keep that number low. Another positive is that they are less likely to spill because the lids are secured and our tumblers are only $7.99!

In addition, we have reusable bags! Reusable bags are better than plastic bags for many reasons. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade and they are harder for the environment to break down– it can take anywhere from 15 to 1,000 years to break down. Because they are lightweight, they are more likely to fly away and turn into littler. This litter can be harmful to animals. Reusable bags are also more durable. They can hold more and they last longer. The average reusable bag has a lifespan equal to that of more than 700 disposable plastic bags. By purchasing and using a reusable bag, we have the power to eliminate a lot of waste and potential dangers to the environment.

Earth Day is a day to raise awareness about initiatives to help the environment in order to create a better future for the next generations. We hope you will join us in taking action and steps to protect our home.

 

From Our Family To Yours

 

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Easter Traditions

As the next holiday nears, we all start getting into our routines and preparing for the joyous celebrations. Every family has different traditions. Whether your traditions are centered in decorations, activities, or food it is something that you can count on!

One popular tradition is coloring Easter eggs! The first thing you do when coloring eggs is to prepare the eggs. The best way to do this is to boil them. This makes the eggs more durable and less messy. There are many different kits you can use to color eggs and different things you can use for decorating the eggs. To Christians, this is a way to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Originally the dye was to represent the blood shed by Jesus. Now, the bright colors and designs can be seen as a way to rejoice and celebrate this holiday! This is an activity that everyone can enjoy!

Another thing involved in every Easter is chocolate eggs! Growing up, we were always gifted chocolate eggs. They are beautifully wrapped, hollow chocolate in an egg shape.They come in various sizes so you can get an individual one or a family one. Some even have surprises inside.

As with many other holidays, food plays a major role. A tradition in my family is calzone! It is dough in the shape of a pie or a pizza, then filled with various foods. On Good Friday, we eat calzone because there is no meat on Fridays during Lent. The calzone that Angelo usually eats is traditional to his hometown, Mola di Bari. It is called Scalcione di Cipolle or onion pie! His calzone are usually filled with onions, olives, and anchovies. Some people enjoy another type of Calzone enjoyed on Easter Sunday. These are filled with various types of meat. This is a way to celebrate because you indulge yourselves in things you have been fasting from throughout the season. It is symbolic of fulfillment!

A staple during on Easter day is lamb! Christians eat lamb on Easter as a tradition that dates back to Passover as many enjoy roast of lamb during Passover. As Christianity evolved, lamb was kept as a main dish because of the symbolism of Jesus being referred to as the “Lamb of God.”

And for dessert, a lamb cake! This popular European dessert is a pound cake in the shape of a lamb. It is then decorated however you wish! Usually with frosting, including green frosting on the plate to show a lamb laying in the grass. This tradition also symbolizes Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God.

No matter your traditions, every holiday is an opportunity to spend times with your loved ones and celebrate! What are some of your favorite Easter traditions?  

From Our FamilyTo Yours

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Ciambella and Focaccia and Pull Aparts; Oh My!

The smell of fresh bread just coming out of the oven is nothing short of heavenly. The fresh aroma mixed with the thought of eating warm bread that is soft on the inside with the perfect amount of crunch on outside is enough to make your mouth water. At Caputo’s, we have a selection of fresh baked La Bella Romana breads to satisfy any craving!

One of our unique breads is our ciambella bread! In Italian, “ciambella” is generally used to describe a ring shaped baked good and that is exactly what our homemade ciambella bread is! It is a round loaf of bread with no center, the donuts of bread! It is light and crunchy. Made from scratch daily, the ciambella is a great addition to any meal or the perfect snack. While it is delicious on its own, you can always add a little flavor. Our La Bella Romana bread dipping is the perfect pair. All you have to do is add the bread dipping to oil and dunk your bread!

A classic is our focaccia! Focaccia bread is a go-to. Focaccia is a flat bread that has a similar consistency to pizza dough. It can be prepared with many different toppings. The classic focaccia you are probably used to seeing is topped with olive oil, oregano, and tomatoes. The cool thing about focaccia is that it is very versatile. You can eat it alone, cut it up and put it in your bread basket during dinner, or even use it to make a sandwich. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes including square, individual minis, and round! Who else wants a focaccia sandwich with mortadella and provolone for lunch tomorrow?

We are also bringing pull apart breads back! Our pull apart breads! Our pull apart breads are designed for sharing because of their unique style which make it easy to take pieces or cut the bread. We have different flavors of this bread and the style make it so you can get the different ingredients in one bite! This bread consists of fresh dough that is seasoned with herbs then left to rise before adding various combinations of ingredients.  One is made with Genova salami and provolone, then splashed with our extra virgin olive oil. Another type is for our spicy lovers! This one is made with sliced jalapeño and sharp cheddar. Our third type is our broccoli and cauliflower medley with cheddar cheese. The veggies are sautéed in extra virgin olive oil with fresh garlic, herbs, and spices. Once the breads are paired with their respective ingredients, chopped to achieve the unique shape, left to rise again, and placed into an oven until golden brown. This process creates a medley of melted cheeses and ingredients that will leave your mouth dancing from the combination of flavors! While they can be enjoyed cold, they’re best enjoyed warm! At home, all you have to do is pop it into your oven and reheat it for 10 to 15 minutes at 300-325 degrees until crispy! It will taste as good as it smells!

 

Stop by our bakery section to pick out the perfect bread to accompany your meal or just something to snack on!

From Our Family To Yours

 

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Caputo’s Faves Madness

The weather is warmer, basketball is always on TV, and bracket season has begun! We are always down for a little friendly competition, so we have developed a bracket of our own. Our first annual Caputo’s Faves Madness competition puts some of our signature and favorite items head to head and asks the real hard hitting questions, like eclairs or cannoli. Submit your brackets for a chance to win a Caputo’s gift card and apron!

It is very simple to enter. The first thing to do is fill out the bracket.  Brackets are very easy to fill out, all you have to do is look at the 2 items being matched up. You select which one you like better and move that onto the next round. For example, in the cannoli vs eclairs competition, I chose cannoli so I moved it to the next round. Then in the lobster tails vs cream puffs, I chose lobster tails and so that advanced. Now, I am forced to choose between cannoli and lobster tails (a very hard decision).

You continue to do that for every pair until you pick a winner.  You have a few different options for the way you choose to fill out your bracket. You can save the bracket as a PDF and fill it out on your computer or just type right on the bracket page. You can also screenshot it and fill it in with photo editing tools. Another way to fill it out is to print it out and fill it in by hand, then email it to us or turn it in at the service desk of your local store.

To figure out who the winners are, we are leaving it up to you! Every item in the competition is completely fan voted. Throughout the next weeks, we will feature the polls on various social media sites. Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you can cast your votes. The votes will be tallied and the winning items will be posted. The championship round will be on April 8th!

What happens if you win? You get a Caputo’s gift card and a Caputo’s apron! So fill out your bracket and join the madness!

Check out the official rules and scoring and get the bracket here!

From Our Family To Yours

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St. Joseph’s Day

  The feast of St. Joseph is right around the corner– March 19th is the day dedicated to St. Joseph! To celebrate, many people are known to feast together. Some people attend parties where friends and family come together to honor St. Joseph or San Giuseppe. You will probably notice many St. Joseph’s Day tables in your communities around this time as a tribute to him. The traditions vary, but most celebrations include a lot of food and– of course– Zeppole!

Italians usually celebrate St. Joseph’s Day with a big feast. The tradition of the feast dates back to the middle ages. Sicily was in the middle of a big drought. This drought was causing crops to dry up and left sicilians on the brink of famine. They prayed to St. Joseph to relieve them with rain and in return they would honor him with a real feast or a banquet. When the rain came a few days later, they honored him as they said he would.

The feast can include a wide variety of items or, according to Angelo, “a little bit of everything.” Some traditions include a main dish of Mafaldine di San Giuseppe. Mafaldine is a pasta cut with curly edges, almost resembling a ribbon. This pasta dish includes bread crumbs and anchovies. The breadcrumbs are believed to signify sawdust as a nod to St. Joseph for being a carpenter!

For dessert, zeppole! Zeppole are traditional donut like fritters that are coiled on top. They are stuffed with different fillings and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. This is fitting because St. Joseph also happens to be the patron saint of pastry chefs! There are many different types of zeppole. Traditional zeppole are filled with cannoli or french cream. We have recently expanded the types of zeppole we have. We have created different versions of these delicious treats, some filled with chocolate, some filled nutella, and more! All of our bakery items are made from scratch with no preservatives! Stop by and pick up your zeppole and try out our new flavors to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day!

What are your go-to meals or traditions on St. Joseph’s day? Share them down below!

From Our Family To Yours