The start of the new year means that it’s time to remove all that lovely holiday decor, on tables, mantles and the beautiful tree...

Our homes seem somewhat bare. Less happy. Less festive.

Alas - do not fret.

Instead of storing your decorations until the following holiday, try using them throughout the year! With a few easy edits to your holiday tabletops, long lasting, year-round decor is but a few steps away.

My favorite idea pairs a cake stand and beautiful ribbon, like the debi Lilly designTM White Lace Cake Stand and debi lilly design Satin ribbonTM, pictured below.

You can create a beautiful, decorative centerpiece in just three simple steps.

1. Hold the glass dome of your cake stand upside down and put apples inside.
2. Place the base of the cake stand over the top and then invert it right side up on your table.
3. Tie the base with ribbon for a perfect

How do you reuse holiday decor throughout the rest of the year?

With 2013 just around the corner, the celebrations don’t stop! This unique pairing of a Sweet Tequila Squeeze cocktail and what we like to call "The World’s Best Cookie" will set a festive, fun and delicious atmosphere for any New Year’s party.Save the recipe image below and celebrate all that’s to come in 2013!

What’s your cocktail celebration combo?

Have you ever hosted a party and had too much beer or wine leftover? Or worse, had to run out during the festivities to get more? If you’d like some help with the planning check out our brand new Beverage Calculator on the Safeway holiday site!

Simply put in the duration of your party, types of beverage and guest count and the calculator provides a recommendation on the quantities to have on hand. Check it out!

Looking for elegant, yet affordable Thanksgiving table ideas? Our debi lilly design™ Illusion Vases can be used in so many different ways, here are my three favorites for the season, and all of the items can be found right in Safeway’s Floral Department. 

1) The Chestnut: Fill the small debi lilly design Illusion Vase with a small debi lilly design Spiced Pumpkin Candle and two handfuls of chestnuts (perfect for the kids to help), or any favorite fall hued nut. Wrap twine around the vase two to three times, and tie a knot to secure the twine.

2) Chic Roses: Wrap the debi lilly design Orange Double-Faced Satin Ribbon along the base of the medium debi lilly design Illusion Vase, secure the ribbon with a glue stick (easy and fun for the kids to help with!). Next, wrap twine over the top of the Satin Ribbon, and knot to secure. Grab a debi lilly design Flower Bouquet right from the Floral Department, cut the stems, and drop the bouquet in the vase.

3) Stack Pumpkins: Inside a large debi lilly design Illusion Vase, stack mini pumpkins one on top of the other, to the desired height. I love mixing solid stacks of orange pumpkins, or solid stacks of mini white pumpkins, for a colorful, harvest themed centerpiece. You can easily choose one of these designs, or combine them together as shown here, for a beautiful, long lasting centerpiece on your tables, mantles, kitchen islands and more.

Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving may be all about turkey, but let’s not forget the seafood!

Clam chowder can be a hearty, healthy and sustainable meal for the holidays. Farm raised clams are a Responsible Choice product, rated a green ‘Best Choice’ by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.

Here are a few fun facts about clams: Clams are filter feeders which means they actually improve the water quality around them. They are also low in saturated fats and a good source of vitamin B12, making them a healthy option for you and the oceans. One of my favorite chowders is a great addition or substitute for a traditional holiday dinner – try it out!

Clam Chowder

Yields: 4 serving - you need:

Ingredients
• 5 lbs. of fresh clams
• 3 bay leaves
• ¼ tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1/8 lb. bacon (diced)
• 1 onion (diced)
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper
• 2 cups peeled and diced russet potatoes
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 bottle clam juice (also save liquid the clams are cooked in)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Additional salt (to taste)
• Cayenne pepper
• Chopped parsley

Cooking Instructions

1. If the clams are already shucked, you can go ahead and skip this step. Clean the outside of the clams and put them into a large soup pot filled with cold water. Add ¼ cup of salt and a tablespoon of cornstarch. Letting the clams sit for an hour in this solution will cause them to expel any sand. Rinse and then drain in a colander.

2. Clean the pot and then put the clams back in, adding a cup of water and 2 bay leaves.

3. Cover the pot and place on medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Important: throw away any clams that do not open after being steamed for 15 minutes. After taking the clams out of the liquid, strain and save the leftover liquid to add to your chowder.

4. Remove the clams from their shells and dice them.

5. Clean the pot and place back on the stove – add bacon and cook until almost crisp.

6. Add onion, bay leaf, thyme, pepper, and butter. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir. When the onions become translucent, add milk, diced potatoes, and the clam liquid that you saved. Bring up to a boil and then simmer, stirring frequently. This should take about 10 minutes.

7. Add the heavy cream and the diced clams while the pot is simmering. Cook for several more minutes, taking care not to overcook. Taste, and add salt/pepper/cayenne as needed.

8. Serve with parsley topping and oyster crackers!

Enjoy!

Turkey is turkey, right? Not if you shop at Safeway, it isn’t!

At Safeway, we have a variety of turkeys, including one that’s perfect for you and your family. Before you head off to pick out that perfect bird for your Thanksgiving meal, get to know a couple of our favorites that are available for you to choose from.

Safeway Select Frozen Turkey
If you’re looking for a turkey that will dazzle friends and family during the holidays, look no further than the Safeway Select Frozen Turkey. This premium turkey is USDA certified grade A, which means you can feel confident its quality is unsurpassed, guaranteeing that it will taste as great as it looks.

Frozen turkeys also allow you to shop, prepare and organize in advance, leaving more time for family. Plus, our Safeway Select turkeys are frozen at its peak of quality - locking in freshness, taste and important nutrients and minerals.

Open Nature All Natural Turkey
The Open Nature All Natural Turkey isn’t only delicious, but something you can feel good about feeding to your family. That’s because it’s 100% natural and free-range birds, which means it has no antibiotics, nitrites or hormones added. All that’s left is a delicious, natural turkey that guarantees you’ll be dishing up a Thanksgiving meal just as nature intended.

And More!

We also offer additional turkeys with delicious flavor and features: from smoked, stuffed, Butterball and more, they’re always tender and juicy. 

No matter which turkey you prefer for your Thanksgiving celebration, you are sure to find the best value, quality and selection at Safeway.

One of my favorite contests is back – it’s my favorite because it involves art and cows! That’s right, it’s Lucerne’s eight annual The Art of Dairy art contest and this year’s theme is sure to deliver some fantastic entries: “ImaginDairy Places!”

“ImaginDairy Places” is all about taking imagination to the next level and re-imagining the world made entirely of dairy. To get started, visit www.artofdairy.com, print the Lucerne cow template and have fun (and yes, you have to stay inside the lines). Once all of the entries have been received, America will get to decide who wins by voting for the finalists!

Now for the prizes -- a $20,000 grand prize will be awarded to the winning school’s art department, plus $5,000 for both the winning student and teacher! The school with the most entries wins $1,000 for their art department!

Be sure to tell you friends, families, teachers, and schools - all entries must be postmarked by Dec. 7th (for receipt by Dec. 12th). Visit www.artofdairy.com for more info about this year’s contest.

Here’s a look at some past winners -- good luck!

Fall is here and it’s time for fall foliage, bright oranges, reds and golds. With that, comes Halloween and Safeway has everything you need to make your home festive for the season. From all shapes and sizes of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and other fall decorative items, you can make your home as colorful as the fall hues outdoors.

If you want to have some fun with flowers and pumpkins, use one as a vase for fall flowers – the perfect fall centerpiece. Here’s how:

• Find a pumpkin that sits flat on your surface.
• Cut the top off and clean out all the soft insides of the pumpkin including the seeds.
• Cut a square of floral foam and place inside the pumpkin. Fill with water.
• Take the flowers you chose (beautiful fall bouquets are available at your local Safeway store) and cut the stems and insert into the foam. Fall leaves can be placed as a collar around the pumpkin.
• Enjoy! (Don’t forget to add water daily.)

If you don’t feel like scraping out a pumpkin, try using filling a clear vase with baby pumpkins and gourds, add simply add water and flowers. A quick and easy way to bring autumn into your home!

Halloween is upon us! 

Over the years October has started to feel somewhat like December in terms of all the prep & activities.  Decorations go up early in the month, costumes need to be decided on then made/purchased/swapped, and there are events to schedule in around two jobs and the regular activities & homework – picking pumpkins, school parade, parties for kids and adults – whoosh!  So much fun and it’s beginning to require some major coordination.

One of the things we do to keep it fun for all on Halloween night is make it a neighborhood event. Everyone gets together to trick or treat as a group which helps ensure everyone is safe and not out too late. We then all go to one house to sort & trade candy – much easier to end the evening if the girls’ friends are heading back as well – especially since the holiday falls on a school night!  We also try and limit the sugar consumption with our “3 pieces on Halloween night” rule (nothing eaten until we get home and can inspect) and then the girls can fill a small sandwich bag with their favorites for later.  

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I’m proud to share that Safeway and The Safeway Foundation, with the help of the generous donations from our customers, has raised a total of $102 million in support of this cause over the past eleven years!  The dollars from last year alone provided over 15,000 mammograms for women without access to services via mobile screening, as well as supporting research and services that improve prevention and treatments for the future.  

This year, we're partnering with Stand Up To Cancer to help raise funds for breast cancer research. You can join the fight against breast cancer in any of these three easy ways:

1) Purchase a limited edition reusable shopping bag for $2.99 and $2 of the purchase price will be donated to the cause.

2) Purchase $30 in participating products (look for the pink ribbon tag) and $5 will be donated to support local and national breast cancer charities.

3) Simply donate at any check stand.

Every contribution makes a difference and we thank you for helping create a brighter tomorrow!

At Safeway, we're dedicated to making a real and positive difference in the neighborhoods we serve. This dedication is at the Heart of Safeway and it's why we want you to join us in creating better lives, vibrant neighborhoods and a healthier planet.

We invite you to commit to having a positive impact on your health, your community or the environment by taking The Heart of Safeway Pledge. When you take the pledge and share it with your friends, you'll receive a $1 off coupon on fresh produce (see pledge page for more information). To top it off, if you make a pledge through Wednesday, October 31, you'll be entered to win one of 50 $100 Safeway gift cards! 

I'd encourage you to take the pledge today, enjoy the coupon and tell us, what are some of the things you do to take care of your community or the environment?

Nothing is more welcome then the Labor Day weekend after that first, mercifully short week of school. The transition to a more structured routine isn’t hard but it isn’t smooth either and we all kind of resist it wanting to hang on to summer as long as we can!   Labor Day BBQs give us the perfect excuse to “rebel” a bit and we tend to stick close to home so we can truly relax.  BBQ with friends and lots of outdoor time are on our list for this long weekend – what about you?

Gabby attended a party that was super fun - a cupcake war party.  Modeled after the TV show, the attendees were divided into two teams, baked their cupcakes, decorated them according to a theme and then presented them to a panel of judges who voted on a winner. The theme for this party was fashion and the girls were very creative with their decorating using Barbie shoes and purses along with different candies, colors, sprinkles, and even fondant! Personalized aprons were provided as party favors and the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves. What I loved about this is that it doesn’t need to be a full blown party; it could easily provide entertainment during a play date or an option for a family game night.

My family and I are lucky to live in beautiful Washington State, and have easy access to many short and spectacular family-friendly hikes. No matter where you live, getting out in the great outdoors is a fantastic way to spend time with your kids and get some exercise, too!  Since all that moving can make you hungry, here are some options for packing a nutritious and portable picnic to enjoy on the mountaintop, on a hillside, in the field or woods, or wherever you like to romp:

Beverage:

• Take plenty of water with you. If you want to spruce it up, add lemon or orange slices to your reusable bottles.

Snacks:

• Snack Artist Mountain Trail Mix (or any other of our delicious medleys and mixes)
• Turkey jerky
• Mini pretzel twists
• Open Nature Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven Granola
• Sturdy fresh fruit like apples or oranges; wrap more fragile grapes, peaches, plums and nectarines in a cloth to protect from bruising

 Lunch:

• Pouched seasoned tuna or tuna salad with crackers kits
• Peanut or almond butter sandwiches with bananas or jam
• Fruit (see above)
• Baby carrots, sliced bell peppers, sugar snap peas and broccoli florets
• Sliced cheese and whole-grain crackers
• Pasta and veggie salad (toss leftover pasta with diced veggies and low-cal Italian dressing). Or try our Asian-style Noodle-About Salad (or one of our other picnic dinner ideas listed)
• Open Nature Original Hummus and pita bread triangles
• Frozen tubes of Lucerne Strawberry and Blueberry Yogurt (they’ll thaw by lunchtime and help keep other foods cold en route)

Remember the mantra “Leave No Trace”: pack out what you pack in, garbage, peels and all, to keep our parks and trails clean!  Where are some of your favorite places to walk or hike and picnic?

We entertain a lot in the summer – the girls’ end of school party (this year 25 kids!) kicks it off, we have a couple of other multiple family bbq’s, our block party, and peppered throughout the summer is the spontaneous get together with friends. While we love it sometimes it can feel like we're always getting ready for a party! So over the years we’ve started to simplify. Every once in a while I’ll build a new menu from scratch but otherwise we keep a few things on hand so we're ready for the “pop in” – bratwurst, beer, Skinny Girl Margaritas, pistachios & goldfish crackers for snacks, and ice cream bars and then we’ll fortify with some easy grilled vegetables (zucchini & squash w/herbs is a favorite) and a fruit salad.  Potluck for the larger BBQs and while sometimes I miss all the cooking I love being able to actually sit, relax and have a conversation outside! What are your favorite summer entertaining tips?

We’re excited to host an afternoon get-together following our town’s annual 4^th of July parade.  Instead of the usual burgers and hot dogs on the grill, we’re featuring a “Make Your Own Kabobs” station.  Once you have the ingredients chopped, sliced and marinated, it’s simply a matter of skewering your own unique combinations of meats and veggies to make your meal.  Kabobs are economical, too, especially with the great prices you’ll find in our meat department.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making kabobs:

• Grill grates should be clean, hot and oiled so that the kabobs don’t stick.
• Metal skewers conduct heat, so they’re great to use for foods that take a little longer to cook, like meats.  Bamboo skewers work fine, too.  Just remember to soak them in water for 30 minutes prior to use, so they don’t burn during grilling.
• Cut all ingredients about the same size to ensure even cooking.  Remember, meats take longer to cook than veggies, so consider skewering and cooking them separately.
• Turn kabobs frequently during cooking to prevent burning.  

We’re serving cubes of marinated chicken breast, chunks of top round or sirloin in this spicy marinade and this Asian-style marinade  subbing shrimp instead of salmon.  Remember to drain off and discard any leftover marinade after removing the meat, to prevent foodborne illness.

Along with the meats set out in bowls buffet style, we’re offering a bevy of marinated veggies for skewering, too, including:

• Red, yellow, green and orange bell peppers
• Onions
• Zucchini
• Cherry tomatoes
• Yellow squash
• Mushrooms

What are your Independence Day plans?

We’re starting a new tradition this Father’s Day, were going to walk/run in our town’s Father’s Day 5K.  The girls have an annual Fun Run fundraiser at school and this Spring they really got into it so we decided to take advantage of their enthusiasm and sign us all up.  Max doesn’t get to sleep in but he’s looking forward to a “no guilt” brunch after the race!    What are your plans?

It’s seems like just yesterday we were building the world’s longest picnic table and now we’re taking it apart. But don’t worry; it’s for a great cause. Today, we announced Portland, Oregon as the winner of our “America’s Most Natural City” Facebook contest which garnered its parks and recreation organization $20,000 and 25 picnic tables constructed from the Guinness World Record holder for the World’s Longest Picnic Table.

Not only did passionate Portland voters help their city win by a landslide, they already have plans for their winnings, including a new cedar chip track at Gilbert Park Elementary School. This is exciting news since the contest was inspired by our Open Nature brand which celebrates all things natural – and nothing beats the natural energy of kids hitting the track in the great outdoors of Portland.

From Mount Rushmore to the nation’s capital, my family and I have had a great time travelling across the United States for the past few weeks to take in some amazing sights. Check out where we’ve been!

Not only are we traveling the country, we’re actually decked to the nines in all things Open Nature! With an RV wrapped in Open Nature art and filled with 100% natural granola and peanut butter from the new line, passersby not only get a great sight, but delicious treats when they see us.

The RV, as you can see, has crossed many state lines and we’ve really enjoyed bringing Open Nature to folks nationwide:

The RV by the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Open Nature entering Idaho

Yellowstone was definitely not expecting us!

Keeping warm in the snow!

Our next stop is Ohio, so if you and your family live or are travelling nearby and you see our RV, honk and we’ll be sure to share some great all-natural Open Nature goodies with you!

See you out on the Open Nature road!

Nancy

Did you know that about 1 in 7 households are considered “food insecure”? That’s about 50 million people (including 17 million children) that “at times during the year, were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food.” This is the highest level of food insecurity that we have seen in the U.S. since 1995 when the government first started measuring! Safeway and its stores want to help, so between July 6^th and July 23^rd, for just $10 you can purchase pre-filled bags of groceries in our stores and drop them in the food drive barrels as you exit. Such an easy way to make a difference this summer!

We are enjoying the lazy days of summer right now, slowing down and relaxing by the pool, maybe doing a little gardening, walking the dog, and doing anything we can outside. But, there are still birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and all kinds of occasions still to celebrate. Come inside to the Floral department. We can help you! We have the right selection of products for you, from mixed bouquets, blooming plants and foliage, chocolates, candles, and orchids. Don’t forget about roses! You won’t find these high quality roses anywhere else. Be sure to check out the many different rose arrangements available. My favorite rose arrangement is one of the new Debi Lilly designs called “The Allure”. This design is perfect as a table centerpiece, on the bedside table, on the coffee table, or even the office desk. It is an updated classic, contemporary style that is suitable to give to any woman or man. When the time comes to leave the hot blazing sunshine to shop for an occasion gift, remember to consider one of our many beautiful rose arrangements. 



Whether its college, high school, or moving on to the next grade, graduation celebrations are about recognizing the hard work & accomplishments of the kids and celebrating their next step in life.  We don’t have any major milestones like high school or college this year among our close friends or family but we do like to have a small family celebration for the girls to acknowledge they finished one grade and are progressing to the next.  Regardless of the size of your celebration you’ll want to keep an eye out in the store for our Graduation brochure - great ideas & valuable coupons from the bakery, deli, and floral departments.  And if you are celebrating a major milestone, don’t forget the gift cards – grads love them!

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th and its time to celebrate one of the most cherished people in our lives – our moms. Safeway is the place to shop for the perfect gift. There are so many choices in the Floral department including bunches of beautiful roses, mixed bouquets, arrangements, balloons, boxed chocolates, flowering plants, orchids, home décor items and more.

Safeway introduced entertaining and design expert, Debi Lilly, earlier this year and now new Debi Lilly items have arrived. Effortless, inspired, imagined describe the new line of Debi Lilly products available only at Safeway. There are fragrant candles in the most popular sizes from votives to pillars in colors that compliment the home. Select from Snap, Refresh, Dusk, Twilight, Beeswax or unscented. These candles look positively inspired when placed inside Debi’s Illusion Glass or Cube Glass Collections, which are available in several sizes. The Illusion Vase Collection features four sizes of cylinder vases with an illusion bubble in the base. Not only are the Illusion vases great for candles but also look wonderful with a beautiful mixed bouquet designed by Debi that makes the perfect Mom’s Day gift. Safeway also has several other arrangement designs by Debi Lilly such as The Allure, The Modern, and The Contemporary Rose that all feature beautiful roses.

You are sure to find the perfect Mom’s Day gift in Safeway’s Floral department plus maybe a little something for yourself too. Happy Shopping!

My whole family loves salsa- my youngest will put it on just about anything. When salsa is made with great produce and seasonings, it has rich spicy, fresh flavor. Try this great black bean salsa for Cinco de Mayo! Be sure to pick out ripe tomatoes and mangoes so your salsa has the best flavor possible.

Mango, Tomato, and Black Bean Salsa
This is an extremely quick and easy recipe that's almost fat free, yet still exploding with flavor.

Ingredients
1 medium mango
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced (about 1/2 cup)
3 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 jalapeño, seeded
1 cup cooked or canned black beans
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon rice wine (mirin)
Juice of 1 lime
8 mint leaves, julienned

Add 1/2 cup of diced ripe avocado for a creamier, richer salsa. You can substitute papaya or pear for the mango to make a seasonal version. It keeps refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Makes 2 Cups

Instructions
Peel and slice the mango. Dice the flesh and place in a mixing bowl. Add the tomato, scallions, and jalapeño, and mix. Gently fold in the black beans and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the olive oil, wine, lime juice, and mint. Toss gently and serve 1/4 cup over your favorite grilled or seared fish fillet or chicken breast.

Have you planned your Cinco de Mayo party yet? Come on, it’s time to dust off the margarita glasses and warm up your sombrero’s. Let’s get this party started! 

First question, what are you going to serve? If you’re anything like my husband, the only thing that comes to mind is margaritas. I have another idea. Try our new Safeway Select Carne Asada and Pollo Asada flavors in the marinated meat section of our meat department. These are an easy meal solution that can be quickly prepared after a long day of work.

The Carne Asada is made up of thinly sliced beef sirloin and the Pollo Asada is made from thinly sliced chicken breast, both are combined with special seasonings that give it an old world Hispanic flavor. These are easily prepared on a hot grill and when combined with bell peppers, onions and fresh tortillas, are a perfect beginning to a wonderful evening.

Serve with Spanish rice and black beans sprinkled with Queso Fresco (Mexican cheese) and chopped cilantro and you are set to go.

Getting together with friends and family for Cinco de Mayo should be more about the interaction with your guests, than interacting with your kitchen. Get out from behind the stove and enjoy the festivities! And don’t forget your sombrero!

Artichokes that will have you asking for seconds!

March is peak season for artichokes! If you happen to live in Northern California, some of the best artichokes are grown right in Half Moon Bay. One of the best things about artichokes is there are so many delicious ways to prepare them! But first, make sure you pick the freshest ones. Look for artichokes with bright green, compact leaves, and the artichoke needs to be heavy for its size. When you bring them home, put them in a plastic bag with a sprinkle of water so they don’t dehydrate too fast. My favorite way to eat them is boiled, with the leaves then dipped in olive oil. Enjoy this delicious vegetable!

Here’s a great artichoke recipe that my wife and daughter love to make- and we love to eat!

Ingredients-

*every ingredient is measured to taste*

Artichokes, any size

Chopped parsley

Whole garlic cloves

2 lemons, halved

chicken broth

Directions-

Wash artichokes and cut stems off bottom. Place them in a bowl of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice- place lemons in as well. Soak for 30-60 minutes. Coat bottom of pan with extra virgin olive oil. Saute garlic cloves until brown. Put artichokes in pan, and add chopped parsley. Pour chicken broth over artichokes, until it covers about a quarter of the artichoke. Cover halfway, and cook on low heat, about a simmer. Watch chicken broth, and add when needed. Cook for about 30-60 minutes, or until leaves are tender enough to pull off easily.

Don’t forget to turn all your clocks ahead one hour this weekend – Daylight Savings Time officially changes at 2am on Sunday, March 13th. I always have mixed feelings in the Spring when this day arrives – I LOVE having extended daylight in the evening but it definitely makes our bed time ritual for the girls a little bumpier.
 
There’s the week or so transition to the new time, and as summer approaches, the “how can it be bedtime if it’s still light outside?” question. There are essentially two schools of thought on helping kids adjust. First, a gradual approach, where you start a few days ahead and move the child’s bedtime 15 minutes earlier so that when DST arrives you’re right on schedule. The second is the one we’ve used over the years, driven by either having forgotten to change the clocks or just not wanting to deal with it – it’s the “cold turkey approach” just get the kids to bed at the new real time and eventually everyone will adjust. 
 
Do you use tricks to get your kids to bed on time? What else do you have to adjus