The Fresh Market Launches “FREE PREMIUM CHOCOLATE MONDAYS” with Curbside Orders

The Fresh Market knows that Mondays can be tough sometimes so beginning August 30, all curbside order pickups will have one extra item-- a free sample of premium chocolate.  Adding a decadent layer to The Fresh Market’s recently launched “Friendliest Curbside Experience in America” program, The Fresh Market Personal Shoppers will provide each curbside guest a free sample of The Fresh Market’s new 0.3 oz square of Himalayan Pink Sea Salt Dark Chocolate. Combining The Fresh Market’s Chocolate Lovers Monday promotions with a free premium chocolate sampling at curbside pickups could transform Mondays into the best day of the week!

Launched in December 2020, The Friendliest Curbside Experience in America continues to meet guests’ needs and the latest chocolate treat sampling enhances the overall experience of grocery pickup. Surprising guests with a treat complements the curbside program’s successful foundation of having The Fresh Market Personal Shoppers to ensure quality and freshness, managers who double check and verify every order with their personal signature handed to each curbside guest, fast and efficient delivery to the car, and 100% satisfaction guaranteed on every item in the curbside basket.

Curbside orders continue to grow since launching nine months ago as guests appreciate the convenience and friendly customer service of the program. For the month of August, orders are up 28% and first-time orders are up 47% with the average guest rating of 4.7/5.  Providing the best experience for guests to shop at The Fresh Market, whether in store or through curbside pickup, continues to be at the forefront of the company’s commitment to provide impeccable guest service.

“Our guests compliment us on the great communication they share with the Personal Shopper throughout the curbside process, quick and friendly service at pick up and the quality food in every order,” said Brian Johnson, Senior Vice President of Operations at The Fresh Market. “We’re thrilled that our guests appreciate the level of customer service and extra touches our friendly curbside provides, so adding a chocolate treat to Monday orders is just a small gesture of gratitude that we know they’ll enjoy!”

Chocolate lovers and all guests can shop in the online store or download the mobile app on the App Store* or on Google Play*. For more information on The Fresh Market’s or to see what’s new, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com.

*Apple and the Apple Logo are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play, and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

About The Fresh Market, Inc.

Voted as the “Best Supermarket in America” by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards,  and “America’s Best Customer Service 2021” by Newsweek and Statista,  The Fresh Market helps guests discover the best with time-saving meal solutions, unique ingredients, and delicious food for any occasion. From fresh produce and exceptional meat and seafood to signature baked goods and thousands of organic options, the specialty grocer has something to please every palate. The Fresh Market currently operates 159 stores in 22 states across the U.S., inspiring guests to discover new flavors and cook with confidence. For more information, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com or follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Whetstone vs. Honing Steel: When Should You Use Them?

Honing steels and whetstones are essential tools to help you maintain sharp edges and the right balance for your kitchen blades. Not only that – using a dull blade can be downright dangerous.

Ensuring that all your knives are properly maintained will make chopping, slicing, and dicing relatively effortless – however, only using honing steel or a whetstone won’t do much good because you need to use both of these tools together to keep blades sharp and edges straight.

Whetstone and Honing Steel: What’s the Difference?

Whetstones are used to sharpen blades while honing steel realigns curled edges and straightens them out. Honing steel is often referred to as “sharpening steel,” but this is incorrect – honing steel does not sharpen blades.

When to Use a Whetstone

A whetstone is a flat, rectangular piece of stone. They are available in different sizes and gradients – like fine and coarse sandpaper. Oil stones are traditional whetstones that need to be coated in oil before use, but water stones need to be soaked in water. Water stones and oil stones both work well, but water stones make cleanup easier afterward. 

When your blades feel like they need to be sharpened, you should use a whetstone. If you’re a home chef who uses your knives often, you will usually have to sharpen them around twice a year. 

You can use either a grinder or a whetstone to sharpen blades, but whetstones are better because they won’t eventually destroy your blades after repeated sharpening. By using a whetstone, your blades will last you a lifetime. 

How to Use a Whetstone

When it comes to using a whetstone, practice makes perfect – don’t expect to be able to sharpen your blade perfectly on the first try. Over time, you’ll gain more control and learn the proper technique to use your whetstone correctly.

When you begin using a whetstone, try to hold the blade at a 20-degree angle. Begin by pulling the shaft toward you while the blade makes contact with the stone. 

When you are feeling more confident, you can push, pull, or move the blade around the stone by using small circular movements – just be careful not to push too hard, or you can dig the blade into the stone and damage both the stone and your blade.

Use a timer when you’re sharpening your blade on the whetstone because you need to sharpen the other blade for the same amount of time by using the same movements – this will give your blade balance and an ultra-sharp edge.

While you continue to work the blade over the whetstone, you’ll notice wet grime beginning to build up where the blade makes contact. Let the grime accumulate because it aids the sharpening process.

When to Use a Honing Steel

You should use honing steel to hone your blades after each. Every chop and slice can cause a small amount of damage to your blade – especially when you’re using it to chop vegetables on a hard surface or to slice bone. 

Because the knife is hitting a hard surface reputedly, small twists and bends begin to form quickly and these can throw your knife and shaft out of alignment. 

Honing will help keep the blade straight and repair any curling or damage caused by normal use. When you’re blade is properly aligned with its shaft, it will perform at its best, which will help you perform at your best in the kitchen, too.

It is important to remember, however, that honing steel is a maintenance tool, not a blade sharpener. 

How To Ease Body Pain with the AUVON TENS Unit

Over 16 years ago, I was involved in two back-to-back auto accidents that left me in extreme pain. I had a lot of soft tissue damage in my neck and upper back that required me to go for physical therapy. I have always been against taking pain medication unless it was absolutely necessary. I was prescribed muscle relaxers and went to the chiropractor 3 times a week. The medication didn't really help, so I relied on physical therapy. It took almost a year of being treated to start feeling more like myself, but I learned later that the pain I suffered would hang around for the years ahead. 

I was introduced to the TENS unit when I was being treated, and found it to really help relieve my pain. If you are not familiar with what a TENS unit is, it is a muscle stimulator that is used to relieve pain with no medications. It's as simple as apply the pads to the affected area, and adjusting the device to a level that is comfortable for you. Just sit back and feel the pain melt away. 

I have been using the *AUVON brand TENS unit for a couple weeks now, and it is fantastic! The device comes complete with 1 x AUVON 4-Channel TENS & EMS Machine, 10pcs Electrode Pads (8pcs 2" x 2" Square Electrode Pads, 2pcs 2" x 4" Large Rectangle Pads), 4 x Lead Wires, 1 x USB cable, 1 x USB Charger, 1 x Pad Holder, 1 x Pouch, and 1 x User Manual. 

The device is small and sleek. I love that it has a clear digital display so you can track the settings and time with ease. Here are the product details: 

• 4 Channel (A1, A2, B1, B2). Compared to dual channel TENS Unit, it allows you to apply up to 8 pads at the same time with the 4 outputs for much efficient pain relief. The independent A/B channel can work in different modes and different levels of intensities (e.g. you can select mode 7 with 3 intensity for your shoulders in channel A1 and A2, while in channel B1 and B2, this TENS machine can work as a back pain relief products in P3 with a much stronger intensity.
• TENS + EMS Unit. AUVON TENS & EMS device combines 2 therapies in 1 device, in which TENS is a muscle stimulator for pain relief which provides safe, non-invasive, drug-free methods and has been used by doctors and physical therapists for years. EMS brings elicitation of muscle contraction using electrical impulses and activates the muscles to assist in the increase of strength and endurance as a rehab and strength training tool.
• Large LCD & Multi-Modes. A 3.69" large LCD backlit screen is used for this labor pain simulator and muscle massager with enlarged icons and buttons for much easier reading and operating experience! You can set working time for your TENS unit muscle stimulator from 10 to 90 minutes, which will sufficiently satisfy your massaging needs! With a built-in powerful rechargeable lithium battery, never worry about the suddenly power off!
• 10 Upgraded TENS Unit Pads. The Low impedance Solid Gel has been upgraded to the industry leading American adhesive, which can provide much better self-stick performance and easy clean up after 45 uses for a longer lifespan. Standard 2mm connector lead wires & electrodes are classic and commonly used in the medical area, which makes it easier for you to find compatible accessories.

I really like the variety of massaging levels that this little device has. It really is a life-saver when my neck pain flares up like it has recently. I feel good knowing that I can alleviate my pain in a drug-free way.  I also find that the massaging pads are very comfortable and do not pinch like some do. You can even purchase replacement pads affordably as needed. 

The device charges quickly with the included USB charger, and holds the actual charge for a long time. This device is perfect for traveling or even taking into the office. So convenient! 

This is a must-have if you suffer from neck and back pain. Get yours today from Amazon. There is even a $10 off coupon! 

Thank you AUVON for providing us with a product sample for review. All opinions are our own. *Also, there are affiliate links in this post. I make a small commission from purchases made using my link, and there is no charge to you for doing so. Thank you for stopping by today. 

Why Should Parents Save Money for Their Children?

Although your children might still be very young, time with them seems to pass quickly. It may feel like no time has passed, yet soon they will reach their next birthdays, milestones, and, eventually, adulthood. Putting money aside for your child, no matter how small an amount, can help them to make a good start in independent living. In addition to this, the earlier you start a savings account, the more time it will have to accrue interest on top of the amounts that you deposit.

Education

While your child’s mandatory schooling years may not come at a cost, higher education usually involves student loans, or upfront payments, unless your child is eligible for a scholarship. Something like a master's degree in speech language pathology could possibly help your child to advance in their career, but may not be something they would consider without a form of financial backing. Putting money away each week or month, even when they are a baby, can help to contribute towards tuition fees, as well as any other materials they might need to complete their course. Even if your child doesn’t want to gain a higher education, there may be other types of education they wish to pursue, or even tools they might need to gain employment in a certain career.

First Car

When your child reaches a certain age, they may want some level of independence while still living within the family home. Being able to pay for driver’s education, as well as a cheap first car, may be difficult to achieve, especially if your child has many school commitments that prevent them from taking on more hours at a part-time job. Lessons could be taken over an extended period of time, or in a single, intensive course. Having some money put aside can help your child to gain this extra freedom. Of course, they will still have to find the money for gas for the car, but at least you can rest assured that you have helped them along the way.

First Home

Your child buying their very first home may be decades away, but that doesn’t mean it is something that shouldn’t be thought about. The down payment for a home can vary, depending on where you live, as well as the average house price at the time, and even due to the income you have. This can be very difficult for anyone, so you may want to try to ease the burden on your child as much as possible. If they have even a percentage of the money towards the down payment of their home, this can cut down on the length of time it will take to save up for the rest of the amount.

Putting money aside during the early years doesn’t mean your child needs to go without in the present. By figuring out how much you can feasibly put aside each month, a little nest egg can be built up over the years which will make your child’s transition to adulthood that little bit easier.

5 Impressive Science Recipe Hacks You Have To Try

Science is not limited to the laboratories, the beauty of science is all around us all of the time – we simply do not realize it. Foodies use the power of chemistry to improve their recipes in a new and exciting way. By incorporating these impressive science hacks into your recipes, you will learn to cook or bake faster and better. Science can make a remarkable difference to the quality of your cooking, so implement these five hacks the next time you are in the kitchen:

1. Defrost A Turkey Faster

Improve your cooking by using the power of science. Thanksgiving isn’t the same without a turkey, namely the deliciously stuffed kind. The best turkey stuffing is made with stale bread, but that is a different topic. Defrost your turkey faster by running it under cold water. Moving water defrosts faster and quicker than just plopping it in a sink filled with water.

2. Pasteurize An Egg

You will never have to shy away from making a recipe that calls for raw eggs ever again. Reduce your chances of contracting salmonella poisoning by pasteurizing your eggs in the shells. You can do this by boiling them in water heated to 140F, but no higher than that, or the eggs will start to cook. You can store pasteurized eggs in the fridge, just like regular eggs. This process will reduce or eliminate the microbial growth of bacteria so you can make your favorite dish without any problems.

3. Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

This fun liquid nitrogen experiment is a quick way to make delicious ice cream in no time. You need to be careful when experimenting with liquid nitrogen because it can cause injury if it is not properly used. This kind of ice cream is more delicious than regular ice cream because it is made quickly instead of slowly so it is notably silkier and smoother.

4. Perfect Eggs

Use the power of science to make perfect scrambled eggs. After many tests and trials, the consensus amongst the professionals for adding salt to eggs is to do it at the start. Beat the eggs together and add the salt, then leave the mix to rest for fifteen minutes before cooking them. Salt affects the taste of the dish and it also changes its chemical composition, so perfect timing is everything. Remember that with salt, cold enhances its saltiness and heat reduces it.

5. Pasta Like The Pros

The trick to cooking pasta like the professionals is to keep the water at a constant rolling boil. As pasta cooks, it rapidly releases starches that make it incredibly sticky. If your water is not at a boiling point, then your pasta will stick together and won't be properly cooked. By keeping it in rapidly boiling water, the pasta will be constantly moving so it won't stick together.

Cooking is a science of its own but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experiment with different types of science in the kitchen. Different sciences often work hand in hand to create a better result so you don’t need to be afraid to try new things.