Aijana W.

About

If you love to read about ways to use your favorite products and foods in surprising ways, Aijana W. is going to be the blogger to watch. A member of the Publix family since 2014, Aijana loves to explore the diverse corners of social media and hopes you leave our blog with great ideas as well as a better sense of who Publix is as a company. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, dancing, trying new restaurants, and of course – eating Publix GreenWise Salted Caramel Ice Cream!

Posts by Aijana W.

Don't forget your reusable bags

Behind the Products You Love, Sustainability

Publix Reusable Bags: An Inside Look

by | January 8, 2020 | 25 comments

In 2001, Publix created a program for environmental responsibility. The program began with an emphasis on energy conservation and has grown to include waste reduction, recycling, and conservation of other resources, including water. From in-store displays to “Remember Your Bags” reminder signs on cart corrals, we encourage our customers to use reusable bags. Taking advantage … (Read the full story)

Sustainability

Sustainable Camping Made Easy

by | June 14, 2017 | no comments

If your vacation plans this summer include camping, we have some tips to keep your trip clean and green. Sustainability is a major part of Publix culture. We believe in meeting today’s demands without compromising what’s essential for tomorrow. We want to help you incorporate earth-friendly habits into not only your home life, but your … (Read the full story)

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Recipes

Peanut Butter and Jelly – With a Twist

by | April 12, 2017 | no comments

Peanut butter and jelly is a beloved snack that satisfies your sweet tooth and your salty cravings all in one bite. Even better, it’s easy to make and is a favorite with children and adults alike. When it comes to this popular sandwich some like their peanut butter smooth while others like it crunchy ― everyone has a preference. However you like to eat your PB&J, we want to introduce you to a few new ways to enjoy this versatile snack on any day.

 

10 Twists on a Classic

1. Peanut butter is great, but have you ever tried an alternative like almond butter? Give it a shot, then try a few more like cashew and sunflower butters, too.

2. Grape jelly may be your go to, but why not try others like raspberry, blackberry, strawberry or apple? Marmalade flavors like orange and grapefruit are an appetizing change from your regular flavors. Take your taste buds on a new adventure.

3. Fresh fruit is a tasty alternative to jelly. Try cut bananas or apples, raisins, or berries of your choice on your sandwich. It’s delicious!

4. Adding honey or even marshmallow fluff is a sweet addition. Be sure to stop by the Publix Bakery to pick the perfect bread for your spread.

5. If you’re a fan of food from the county fair, think about frying your PB&J and sprinkling it with powdered sugar. For another sweet take, try our Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie. You’re sure to love it!

6. If frying is not for you, what about grilling your peanut butter and jelly? Warm, gooey peanut butter can’t be beat!

7. Use biscuits or crackers for miniature versions of this sandwich classic. English 04_12_Grocery_AJ_PBandJ_Image 2muffins make for a fun PB&J Snack Pizza that’s easy to travel with.

8. Waffles are a fun and scrumptious alternative to bread for your next PB&J.

9. Make a peanut butter and jelly roll. Flatten a piece of bread and spread jelly on one half and peanut butter on the other. Next, roll the bread like a wrap for an on-the go snack.

10. Add peanut butter to a berry smoothie to satisfy your next PB&J craving. This is a cool and refreshing post-workout treat.

 

Bonus: Last but not least, don’t forget the milk. While dairy milk is always a great choice to wash down that peanut butter, there are other types of milk you may be interested in trying. Next time you shop, think about picking up soy, almond, coconut, or even cashew milk to accompany your sandwich.

There you have it! 10 easy and tasty twists on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Do you have a twist of your own? Shout it out in the comments below.

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Sustainability

8 Ways to Reduce Waste

by | April 5, 2017 | no comments

It’s always a good time to think about improving your sustainability practices in your home. This may not be something you think of when you start to write out your goals for the year, but we want tp provide some simple tips to help you reduce waste and support the environment.

1. Washing machines: To conserve water, be sure to only run your washing machine when you have a full load of laundry. This ensures that you are minimizing machine usage and reducing the amount of water used.

2. Composting: Reduce landfill waste by composting your kitchen scraps and other leftover food. Compost is organic material that can be used as an addition to soil or as a method to grow plants. The composting process occurs when this organic material is broken down by microorganisms, creating nourishment for your soil.

3. Reusable bags: Publix reusable bags are not only pretty, they’re also purposeful.  To reduce the number of plastic bags used in our stores, we started offering reusable shopping bags to our customers more than 20 years ago. And guess what? One reusable bag can hold up to three regular plastic bags worth of groceries. Pick some up during your next shopping trip and see for yourself! If you already have a few, try keeping them in the car so you always have them when it’s time to shop.

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4. Double-sided printing: Whether you’re at home or work, one way to reduce waste is to print documents double-sided to use less paper. You can also use discarded documents as scrap paper for notes and lists. Don’t forget to recycle them when you’re finished!

5. Electricity: This one may be a no-brainer, but turning off lights and unplugging electronics when not in use is a great way to save on your next electric bill while maintaining a green routine. You can help yourself save money and energy with just the flip of a switch.

6. Heating and cooling efficiency: Close shades and curtains to keep cool air from escaping in the summer, and warm air in the winter. Be sure to close vents and doors of rooms that are not in use to keep air flow localized.

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7. Smart landscaping: When choosing the perfect flower bed or shrubs for your front yard, try picking foliage that doesn’t require much water. This is a great way to save not only water, but energy too!

8. Dishwasher loads: Similar to our tip on washing machines, it is best to use your dishwasher only when it is full for the most efficient water use.

 

Making small changes now can make a big difference when it comes to sustainability efforts for our future. Start with one thing on the list and work your way down. You can do it!

 

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Behind the Products You Love, Deli

Publix Deli Tea: From Our Shelf to Your Glass

by | March 29, 2017 | 47 comments

We’re sure you love our deli teas as much as we do. From sweetened and unsweetened teas to flavored lemonades, the varieties available will go perfectly with your favorite sub or deli snack. Along with our staple offerings, we also have limited edition flavors that are always a welcome addition to our beverage line up. To tell you a little about what goes into creating these delicious drinks, we reached out to our friends in the deli department for more information.

Fun With Flavors

You may have guessed that sweet tea wins the popularity contest, with lemonade, unsweetened tea, and diet sweet tea coming in as the runners-up. Green tea, raspberry lemonade, and raspberry tea aren’t far behind.

To create new flavors, we work with a number of other areas within the company to identify emerging and existing flavor trends.

Once we’ve brainstormed innovative and exciting flavor ideas, product samples of the new flavors are created. Next is the fun part — tasting them! After our teams try the samples and provide feedback, the supplier will make changes to incorporate our opinions. According to deli buyer, Nicole Kolbasiuk-Beetem, feedback may include making changes such as enhancing the flavor of certain ingredients, or adjusting the sweetness of a product. “Sometimes, however, flavors don’t work out as well as we thought,” she says, “in which case we don’t pursue them further.”

Finding What Works

After new flavors have been chosen and tested , we gather a group of customers who get the chance to try them. Input from these groups allows us to get feedback on everything from how customers react to the name and taste, to how much they actually enjoy the product.

Our taste-testing group rates the product being tested on several different factors, and also provide their own comments. Their feedback is used to decide if our products need more work, and to decide if the flavors we’ve developed are ones that customers like you would want to buy.

Final Steps

Once we’ve officially decided on the new flavors and their recipes, we work on bringing the actual product to life, which includes creating product labels. Once final steps are complete, we’re ready to roll out the new flavors to stores.

For our limited-time items, we introduce them individually, taking into account which flavors will work best during each season. For example, chai tea around the winter holidays and refreshing flavored lemonades during the summer. Limited time flavors that are particularly popular have the possibility of becoming available all year long. Our raspberry lemonade and, more recently blackberry lemonade have become permanent items. This is based on the performance of the items in relation to other items in the category. For example, our limited time blackberry lemonade performed almost as well as our best seller, sweet tea, so we decided  to keep the blackberry year-round.

Buyer Nicole Kolbasiuk-Beetem shares, “We want to be sure that we keep the flavors that customers love most, and item sales are the best indicator for which items are the customer favorites.”

 

Now that we’ve given you an inside look at how our deli teas come to be, we’d like to know which flavor is number one on your shopping list. Let us know in the comments!

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Bakery, Behind the Products You Love

Get To Know Publix Decadent Desserts

by | March 17, 2017 | 3 comments

Who doesn’t love a little dessert? Whether your New Year’s resolution is still going strong or has already fallen by the wayside, Publix Bakery has a variety of Decadent Dessert cake options that can serve as a reward for a job well done or a pick me up if you’re feeling down.  With more than 20 handcrafted options available, we have what you need for any occasion. Allow us to do the work. Our skilled decorators will create something beautiful and delicious with high-quality ingredients, to indulge your senses. You can even order online through our Online Easy Ordering System.

We offer a wide variety of cakes to satisfy any craving, keep reading to get to know a few of them.

Publix Chantilly CakeChantilly Cake

From birthdays to brunches, this airy cake is great for all events. But you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to pick it up, it’s perfect for those just-because days too!  Three layers of vanilla cake and fresh fruit form the base of this angelic handcrafted dessert, while Chantilly-mascarpone cream frosting covers the outside for a sweet finish. To top it off, the Chantilly cake is expertly decorated with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Yum!

 

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The Chocolate Ganache Supreme is a chocolate lover’s dream. Great for graduations and weddings alike, this four layer masterpiece will enchant your taste buds. This cake is iced with rich silky chocolate ganache, then decorated with fudge icing. Between each layer is a filling of  chocolate whipped topping, and for the finishing touch, it’s crowned with a bow of dark chocolate pieces. Is your mouth watering yet?

 

 

Strawberry & Peach Sensation

03_17_Bakery_Image 4_AJOur Strawberry and Peach Sensation cake may evoke scenes of spring and summer but it’s perfect to eat during any season. Between three layers of vanilla cake you’ll find a Bavarian cream filling and whipped vanilla. It’s crowned with a  variety of fruit including strawberries and peaches, while toasted almonds are pressed on the sides.  It’s an irresistible combination and a scrumptious addition to any celebration.

 

 

More Decadent Dessert Cakes

If any of the decadent desserts below sound intriguing, visit our site to learn more about them.

 

 Chantilly
Cake		  Chocolate Ganache Supreme  Strawberry & Peach Sensation  Caramel Pecan Crunch Cake  Carrot Torte Cake
 Cassata
Torte		  Chocolate Avalanche Cake  Chocolate Ganache Bon Bon  Chocolate Ganache Grandeur Cake  Chocolate Lovers Delight Cake
 Chocolate Lovers Delight Cake  Dulce De Leche Torte  Ebony & Ivory Cake  Extreme Chocolate Raspberry Cake  Fruit-Filled Brown Derby Cake
 Latte Blast Cake  Midnight Fudge Fantasy Cake  Peanut Butter Fudge Fix Cake  Raspberry Elegance Cake  Southern Style Red Velvet Cake
 Strawberry Elegance Cake  Strawberry Limonata Cake  Strawberry Sensation Cake

 

Next time you’re in the Publix Bakery browsing the cookies and breads, don’t forget to show the cakes some love!Try something new and let us know how you incorporated one of our decadent desserts into your day.

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Celebration, Recipes

Brunch Made Easy

by | March 13, 2017 | no comments

You’ve heard the term “Sunday funday” right? It’s a great day to gather your friends and host a fabulous brunch. Mimosas, pastries, and pies — it’s all about having a good time. We’re here to help make your brunch bash easy and enjoyable.

 

Delightful Drinks

The key is to keep it light, which is why bubbly beverages are a wonderful choice. Most brunch items are a mix of sweet and savory, so the bright flavors and fruity bubbles in sparkling wine or champagne complement a variety of dishes. If you prefer non-alcoholic beverages, sparkling fruit juices are another great option. Coffee and tea are essentials , so pick up a few varieties to cover your guests’ preferences.

For champagne and sparkling wine options, give these bubblies a try:

  • Candoni Prosecco Brut: Crisp and clean; sip this slowly and savor the distinct honey undertones.
  • Moscato d’Asti:  Lightly fizzy Moscato d’Asti has a touch of sweetness balanced by crisp acidity to bring out tangy and sweet flavors.
  • Champagne: The acidity of the champagne helps lighten the rich flavors from typical brunch foods such as cheese omelets, and the light fruit flavors will complement any added fresh herbs, such as basil or thyme.

 

Stress-Free Food

Setting up a cheese board is always a fun addition to your get-together. For easy ideas on how to set one up, see our blog on how to create cheese plate perfection. If you’re looking to get a little more creative, try setting up stations like a waffle bar with different toppings, or a bagel bonanza with assorted cream cheeses, butters, and bagel flavors.

Omelets, frittatas, and salads are easy choices that will be both delicious and fast to make. For brunch recipe options that aren’t too heavy, give these a try:

  • Citrus Pasta Salad
    The slight sweetness and sparkle of cava makes it an agreeable match for nearly any dish. Our Citrus Pasta Salad has a wide range of flavors, from salty feta to basil to orange and grapefruit. The versatility of cava will stand up to every bite.
  • Salmon Brunch Frittata
    Smoked salmon, eggs, and sliced potatoes make this a hearty and satisfying dish. Sautéed onions and tarragon add an additional layer of flavor. The versatility of this dish lends itself to an equally versatile drink such as champagne. Don’t worry, orange juice or coffee are suitable options, too.

If you prefer to have us do the work for you, try ordering a platter from the Publix bakery or deli.

 

Décor

From fun and flirty to sassy and sophisticated, let your theme guide your decoration choices. Stop by our Floral department for a colorful bouquet to add freshness to your table. Use sparkly leftover wrapping paper as a table runner to add a little glam to the event.

If you have a backyard, your garden would be a quaint setting for brunch. Pinterest has a lot of great ideas to give you more inspiration. Last but not least, don’t forget the music! Think of your guests, and keep the music low enough to still have conversation.

We hope we’ve given you a jumpstart on throwing a fabulous brunch bash. We’d love to see pictures of your event. Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.

 

*Drink Responsibly. Be 21.