Flu Vaccine

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Sam

Super Grocer & Pharmacy is holding a Flu Clinic on October 22 and 23, 2011. Please sign up as soon as possible as we only have a limited number of flu shots. Almost everyone qualifies for this program funded by the BC Government. Please call our pharmacist at 604-274-7878 for more information and to book your appointment.

The Thanksgiving holiday is the first of many social gatherings most of us attend during the fall and winter months. When we congregate in groups, we also spread the commonest of communicable diseases, the flu. The elderly and the young are the two populations that are affected most – each more susceptible because of lower than normal immune activity.

Flu vaccines are the only “treatment” that helps us prevent the disease. When we are infected by a foreign organism, our bodies fight back by manufacturing immune agents called antibodies. The flu vaccines are basically antibodies harvested from chicken eggs infected with a flu causing virus. When this “vaccine” is introduced into our blood stream, they attached to any of the same virus that comes into our bodies and signal our immune system to manufacture more of the same type of antibodies, thus preventing the flu virus from becoming established and we avoid the symptoms that causes discomfort in the healthy and severe if not fatal consequences in the elderly and the young.

The BC government recognized that preventing the spread of the flu will not only reduce the mortality due to the flu, but also saves money by lowering the number of medical help required to those that suffer from the symptoms of the disease. Each year, a limited number of vaccinations are funded and is available to those who are more susceptible and the people they associate with. Visit the Flu BC website for more details.

Korean Shortribs ( Galbee )

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Sam

A favorite of many shoppers is our Beef Thin-cut Shortribs. Many know this cut as “Maui Shortribs”. Grilled Korean style is a very popular way to cook this cut. So here is a recipe that comes from a Korean shopper.

Marinate:

3 teaspoon of sugar
2 teaspoon of rice vinegar
5 teaspoon soy sauce
3 garlic cloves (super finely minced)
½ teaspoon of ginger (super finely minced and fresh)
1 bunch of green onion (finely chopped)
2 teaspoon sesame oil
a dash of pepper

Add one pound of thin-cut beef shortribs and marinate overnight in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge. Reserve half the green onion as a sprinkle over the cooked ribs.

Grilling:

Take out two hours before cooking and allow the meat to come to room temperature. If the shortribs are cut very thin( ½ to 1 cm thick ), grill over high heat for one minute on each side; if they are 1 to 2 cm thick, then place them over medium heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes each side, turning each minute. Choose thicker cuts of over 1 cm, the slower and longer cooking times develops a richer flavour and retains more moisture.

Sprinkle with finely chopped green onions and rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Choosing a Walker or Rollator

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Sam

Walkers are three sided frames that aid balance when walking. Rollators are wheeled walkers. There are several types, each suitable to individual needs and demands.

The most primary walker is a lightweight frame that easily folds away. This walker is easy to maneuver and lift over low obstacles. It has four legs and provides the most stability for those who has good upper body strength and a strong grip. Fine for indoor use and limited outdoor distances.

A variant of the basic walker is one with small wheels attached to the front two legs. This adaptation allows a glide/push action without having to lift the whole walker, just the back legs. This allows patients with weaker upper body strength or constraints in arm movement to use. Although easier to move on smooth and relatively flat surfaces, low obstacles are harder to overcome as this model is heavier.

Other variations of the basic walker includes those that have a fold down seat or specialized grips to better spread the weight from the palms. Each enhances utility at the price of mobility.

Rollators are wheeled walkers. They come with three or four wheels. Three wheel versions are lighter, but less stable. Four wheel variants are more stable, but heavier. They are ideal for use over longer distances, requiring little effort to move forward while offering good stability. A toe lift tilts the rollator over low obstacles. Usually, these come with seats that allow rest stops between destinations. Unfortunately, the seat also interfere with the gait of the user.

Another issue to consider with rollators is the braking system used. They are usually spring grips that connect to the wheels by cables. The loops tend to catch on objects in close confines. One model over come this by cleverly incorporating the cables inside the frame of the rollator – these costs more.

Consideration should be given to where the walker/rollator is to be used. If there is more than one level involve, and a powered lift is not available, having one for each level would be ideal. Ideally, one would have a walker for indoor use and another for outdoor use.

Please consult our pharmacist for what will work best for you. Super Grocer & Pharmacy staff can measure and fit you the right size of walker or rollator.

Super 8 Delayed

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Sam

Paramount Studios has removed “Super 8” from their intended September 20, 2011 release date. While no new date has been confirmed it will likely be available for rental in November 2011.

Taste of Sundae

Posted on July 20, 2011 by

Hi, I’m thirteen years old and I am reviewing Nestlé’s Shocking Strawberry Shortcake Sundae.

I picked out this frozen treat from all the others in the cabinet because it had a spoon. That’s what caught my attention, yes this little, tiny spoon persuaded me that this is the cool treat for me. The scoops you can make are tiny, making the wait to get to the strawberry at the bottom forever. When you do get to the bottom, the handle is so short that your fingers are all sticky.

Okay, now for the sundae, the creamy texture of the vanilla ice cream blending with the white chocolate balls in the topping is bliss. A nice, sweet combination that munches well together. After that white goodness, comes the strawberry concoction at the bottom. Aah, the melting vanilla cream really brings out the strawberry of the red, gooey layer on the bottom. It’s like ying and yang, perfect synergy.

At 250 calories, the Shocking Strawberry Shortcake Sundae is a fine choice. The strawberry is well matched with the vanilla ice cream, while the white chocolate ball topping adds a nice accent. A sweet sundae, just use you own spoon.

August Video Releases

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Sam

Cooking Burro Bananas

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Sam

Burro Bananas are similar to plantains, a starchy flesh that lends well to cooking. Can be prepared and substituted for potatoes in many dishes, but it is best ripened to when the fruit is soft.

Ripening can take time and can be helped along by sealing the fruit in a plastic bag with a conventional banana. The fruit will be a molted brown or even black when Burro bananas are ready to cook.

In South America as well as in the Philippines, these bananas are sliced along it’s length about half a centimeter thick and pan fried. Sprinkle with sugar immediately after removing from the pan. Another common practice is to boil the whole banana in the skin and then eaten like baked potatoes.

Best Flower Shop 2011

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Sam

Thank you to all our loyal and valued customers who voted Super Grocer & Pharmacy the Best Flower Shop in the Richmond Review’s readers poll of 2011. The staff in our Floral department appreciates the recognition bestowed and will continue to strive to deliver the beautiful flowers and plants that many have come to depend on. If there is anything that we can do to improve our service or your shopping experience, please fill in the response form below.

Pharmacare Change Medication Review

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Sam

Pharmacare have announced that starting August 1, 2011 patients must have seven (7) medication, either prescription or non-prescription, recorded on their pharmacy profile for the government to continue to fund their Medication Review.

Medication Reviews are a health enhancing service. Many misused and misunderstood medications have been corrected in the patients who have under gone this review. Please contact our pharmacy to arrange for this valuable service if you have not reviewed your medication history with our pharmacist.

We can try to help you preserve your eligibility for Pharmacare funding. Please bring in all your medications, vitamin and other medicines like Aspirin as well as herbal remedies that you current take. If the containers are too bulky or inconvenient, you may write a list and we will record these medications for you in your pharmacy profile.

Beef Grading and Quality

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Sam

Before discussing what qualities are used to differential grades of beef, a short introduction into cattle production will help.

Cattle raise for beef starting from calves are place in a feedlot. They are fed grain, usually wheat, until they are ready for market. There are also grass fed cattle that are then place in feedlots for finishing – that is fed grains to whiten the fat that otherwise will be yellow. For the majority of beef from Alberta, where most of our beef comes from, 70% – 75% are of the Angus breed.

beef rib steak

Cattle for beef are fairly young, less than thirty months old. Grades of beef are primarily segregated based on how much, what size and distribution of fat deposited in the rib eye muscle of an animal – called marbling. In general, Canada Prime has the most marbling, followed by AAA, AA and A. Sometimes, there maybe lots of fat in the muscle, but the fat deposits are too large or is not evenly distributed across the muscle, this lowers the grade. At Super Grocer & Pharmacy, we primarily sell grades AA or AAA, with the intent to balance between tasty meat and lean meat.

In the United States, beef is graded similarly, with Prime, Choice and Select as the primary grades available in stores. Choice and Select would be equivalent to our grades AAA and AA or A respectively.

Dairy cattle is sometimes sold to retail customers. Some are “finished” with grain feed to whiten the fat and others are sold with their “natural” yellow fat.

Grass fed cattle is considered healthier than grain fed. Grass fed cattle yields a leaner beef and meat that have an almost ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid, 2:1 or better. Unfortunately, we have grown accustomed to the tender and the mild taste of meat from grain fed cattle.

New Zealand is a small country composed of islands. They have smaller pastures and grasslands and limited grain production. Cattle is grass fed, minimally finished with grain and typically brought to market when twenty-four months old – younger, leaner and healthier. New Zealand beef is tender, lean and has a mild flavour. Super Grocer & Pharmacy carries beef from New Zealand. Check our meat counter for cuts ready to grill. Click here for recipes.