Booker invites everyone to stop by the Got Sides To Go Store grand-opening to enjoy free samples of Southern-style dishes, a chance to win a Holiday Ham or Turkey Dinner

Orders placed through November 29, 2011, support the American Heart and Stroke Association’s Power to End Stroke campaign

(Macedonia, Ohio) A new store opening in Macedonia is making the preparation of authentic-tasting, Southern-style side dishes as easy as boiling water – just in time for the holidays! Simply Southern Sides, the manufacturer of fully cooked and seasoned Southern side dishes, held a grand opening for its first retail store – the Got Sides To Go Store on, October 29. Located at 852 East Highland Road, Suite A-5, the Got Sides To Go Store is at the corner of East Highland and Valley View Roads.

“Because Southern side dishes are time intensive, many people only make them on Sundays or during the holidays,” said Claude Booker, company president and a professionally trained chef.

“However, our frozen items make it easy to enjoy the rich, slow-cooked taste any day of the week because they’re already cooked and seasoned, and packaged in vacuum sealed bags,” Booker added. “This makes preparation easy by simply placing the bags in boiling water, heating, and serving – all in a matter of minutes. Such ease of preparation let’s you have Sunday dinner on a Tuesday!”

Simply Southern Sides’ most popular side dishes are sold in more than 1000 grocery stores nationwide but will be offered through its retail store for 28percent off the average grocery price. Southern-style varieties consists of black-eye peas, carrots n’ buttery sauce, cream corn, collard greens, green “pole” beans, kernel corn, lima beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, okra and tomatoes, red beans and sausage, sweet potato casserole, turnip greens and white rice.

Better still, Booker, who developed the recipes himself, has managed to capture the down-home taste without all of the fat and calories found in traditionally Southern side dishes. In fact, many of his products are considered “heart healthy,” which means they’re low in salt, sugar, fat and cholesterol.

“This is a welcome change at a time when high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and obesity are on the rise in our community,” the Northfield Center resident said.

As part of the Got Sides To Go Store grand opening, 10percent of each and every purchase  goes toward supporting Power to End Stroke through November 29, 2011.

But the spirit of giving back doesn’t end there. The company makes ongoing fundraising opportunities available through its online Got Sides To Go web site. Launched earlier this year, this philanthropic program contributes 10percent of each order purchased via www.gotsidestogo.com back to your church, school or nonprofit organization.

“The benefit of placing orders online offers customers the chance to raise funds for their favorite cause, while placing orders at the retail store provides customers with the instant gratification of picking up their orders right away,” Booker distinguished. “However, any organization using our online web site as a fundraising tool can actually designate our store’s Will Call area as the product pick up location for supporters placing online orders.”

Both  vehicles feature the following product offerings: a 12-item Got Sides To Go Variety Pack, which consists of  20-ounce bags of some of the most popular side dishes listed above; Family-Size Boxes, which  consists of four, 3-pound bags of one Southern side dish of your choice; and two Holiday Dinner boxes, each serving up to 10 people and featuring a turkey breast or spiral sliced ham, four side dishes, gravy, rolls, and sweet potato pie.

“Our Variety Boxes are wonderful for individuals or small families because they feature 12 different side dishes, each offering five servings,” Booker said. “On the other hand, the Family-Size Boxes are ideal for large family and professional gatherings such as reunions, conferences, retreats, picnics, and conferences because each 3-pound box serves up to 48 people. Finally, our heat-and-serve Holiday Dinner Boxes are ideal for people who would rather spend the holidays enjoying family and friends instead of in the kitchen,” he concluded.

Booker invites everyone to stop by the Got Sides To Go Store grand-opening to enjoy free samples of Southern-style dishes, a chance to win a Holiday Ham or Turkey Dinner, or a Got Sides To Go Variety Pack, which will be raffled off every hour.

Normal store operating hours are Thursday and Friday 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 330-908-0322 or log onto www.gotsidestogo.com.