Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning February 27th:


Interesting stuff this week!  From Grist:  an interview with the author of Pandora's Lunchbox, which I mentioned in last week's blog entry and which I'm reading right now.  Next in my queue is Michael Moss's Salt Sugar Fat:  How the Food Giants Hooked Us.  There's an excellent excerpt from it at the New York Times Magazine:  “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food”.

Interesting pieces at Fooducate.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, fast food accounts for eleven percent of the typical American's food intake.  (On the good side, this is down from 13% in 2006.)  Also a set of 11 “Must-Try Motivators” for exercise.

Recipes!  Tons of stuff at Chow.com:  how to use the drippings from a roast chicken (with an embedded video on how to roast it).  A set of easy roasted- and baked-chicken recipes, another of chunky fruit and vegetable salads.  Supertaster provides video reviews of the new seasonal codfish sandwiches from Hardee's and Wendy's, and another of the McDonald's Shamrock Shake:  “supposedly St. Patrick's Day-themed, although there's very little evidence that the historical St. Patrick ever drank one of these.”  Pasta carbonara with peas, easy and tasty, and how to make your own pastrami.  Warning, the pastrami recipe includes smoking it inside the house and does not mention how to prevent the smoke-detector going off.  Also I am leery of any recipe that includes a link to the online source for an essential ingredient not available at the supermarket.  Nor does the note “Prep time:  1 hr 30 min, plus 10 days curing time and 9 hours smoking time” inspire any particular optimism.  Your mileage, as always, may vary.  Good luck.

More recipes!  Sprouted Kitchen has Japanese soba noodles with kale and Brussels sprouts;  Simply Recipes has a carrot-ginger soup and Brussels sprouts with a hoisin glaze and a sauté of spaghetti squash and chard;  and just in time for the tail-end of blood orange season, Smitten Kitchen has blood orange margaritas.  Save me one.  Or two.

It's nearly March, which is among other things National Nutrition Month, Caffeine Awareness Month, National Meat-Out Month (coinciding with Lent), Maple Sugar Month (obvious), and National Frozen Food Month (the food companies want to unload last year's pack before the new crops come in, so they're encouraging frozen-food sales:  good time to pick stuff up at decent prices).  March 1st is National Peanut Butter Lovers' Day (no thanks) and National Fruit Compote Day (yes please, and far more PointsPlus-friendly). 

February 27th:  National Strawberry Day, National Kahlua Day
February 28th:  National Chocolate Soufflé Day, National Chili Day
March 1st:  National Peanut Butter Lovers' Day, National Fruit Compote Day;  St David's Day
March 2nd:  National Banana Cream Pie Day;  1962, first airing of the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man"
March 3rd:  National Cold Cuts Day, National Mulled Wine Day
March 4th:  National Pound Cake Day;  1634, Boston, Samuel Cole opens the first tavern in what is to become the United States.  (What took so long?)
March 5th:  National Cheese Doodle Day, National Absinthe Day;  1910, Momofuku Ando born, inventor of ramen noodles
March 6th:  National Frozen Food Day, National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day;  1912, Oreo cookies debut;  1930, retail frozen foods go on sale for the first time (Springfield, Massachusetts) but do not catch on until after the Second World War


Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye or New York steaks, bone in, family pack, $6.99/lb
    Beef London broil, boneless, $2.77/lb
    Beef top sirloin steaks OR tri tip roast, boneless, $4.99/lb
    Beef crossrib/chuck/bottom round/sirloin tip roasts, boneless, $3.99/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $2.77/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Pork loin chops, boneless, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $4.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    RedBird whole chickens, $1.99/lb
    RedBird chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, $2.49/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Tilapia OR swai fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon/rainbow trout/steelhead 5 oz portions, farm raised, $3.99 ea
    Ahi tuna/sockeye salmon/mahi mahi/swordfish/Pacific cod 5 oz portions, wild caught, $3.99 ea
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.79
    Yoplait yogurts, 20/$10
    Tillamook cheeses, 2 lb block in wax, $8.99
    Tillamook butter, $2.99
    Hickman's eggs, AA medium, dozens, $1.39
    Deli:    Dietz & Watson turkey and cheeses, $7.99/lb
        Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $4.99/lb
        USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
        Joseph Farms pepperjack/Colby/co-jack/mild Cheddar cheeses, $5.99/lb
    Nabisco snack crackers, 5-10 oz boxes, $2.99
    Musselman's applesauce, 6pk of singles, $2.99
    Essential Everyday tomatoes or veg, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢
    Strawberries, 3 lb flat, $3.99
    Blackberries/raspberries/blueberries, 6 oz boxes, $2.99
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Cut up strawberries, 20 oz bowl, $3.99
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Pacific Rose apples, $1.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
    Cucumbers OR green bell peppers, 69¢ ea
    Broccoli crowns OR cauliflower, 99¢/lb
    Beets, 99¢/bunch


Bashas':

    Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $4.97/lb
    Beef porterhouse steaks, value pack, $5.97/lb
    Sirloin tip steak or roast, $4.49/lb
    Ground beef sirloin, fat content not listed, $2.77/lb
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Center cut pork chops, bone in, value pack, $3.49/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
    True cod fillets, $4.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Bashas' milk, gallons, $1.79
    Food Club cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk or shreds, $1.88
    Smart Balance spread, 15 oz, $2.99
    Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 4/$5
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 99¢
    Full Circle olive oil, 17 oz bottles, $2.99
    Green Giant frozen veggies, 10 oz boxes, 2/$3
    Fuji or Braeburn apples, 99¢/lb
    Red seedless grapes, $1.49/lb
    Cantaloupe, 33¢/lb
    Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, 99¢/lb
    Bananas, 49¢/lb
    “Texas Red” grapefruit, 69¢ ea
    Vine tomatoes, 2 lbs/$3
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Grape tomatoes, 12 oz punnet, 2/$4
    Broccoli OR cauliflower, 99¢/lb


Fry's:

    Beef roasts:  bottom/top/eye round, sirloin tip, chuck, shoulder, 50% off
    Beef NY strip steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb
    Pork loin chops, center cut, family pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork back ribs, $3.99/lb
    Kroger boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.88/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Kroger swai or whiting fillets, $2.67/lb (3 lb frozen bag)
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle, $1.99
    Chobani Greek yogurt, 6 oz cups, 88¢
    Hunt's tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 88¢
    Chicken of the Sea chunk white tuna, 4/$5
    Kroger frozen veggies, 9-12 oz pkg, 88¢
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Blackberries OR blueberries, 6 oz boxes, 2/$5
    Organic Gala or Fuji apples, $1.49/lb
    Bananas, 57¢/lb
    “Mini peeled” carrots, AZ grown, 1 lb bag, 88¢


Safeway:

    Beef ribeye steak, bone in, value pack, $5.99/lb (boneless $1/lb higher)
    Beef bottom round roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Beef top sirloin steak, boneless, value pack, $5.49/lb
    Beef chuck crossrib roast, boneless, $3.89/lb
    90/10 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Whole pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.99/lb
    Pork shoulder country style ribs, bone in, $2.49/lb
    Sanderson Farms chicken thighs/drumsticks, bone in, $1.69/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon whole fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb (cut fillets, 50¢/lb higher)
    Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $1.79
    Classico pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, 2/$4
    Safeway Kitchens canned veg, 14-15 oz, 79¢
    Safeway Kitchen canned fruit, 14-15 oz, 89¢
    Bush's Best variety (non-baked) beans, 15-16 oz, 5/$5
    Safeway Kitchens variety breads, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $1.99
    Healthy Choice frozen entrees, 5/$10
    Smart Ones frozen breakfasts, 4/$10
    Morningstar Farms veggie-sausage products, $2.99
    Kashi frozen entrees, 2/$7
    Birds Eye “SteamFresh” frozen veg, buy 2 get 2 free
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 6-12 ct, $3.99
    Navel oranges, 79¢/lb
    Red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    Fuji or Red Delicious apples, $1.49/lb
    Blackberries OR blueberries, 6 oz boxes, $2.99
    Organic bananas, 69¢/lb
    Vine tomatoes, $2.49/lb
    Fresh Express OR Safeway Farms bag salads, 2/$5
    “Baby-cut” carrots, 2 lb bag, 2/$5
    Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, 10/$10
    Sweet mini peppers, 2 lb bag, $3.99


Sprouts:

    “100% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef,” fat content not listed, $4.99/lb
    Beef ribeye or NY steaks, boneless, $9.99/lb
    Pork loin roast, center cut, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Pork shoulder roast or country-style ribs, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Whole/split/cut-up chickens, $1.59/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $4.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Albacore tuna steaks, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Pirate's Booty, buy 1 get 1 free
    Braeburn or Fuji apples, 88¢/lb
    D'Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
    Navel oranges, 10¢/lb
    Cuties clementines, 5 lb box, $4.99
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 2 lbs/$5
    Whole pineapples, 2/$5
    Blackberries, 5 oz boxes, 99¢
    Organic Cameo apples, 3 lb bag, $2.99
    Organic Fuji apples, 99¢/lb
    Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Eggplant, 88¢ ea
    Leaf lettuce, green or red, 88¢ ea
    Green or red bell peppers, 3/$1
    Yellow or orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea





Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Sorry, all --

I can't make tonight's meeting, but here are the bargains.

PepsiCo is introducing a new Mountain Dew breakfast drink, “Kickstart” – “orange citrus” and “fruit punch” flavors, carbonation, 5% juice (just enough that they can legally label it a “juice drink”), ester of wood rosin, and more caffeine than Mountain Dew itself although less than most energy drinks.  Just in case you needed soda pop for breakfast.  I will stick with my morning cup of tea thank you.

Two interesting articles at Fooducate touch on what they call “Misadventures in Labeling”:  one is specifically about a brand of gluten-free granola with some very inventive material on the “Nutrition Facts” label (salted cashews as an ingredient, but “no sodium”?), the other a cautionary tale about calorie counting.  Did you know that calorie information on food labels must be accurate ... with a 20% margin of error?  Good thing WW doesn't work from calories any more, because a “500-calorie serving” that actually contained 600 calories could throw Points Classic counts way off.

Speaking of mislabeling, Marion Nestle at Food Politics has an article – with a link to another at the Guardian – on the “horsemeat scandal” in Europe, how horsemeat got into the hamburgers, and how this connects to food laws (and cultural identity) in the US.  Over at Weighty Matters there's a fascinating review of Melanie Warner's new book, Pandora's Lunchbox:  How Processed Food Took Over the American Meal.  Any book by an author who collects processed food (“9 month old only slightly brown around the edges guacamole … cereals older than 2 of my children that still look and taste like new … chicken 'nuggets' that rather than being immortal, liquefied within ten days”) cannot fail to entertain.

Recipes!  Snack Girl has a cherry tomato gratinée, and a healthy makeover of jalapeño poppers.  Smitten Kitchen provides Italian stuffed cabbage leaves;  Simply Recipes has refried black beans, pasta puttanesca, and something regrettably titled “celery root mash” which must be better than it sounds.  And Chow.com is piling things on, as always:  healthy fish tacos, whole-grain salads, elegant – not to say pretentious – refreshments for your Oscar party (really, now:  smoked-salmon-crème-fraîche-and-caviar potato skins?), stews for chilly nights, making your own Girl Scout cookies, and 7 things to do with I swear I could not make this up this is a real thing in the world bacon jam.

The 23rd of this month is both National Banana Bread Day and Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.  Perhaps I'm insufficiently appreciative, but as a dog owner I've tried several different dog biscuits and never found one that was a patch on a decent banana bread.

February 20th:  National Cherry Pie Day;  1829, D.G. Yuengling (formerly Jüngling) opens a brewery in Pennsylvania.  It's still open, oldest continuously operating brewery in the US
February 21st:  National Sticky Bun Day
February 22nd:  National Margarita Day
February 23rd:  National Banana Bread Day, Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day;  World Sword Swallowers' Day, so head out to the Renaissance Faire and say hello to Thom Sellectomy!
February 24th:  National Tortilla Chip Day
February 25th:  National Clam Chowder Day, National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day
February 26th:  National Pistachio Day;  1852, John Harvey Kellogg born (opened the Battle Creek Sanitarium;  his brother Will Keith invented cornflakes)
February 27th:  National Strawberry Day, National Kahlua Day

Albertson's:

    Beef New York or top sirloin steaks, boneless, family pack, $4.97/lb
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef chuck or bottom round roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, $1.99/lb (3 lbs or more)
    85/15 ground beef, $2.49/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Pork sirloin chops, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Assorted pork chops, $1.57/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
    Ahi tuna/mahi mahi/swordfish/sockeye salmon/cod loins, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $3.99
    Atlantic salmon/trouth/steelhead, farm raised, 5 oz portions, $3.99 ea
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.79
    Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
    Essential Everday cheeses, 8 oz chunk, $1.99
    Deli:    Charlie's Pride corned beef/Italian roast beef/beef pastrami, $5.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $5.99/lb
        Jennie-O “honey smoked” or “oven brown” turkey breast, $5.99/lb
        USA Gold honey or baked ham, $5.99/lb
        Stella Swiss/Provolone/Muenster, $5.99/lb
    Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, $1
    Essential Everyday pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, $1
    Hunt's diced tomatoes, 14 oz cans, $1
    Ro*tel tomatoes, $1
    PictSweet “Steam'ables” frozen veg, 10 oz pkg, $1
    Bonne Maman fruit preserves, 13 oz jars, 2/$7
    StarKist chunk light tuna, $1
    Weight Watchers ice-cream singles, 5-6 oz, $1
    Fuji apples, $1/lb
    Navel oranges, $1/lb
    Seedless grapes, green or red, $2.99/lb
    Blood oranges, $1.49/lb
    Kiwifruit, 2/$1
    “Cuties” clementines, 3 lb bag, $4.99
    Grape tomatoes, 12 oz box, $1
    Large hothouse tomatoes, $1.59/lb
    Asparagus, 87¢/lb
    English cucumbers, $1 ea
    Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, $1 ea
    Earthbound Farms organic bag salads, 5 oz, 2/$5
    Baby bok choy, 99¢/lb


Bashas':

    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round/sirloin tip steak or roast, boneless, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $6.99/lb
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.88/lb, cut & wrapped free
    Center cut pork roast or chops, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Chicken breast or leg quarters, bone in, 97¢/lb
    Flounder fillets, $1.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, $2.99/lb
    True cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Bashas' eggs, AA large, dozens, 99¢
    Bashas' “Homestyle” bread, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $1.99
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 69¢/lb
    Kellogg's Nutri-Grain OR Fiber Plus bars, 2/$5
    Pompeian olive oil, 16 oz bottles, $3.99
    Flav-R-Pac frozen veg, 12-16 oz pkg, 5/$5
    Trident salmon/cod/tilapia, 11 oz frozen boxes, $3.99
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$3
    Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, 99¢/lb
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, red plums, black plums, $1.99/lb
    Apples:  Fuji, Ambrosia, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, 99¢/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Broccoli, 99¢/lb


Fry's:

    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $2.99/lb (2 lb chub)
    Half pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.97/lb
    Pork loin chops, boneless, family pack, $2.99
    Cook's ham steaks, bone in, $3.99
    Kroger chicken thighs/drumsticks, bone in, 98¢/lb
    Kroger 85/15 ground turkey, $2.99/lb (3 lb pkg)
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.97/lb
    Fry's milk, gallons, $1.79
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle pack, $1.99
    Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$5
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 79¢
    Smart Ones frozen entrees, $1.88
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1.28
    Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
    Blackberries OR blueberries, 6 oz boxes, 2/$5
    Bananas, 57¢/lb
    Mangoes, 88¢ ea
    Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Cauliflower, 88¢/lb
    Mini sweet peppers, 2 lb bag, $3.99


Safeway:

    Beef chuck crossrib roast, boneless, $2.49
    Beef ribeye or NY strip steaks, bone in, value pack, $7.99/lb
    Beef top sirloin steak, boneless, value pack, $5.49/lb
    93/7 ground beef, value pack, $3.29/lb
    Pork sirloin country style ribs, boneless, value pack, $1.49/lb
    Pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Jennie-O Turkey Store 85/15 ground turkey, 3 lb pkg, $7.99
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon filllets, farm raised, value pack, $5.99/lb
    Safeway Kitchens yellowfin sole fillets, 24 oz pkg, $8.49
    Land O Lakes butter, $3.49
    Safeway Kitchens breads, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $1.99
    Star olive oil, 25 oz bottles, buy 1 get 1 free
    Prego pasta sauces, 23-24 oz jars, 2/$4
    Safeway chunk light tuna, 99¢
    Lucerne or Open Nature cheeses, 24-32 oz chunk or shreds, $6.99
    Fuji or Red Delicious apples, OR D'Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$3
    Blood or Cara Cara oranges, OR Minneola tangelos, $1.49/lb
    Campari tomatoes, AZ grown, 1 lb box, $2.99
    Broccoli OR cauliflower, $1.49/lb


Sprouts:

    Beef rump roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Beef filet mignon steaks, “grass-fed”, $9.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Boneless chicken breast tenders, $1.99/lb
    Turkey tenders OR ground turkey breast, $3.99/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Blueberries, dry pint, $1.88
    Braeburn or Fuji apples, 88¢/lb
    Organic apples, Braeburn/Fuji/Cameo, 4 lbs/$5
    Organic D'Anjou pears, 2 lbs/$3
    Cuties clementines, 5 lb box, $3.99
    Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
    “Texas Rio Red” grapefruit, 88¢ ea
    Organic Red Delicious apples, 99¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 2 lbs/$5
    Large slicing tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Asparagus, 2 lbs/$5
    Green or red bell peppers, 3/$1
    Leaf lettuce, green or red, 88¢ ea




Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning February 13th:

A couple of good ones at Fooducate this week, including “10 Easy Tips to Get You Drinking More Water” and a piece on why you should add chicken feet to your soup.  (No hints on where to get chicken feet which I do not frequently see at Bashas' or even AJ's.)

Last week I forgot to mention Summer Tomato's entry on “10 Tips to Save Money While Eating Healthy”, so I'll mention it this week along with Darya's latest entries:  one on “8 Simple Tips To Avoid Late Night Snacking”, another on “4 Cooking Mistakes You Learned From Your Parents (and how to fix them)”, and “5 Ideal Vegetables for Lazy Cooks”.

Recipes!  For Valentine's Day Chow.com has a set of “classic Valentine's Day dishes”, heavy on truffles and chocolate, and a video tutorial on how to cut tomatoes into hearts.  Because I just know you've always wanted to know how to do that.  Less romantically but more practically they've also a set of healthy kale recipes, including a kale stroganoff I mean to try, and a video on making a teriyaki chicken “that isn't an overly sweet mess”.  Simply Recipes has a chicken mango lettuce wrap, and Sprouted Kitchen has a dish involving delicata squash, kale, and fennel.  And Snack Girl has a collection of lighter ways to enjoy chocolate, as well as something which she calls “Buffalo cauliflower”.

To absolutely no one's surprise, tomorrow, February 14th, is National Cream Filled Chocolates Day.  The 18th is both the very specific National Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day and the remarkably inspecific Drink Wine Day, neither of which I will decline.

February 13th:  National Tortellini Day
February 14th:  National Cream Filled Chocolates Day
February 15th:  International Gumdrop Day
February 16th:  National Almond Day;  1933, Prohibition repealed!
February 17th:  National Cafe au Lait Day, National Indian Pudding Day;  Fornacalia, ancient Roman bread-oven festival (in honor of the hearth goddess Fornax)
February 18th:  Drink Wine Day, National Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day
February 19th:  National Chocolate Mint Day;  1855, bread riots in Liverpool
February 20th:  National Cherry Pie Day

And I should mention that neither this blog nor the handout I print up for the meetings are official WW publications.  No.  God, no.


Albertson's:

    Beef bottom round/crossrib roasts OR London broil, boneless, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef chuck roast or steaks, boneless, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef t-bone or New York steaks, bone in, $7.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $2.59/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $2.77/lb
    Pork loin chops, boneless, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, $1.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, bone in, jumbo pack, 99¢/lb
    Unbranded boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, $1.99/lb
    Whole Atlantic salmon fillet, that is an entire damn side of the fish, farm raised, $4.77
    Half Atlantic salmon fillet, farm raised, $5.77/lb
    Tilapia or swai fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
    Extra large raw shrimp, 26/30 ct, $4.99/lb
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.79
    Deli:    Signature “double honey” ham, $4.99/lb
        Jennie-O oven roasted OR hickory smoked turkey breast, $4.99/lb
        Charlie's Pride beef pastrami OR corned beef, $4.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $4.99/lb
        Joseph Farms pepperjack/Colby/Co-jack/mild Cheddar cheeses, $4.99/lb
    Bonne Maman organic fruit preserves or jellies, 13 oz jars, 2/$7
    Libby's canned veg, 14-15 oz cans,69¢
    Chicken of the Sea chunk white tuna, 10/$10
    Birds Eye “Steamfresh” veggies, 10-12 oz pkg, 2/$3
    C&W frozen veggies, 12-16 oz pkg, 2/$3
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 4/$5
    Fuji apples, 99¢/lb
    Sunrise papayas, $2.99 ea
    Blackberries OR blueberries, 6 oz boxes, $2.99
    Clementines, 3 lb box, $4.99
    Carambola (star fruit), $2.99 ea
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Heirloom tomatoes, $3.99/lb


Bashas':

    Beef top sirloin steaks, $6.99/lb
    Beef crossrib steak or roast, $4.99/lb
    Ground beef chuck, fat content not listed, value pack, $2.37/lb
    Pork sirloin chops, boneless, value pack, $2.37/lb (regular pack, 12¢/lb higher)
    Pork country style spareribs, bone in, value pack, $1.49/lb
    Pork shoulder steak, bone in, $2.49/lb
    Bashas chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, bone in, 10 lbs/$10
    Flounder fillets, $1.99/lb
    True cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, $2.99/lb
    Swordfish steaks, bone in, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Catfish fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon portions, 5 oz, buy 1 get 2 free
    Yoplait yogurts, 10/$5
    Bashas' cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $2.39
    Bashas' sour cream incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $1.99
    Tillamook cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, 5/$10
    StarKist chunk light tuna, 79¢
    Bumble Bee chunk white tuna, 2/$3
    S&W variety (non-baked) beans, 15 oz cans, 79¢
    Progresso Light soups (with the Weight Watchers logo), 4/$6
    Food Club veggies or tomatoes, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢
    Barilla pasta sauces, 24 oz jars, 2/$3
    Food Club pasta, 32 oz pkg, 2/$3
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, $4.44
    Gorton's seafood, 8-24 oz frozen pkg, $4.99
    Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, 99¢/lb
    Whole pineapples, $2.99 ea
    Blueberries, dry pint, $2.99
    Roma OR slicing tomatoes, 99¢/lb

Fry's:

    Beef t-bone steaks, 50% off
    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Beef chuck or crossrib roast, boneless, $4.79/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $3.29/lb (3 lb chub, $9.87)
    Pork country style ribs, bone in, family pack, $2.59/lb
    Foster Farms boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, buy 1 get 2 free
    Kroger chicken leg quarters, 99¢/lb
    Kroger ground turkey breast, 19 oz pkg, $5.99
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.97/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, family pack, $6.99/lb
    True cod fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Fry's eggs, AA large, dozens, 99¢
    Country Crock spread, 30-45 oz tubs, $2.49
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk or shreds, $1.99
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 59¢
    Kroger variety (non-baked) beans, 69¢
    Kashi “Heart to Heart” cereals, 12-13 oz boxes, $2.99
    Green Giant “Steamers”, 7-12 oz frozen pkg, $1.79
    Kroger veggies, 12-16 oz frozen bags, 10/$10
    Blueberries, 6 oz box, 99¢
    Fuji apples, 88¢/lb
    Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
    Mandarins, 3 lb bag, $4.99
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Bananas, 57¢/lb


Safeway:

    Beef London broil, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb (regular pack 50¢/lb higher)
    Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $7.99/lb
    Beef chuck pot roast, bone in, $3.89/lb
    Beef ribeye steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, value pack, $2.79/lb
    90/10 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb (regular pack 50¢/lb higher)
    Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, value pack, $1.99/lb (regular pack 50¢/lb higher)
    Eating Right boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Jennie-O Turkey Store extra lean ground turkey breast, 20 oz pkg, $5.99
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Rockfish fillets, $7.99/lb
    Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $1.79
    Lucerne butter, $2.99
    Eating Right sandwich or bagel thins, $2.29
    Open Nature “100% Whole Wheat” or “Whole Grain White” bread, 24 oz long loaves, $1.99
    Eating Right pasta sauces, 25 oz jars, 3/$5
    Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars, 4/$10
    Nabisco snack crackers, 12-16 oz boxes, 2/$7
    Safeway Selects olive oil, 25 oz bottles, buy 1 get 1 free
    O Organics olive oil, 1 liter bottles, buy 1 get 1 free
    S&W variety (non-baked) beans, 15 oz cans, 4/$5
    Gorton's frozen seafood, buy 1 get 1 free
    Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$10
    Green Giant frozen veg, 7-12 oz boxes, $1.99
    O Organics frozen veg, 1 lb bags, $2.49
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1.68
    Mangos, 10/$10
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Braeburn or Gala apples, $1.49/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Organic Fuji apples, $1.69/lb
    Safeway Farms grape tomatoes, 10 oz box, $2.49
    Hass avocados, 10/$10


Sprouts:

    Beef ribeye steaks, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Pork loin roast or chops, center cut boneless, $2.99/lb
    Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, value pack, $1.49/lb
    Zacky extra-lean ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.49
    Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Haddock fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Halibut fillets, wild caught (Sea of Cortez), $10.99/lb
    Navel oranges, 4 lbs/$1
    Organic Fuji apples, 88¢/lb
    Organic Braeburn or Cameo apples, 4 lbs/$5
    D'Anjou or Bosc pears, 88¢/lb (organic, 4 lbs/$5)
    Cantaloupes, 2/$4
    “Cuties” clementines, 5 lb box, $4.99
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Slicing tomatoes, 49¢/lb
    Eggplant, 88¢ ea
    Cauliflower, 88¢/lb
    Green bell peppers, 3/$1
    Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea
    Grape tomatoes, dry pint, 4/$5
    Jewel or Garnet yams, 88¢/lb
    Hothouse cucumbers, 4/$5

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Bargain guide, week beginning February 6th:

Interesting piece at Fooducate, about the manifold definitions of “whole grain” as used on food labels.  Short version:  don't stop at the “Made! With! Whole! Grains!!!” tag on the front, it's important to look at the entire ingredients list.  And at Grist and Huffington Post and Serious Eats (!!), I see where KFC's noxious idea of using fried chicken in place of bread is spreading beyond North America:  KFC Japan's new “Kentucky Chicken Rice” sandwich involves a patty of tomato-infused rice, cheese, mayo, and ketchup served between two pieces of chicken.

For Valentine's Day, Chow.com has how to make your own Conversation Hearts!  Far from low-calorie – the ingredients list includes “Two pounds of powdered sugar” – but it might be fun if you have some extra time and a one-inch-heart-shaped cookie cutter.  Also, for Mardi Gras, some very pretty Jell-O Shots and an actual guide for how many of them equate to “one drink”.  And in a follow-up to last week's piece on how to turn fish skins into (something like) bacon, they've got how to turn fish bones into a flavorful salt additive.  (Or adulterant.  De gustibus etc.)

Recipes!  Snack Girl has a “decadent” 3-PointPlus-per-serving dessert of baked sweet potato with vanilla yogurt, a review of two different Greek yogurts (Yoplait's new is better than their old), and interesting options in the frozen-food aisle.  Smitten Kitchen has a pasta with white beans (I know, it's carby, but they're the good kind if you use whole-grain pasta) and a new take on egg salad.  (That says "chicken salad" in the printed version.  My humblest apologies.)

Tomorrow, February 7th, is National Fettucine Alfredo Day and let me just get out of the way right now that the dish Alfredo actually made did not involve any such thing as an Alfredo sauce.  Fettucine Alfredo is correctly made entirely of fettucine, butter, and freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.  This is all that's necessary – well, this and a lot of tossing with restrained abandon.  The 9th is National Bagels and Lox Day, and the 104th birthday of Carmen Miranda, she of the tutti-frutti hat.  And the 11th is the fiftieth anniversary of the premiere of Julia Child's The French Chef. 

Next Tuesday, the 12th, is Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day/Carnaval.  Starting next week the grocery flyers will be awash in heavy promotions for seafood.  This week's big items are heavily Valentine's-Day-focused and thus emphasize chocolate, strawberries, chocolate-dipped strawberries, romantic-dinner items, chocolate, any food item ever alleged to have possessed ill-defined or poorly-attested aphrodisiac properties, all things red or pink, heart-shaped boxes, and chocolate.


February 6th:  National Chopsticks Day
February 7th:  National Fettucine Alfredo Day
February 8th:  Molasses Bar Day
February 9th:  National Bagels and Lox Day
February 10th:  Cream Cheese Brownie Day;  birthday (1944) of Frances Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet
February 11th:  Peppermint Patty Day (the candy, not the character), Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day;  1963, The French Chef premieres
February 12th:  National Plum Pudding Day, International Pancake Day;  Shrove Tuesday;  1976, the Food and Drug Administration bans Red Dye No. 2 as carcinogenic.  Red M&Ms disappear for eleven years although they never did contain that dye
February 13th:  National Tortellini Day


Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye steaks, bone in, family pack, 5.97/lb
    Beef tenderloin roast, boneless, whole in bag, $10.99/lb
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef top sirloin steaks OR tri tip roast, boneless, $4.99/lb
    Beef crossrib OR bottom round roast, boneless, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    93/7 ground beef, $3.29/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Pork loin chops, boneless, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    Pork country style ribs, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, $1.67/lb
    Alaska cod OR Dover sole OR rockfish fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Cold water lobster tails (3 oz minimum), wild caught, $3.77 ea
    Big cold water lobster tails (7 oz minimum), wild caught, $9.99 ea
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.79
    Deli:    Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $4.99/lb
        USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
        Charlie's Pride Italian roast beef/corned beef/beef pastrami, $6.99/lb
        Stella swiss cheese, $6.99/lb
    Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 99¢
    Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, 99¢
    Nature's Own “100% Whole Wheat” bread, 20 oz long loaves, $2.39
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 88¢
    Healthy Choice “Steaming” frozen entrees, 2/$4
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Blackberries OR blueberries, 6 oz boxes, 2/$5
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Slicing tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Asparagus, green or white, $2.99/lb
    Green bell peppers, 69¢ ea
    Fresh Express bag salads, 2/$5


Bashas':

    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb (regular pack $1/lb higher)
    Beef tenderloin, whole in bag, $7.99/lb, cut & wrapped free
    Beef London broil, $3.99/lb
    Ground beef chuck, fat content not listed, value pack, $3.49/lb
    Assorted pork chops, value pack, $1.49/lb
    Center cut pork chops, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.77/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.77/lb
    Haddock fillets, $5.99/lb
    Walleyed pike fillets, $10.99/lb
    Clams, 2 lb bag, $5
    Shamrock Farms dairy products, 50% off “selected varieties”
    Sargento cheeses, 5-8 oz shreds, $2.88
    Yoplait yogurts, original or Greek, 4 pks, 2/$5
    Bashas' “Homestyle” bread, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $2.59
    Quaker oats, 42 oz round box, 2/$5
    Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, 99¢
    Bertolli pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, $1.99
    Libby's veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 59¢
    PictSweet frozen veg, 10-12 oz bags, 2/$3
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Apples:  Fuji, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Red Delicious, 99¢/lb
    Cantaloupe, 2 lbs/$1
    Roma or slicing tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Asparagus, 97¢/lb
    Cucumbers OR green bell peppers, 2/$1
    Yellow onions, 69¢/lb


Fry's:

    Beef New York strip steaks, bone in, family pack, $4.97/lb
    Beef tenderloin roast, whole in bag, $9.99/lb
    Beef crossrib roast OR “Texas broil” whatever that may be, $4.79/lb
    Beef flat iron steaks, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Beef filet mignon, $12.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, $2.99/lb (3 lb chub)
    Kroger boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.79/lb
    Entire line of fresh pork, buy 1 get 1 free (like item)
    Lobster tails, 5 oz, wild caught, 2/$12
    Fry's milk, half gallons only, 88¢
    Kroger butter, $2.29
    Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
    Classico pasta sauces, 8-24 oz jars, 50% off
    Contadina tomato paste, 12 oz cans, 50% off
    Quaker Oat Squares cold cereal OR Kellogg's Fiber One, 50% off
    Smart Ones frozen entrees, $1.88
    Kroger frozen veggies, 9-12 oz bags, 10/$10
    Green Giant frozen veggies, 7-10 oz boxes, 10/$10
    Kashi frozen entrees, 2/$6
    Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, AZ grown, 88¢/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $2.99
    Red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    Bananas, 57¢/lb
    Dole or Fresh Selections bag salads, 2/$5
    Peeled mini carrots, AZ grown, 1 lb bag, 50% off


Safeway:

    Beef New York strip steak, bone in, value pack, $4.77/lb (regular pack, $1/lb higher)
    Beef ribeye steak, bone in, value pack, $5.77/lb (regular pack, $1/lb higher)
    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $5.49/lb
    Beef chuck steak, thin cut boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.99/lb
    Pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, bone in, value pack, 99¢/lb
    Pacific rockfish fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, value pack, $6.99/lb
    Yoplait yogurts, 10/$5
    Oroweat variety breads, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, 2/$5
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 79¢
    Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, 2/$3 – buy 2, get 1 box of Safeway pasta free
    Lucerne or Open Nature cheeses, 24-32 oz chunk or shreds, $6.99
    Healthy Choice frozen entrees, 4/$10
    Green Giant frozen veggies, 7-10 oz boxes, $1.99
    Navel oranges, 77¢/lb
    Blueberries, regular or organic, 6 oz boxes, buy 1 get 1 free
    “Texas Ruby Red” grapefruit, 88¢ ea
    Apples:  Granny Smith, Red/Golden Delicious, $1.49/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $2.99
    Safeway Farms grape tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$5
    Asparagus, $2.99/lb
    Green or red bell peppers, 99¢ ea


Sprouts:

    Beef sirloin tip roast or steaks, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Beef New York steaks, boneless, $7.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Ground pork, “super lean”, $2.99/lb
    Whole/split/cut up chickens, $1.59/lb
    Chicken sausage, Italian/Parmesan/bratwurst, sweet or hot, $2.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Fuji or Pink Lady apples, 99¢/lb
    Organic Braeburn or Fuji apples, 4 lbs/$5
    Organic Bosc or D'Anjou pears, $1.29/lb
    Organic Valencia oranges, 4 lb bag, 2/$5
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$4
    Navel oranges, 3 lbs/$1
    Minneola tangelos, 77¢/lb
    “Texas Rio” grapefruit, 77¢ ea
    Roma tomatoes, 77¢/lb
    Organic grape tomatoes, dry pint, 2/$5
    Asparagus, $1.49/lb
    Eggplant, 77¢ ea
    Green bell peppers, 3/$1
    Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, 77¢ ea
    Winter squashes (acorn, butternut, spaghetti), 99¢/lb
    Organic Garnet or Jewel yams, $1.29/lb
    Organic bulk spinach OR Spring Mix salad, $3.99/lb