Wren's bargain guide, week beginning September 25th:

Per Fooducate and Grist:  Burger King introduces “Satisfries”, a new reduced-fat French fry.  “Only” 270 calories and 11 grams of fat … in the small serving.  Yes, that's down from 340 calories and 15 grams in a small serving of their regular fries, but the accompanying Aura of Healthy could lead people to order a larger serving of these “healthier” fries than they might otherwise choose.  And even the small serving carries 300 milligrams of sodium.

From Summer Tomato, “experience stretching” and how it can affect your food preferences – Darya doesn't eat In-N-Out burgers any more, not because they're Not Allowed or Bad For Her, but because she's discovered other things she likes better – and the most important single thing when you're reading a food label:  the ingredients list.  “Real food is made from real ingredients, things you should recognize.  Real food is not made with unpronounceable chemicals, dough conditioners, preservatives, or 14 different kinds of sugar.  Why does Wonder Bread contain Datem and/or Azodicarbonamide?  Because its manufacturers want it to have a shelf life that extends beyond the apocalypse.  That way when the zombies run out of brains to eat they can still buy Wonder Bread.”  Monica Reinagel very positively reviews the new KIND nutrition bars.  And at Weighty Matters guest poster Geordie McConnell, from the metric nation of Canada, advocates for bringing back the mile:  “The entry point to the running world is now seen as 5 kilometres and that is too long. Many will be daunted by that distance and decide that running is not for them.…  Why not train to jog a mile, a much more attainable and sustainable distance?”

Recipes!  Summer Tomato has “Nutty Sunrise Granola”.  Chow.com has Vietnamese lamb chops, nine ways with Brussels sprouts that aren't “steam and butter”, a salad of mixed greens with almonds and grapes, and how to make butter at home in your blender!  Simply Recipes has ginger, ginger-onion green beans, and pork chops with a ginger-pear sauce.  Sprouted Kitchen has pasta with fennel, arugula, and lemon.  And Snack Girl has a Moroccan salad of chickpeas and carrots, overnight pumpkin pancakes, and ways to cook – and shop – healthy when you're single!  (“I am amazed at how hard it can be to buy a small amount of food.  Have you seen a bag of chips at Costco?”)

Today is National Crab Newberg Day, and also National Crab Newburg Day.  I'll take both.  One week from today is Fried Scallops Day, I'll have some of those as well.  Monday, the 30th, is National Hot Mulled Cider Day.  (The National Weather Service is predicting a high of 94°F in our area for that date.)  The 28th is Drink Beer Day, not to be confused with National Beer Day in April, International Beer Day in August, or American Beer Day a month from now.  September has been National Apple Month;  Tuesday is the beginning of October, which is National Apple Month. 

September 25th:  Crab Newberg/Newburg Day
September 26th:  National Pancake Day;  1774, John Chapman (“Johnny Appleseed”) born
September 27th:  National Chocolate Milk Day, National Corned Beef Hash Day
September 28th:  Drink Beer Day, National Strawberry Cream Pie Day;  feast of St. Wenceslas, patron of butchers
September 29th:  National Coffee Day, National Mocha Day;  feast of St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of grocers and bakers.  A tradition in England says that if you eat goose on Michaelmas Day, you will never want for money all the year round.  This may be a self-fulfilling prophecy:  I have priced goose and can state with some authority that people who can afford it are not in immediate financial danger.
September 30th:  National Hot Mulled Cider Day;  1962, United Farm Workers union formed
October 1st:  World Vegetarian Day, Homemade Cookies Day;  Pudding Season begins
October 2nd:  National Fried Scallops Day


Albertson's:

    Beef London broil, $2.99/lb
    Beef chuck or eye/bottom round steaks, thin cut boneless, $8.49/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef crossrib steaks, thin cut boneless, $7.49/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef top round steaks, thin cut boneless, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef chuck/crossrib/eye round/bottom round/sirloin tip roasts, boneless, $3.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $2.79/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $2.99/lb
    Asssorted pork chops, bone in, $1.59/lb
    Pork sirloin chops, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Center cut pork loin chops, bone in, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.88/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.88/lb
    Keta salmon fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Catfish/tilapia/swai fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
    Deli:    Charlie's Pride roast beef/Italian beef/corned beef/beef pastrami, $6.99/lb
        Stella Swiss/Muenster/Provolone cheeses, $6.99/lb
        Signature Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
        Jennie-O turkey breast, $4.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson American cheese, $4.99/lb
    Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, $1
    Ro*tel tomatoes, $1
    Crystal Light canisters, $2.99
    Oroweat breads, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, 2/$5
    Essential Everyday veggies or tomatoes, 14-15 oz cans, 50¢
    Essential Everyday pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 75¢
    Red seedless grapes, 75¢/lb
    “Gattie” yellow peaches, $1.99/lb
    Fuji apples, $1.69/lb
    Bartlett pears, 99¢/lb
    Broccoli crowns OR cauliflower, $1/lb
    Slicing tomatoes, $1.29/lb
    Earthbound Farms organic mini carrots, 1 lb bag, $1.99
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 99¢ ea
    Zucchini OR yellow squash, $1/lb


Bashas':

    Beef top sirloin or porterhouse steaks, 50% off
    Beef crossrib roast, $3.99/lb (steaks 50¢/lb higher)
    Ground beef chuck, fat content not listed, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Assorted pork chops, $1.47/lb
    Center cut pork chops, $2.49/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, 50% off
    Sanderson Farms whole chickens, $1.39/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Albacore tuna OR swordfish steaks, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $2.99
    Cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Food Club butter, 2/$5
    Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$5
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-30 oz jars, 2/$4
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 99¢
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
    Apples, Gala/Red Delicious/Fuji, 88¢/lb
    “Tasti-Lee” tomatoes, 1 lb pkg, $1.99
    Zucchini OR grey squash, 99¢/lb
Fry's:

    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, buy 1 get 2 free
    Beef chuck roast or steaks, boneless, $4.49/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $2.99/lb (3 lb chub)
    Pork loin back ribs, $3.99/lb
    Kroger boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.79/lb
    Kroger 85/15 ground turkey, 1 lb pkg, $3.29
    Kroger, 93/7 ground turkey, 1 lb pkg, $3.59
    Coho salmon fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Swai fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
    Kroger butter, $1.99/lb
    Yoplait yogurts, 20/$10
    Kraft OR Sargento cheeses, 5-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$5
    Lean Cuisine frozen entrées, 5/$10
    Honeycrisp apples, $1.27/lb!
    Yellow peaches, 99¢/lb
    Bartlett pears, 99¢/lb
    Whole pineapples, 2/$5
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Hass avocados, 4/$5
    Red or yellow bell peppers, 4/$5


Safeway:

    Beef London broil, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Beef chuck 7-bone pot roast, $2.99/lb
    Beef loin tri tip roast, boneless, $6.29/lb
    90/10 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork shoulder country style ribs, bone in, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Eating Right boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Jennie-O ground turkey, 2 lb pkg, $6.99/lb
    Alaskan pollock fillets, wild caught, $2.99/lb
    Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets, $10.99/lb
    Nature's Own bread, 20 oz long loaves, 2/$5
    Green Giant frozen veg, 7-10 oz boxes, $1.99
    Smart Ones frozen entrées, 5/$10
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 6-12 ct, $3.49
    Navel oranges, $1.49/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $2.99/lb
    Peaches, $1.99/lb
    Fuji or Gala apples, $1.99
    Cantaloupes, $2.99 ea
    Bananas, 57¢/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Hass avocados, 77¢ ea
    Sweet corn, 2/$1
    Zucchini OR yellow squash, $1.29/lb
    Baby carrots, 2 lb bag, 2/$5


Sprouts:

    Beef chuck roast or steak, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Pork loin roast or chops, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Lamb shoulder chops, $2.99/lb
    Whole chickens, chicken whole legs or drumsticks, value pack, 99¢/lb
    Ground chicken or turkey breast, $3.99/lb
    Coho salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Sprouts butter, 2/$5
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 88¢/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, 98¢ ea
    Yellow peaches, 98¢/lb
    Gala or Jonathan apples, 98¢/lb
    Bartlett pears, 98¢/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.49/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 4 lbs/$5
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
    Broccoli or cauliflower, 98¢/lb

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning September 18th:

From Fooducate:  why steaming your broccoli is faster than roasting it;  the fraught topic of breakfast, and whether it's really “the most important meal of the day” (biggest takeaway:  listen to your system, and if breakfast is important for you to function well and reach/maintain a healthy weight, then by all means eat it);  Tropicana's new “Farmstand” juice line;  are chickens taking over the world?;  and Pink Slime:  The Sequel!  At Weighty Matters I see healthy filling snacks, and a truly cruel takedown of Barilla's new “Barilla Plus Omega-3” pasta.  To match the healthy omega-3 fatty acids in one 2.6 ounce serving of salmon, you'd have to eat at least eleven POUNDS of the pasta.  This could potentially cause a significant degree of carb overload.

Recipes!  At Chow.com, because in civilized parts of the Northern Hemisphere it is autumn, a stack of “Smooth and Creamy Soup Recipes”.  Some of them require caution, being laden with cream or cheese or both, but others look very good in health terms as well as deliciousness.  (Deliciosity?)  Also roasted Brussels sprouts with Pecorino Ginepro, nine more Brussels sprout recipes, and shrimp cocktail without bottled sauce.  Simply Recipes has homemade fig jam, homemade fig jam in a panini with apples and Gruyere, and basil coconut chicken curry.  And Snack Girl has apple recipes, belated gazpacho, apple smiles, and the horror of stepping off the plane in Melbourne and being bombarded with American labels.  (“First of all, I want to apologize on behalf of the entire United States for sending Slurpees and Krispy Kreme to Australia” – but in the same breath she confesses to “driving slowly by a Krispy Kreme outlet … hoping the HOT sign will be red.”)

This Saturday, the 21st, is both National Pecan Cookie Day and the International Banana Festival, a combination with definite potential.  One week from today is either Crab Newberg Day or Crab Newburg Day, I will happily accept either or both.  And the 22nd, being the birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, is a good day to eat two breakfasts, elevenses, lunch, tea, dinner, supper, and an after-supper morsel.  (Hobbits don't have Weight Watchers.  But then, Hobbits walk everywhere they go.)


September 18th:  National Cheeseburger Day
September 19th:  National Butterscotch Pudding Day
September 20th:  National Rum Punch Day;  1878, Upton Sinclair born
September 21st:  National Pecan Cookie Day, International Banana Festival
September 22nd:  National Ice-Cream Cone Day;  one source gives this as National White Chocolate Day;  Bilbo Baggins born, 2890 of the Third Age (1290 by the Shire-Reckoning);  Frodo Baggins born, 2968 T.A. (1368 S.R.)
September 23rd:  National White Chocolate Day -- but the source that claims yesterday was National White Chocolate Day gives today as National Chocolate Day, so you'd better eat white chocolate on both days and regular chocolate today just to be sure
September 24th:  National Cherries Jubilee Day
September 25th:  National Crab Newberg Day, National Crab Newburg Day


Albertson's:

    Beef chuck/crossrib/eye round/bottom round steak or roast, boneless, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef ribeye/t-bone/New York steaks, bone in, $8.99/lb
    Beef top round steaks OR London broil, $3.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $2.79/lb
    Center cut pork loin chops, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms whole chickens OR jumbo pack drums/thighs/leg quarters, 88¢/lb
    Unbranded (store) boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.49/lb
    Salmon/flounder/cod/tilapia/pollock fillets, 1 lb IQF bag, buy 1 get 1 free (same item)
    Rockfish or Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Orange roughy fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    16-20 ct raw shrimp, shell on, $8.99/lb
    Sea scallops (the big ones), $9.99/lb
    Crystal Farms cheeses, 8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle, 2/$5
    Deli:    Signature Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson honey ham, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson “Black Forest” or “Gourmet Lite” turkey, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson Buffalo chicken breast, $7.99/lb
    Oroweat breads, 24 oz long loaves, $2.99
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, $1.99
    PictSweet “Steamables” frozen veg, 10 oz pkg, 3/$5
    Lean Cuisine frozen entrées, $1.99
    HoneyCrisp apples, $3.99/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    “Gattie” yellow peaches, $1.99/lb
    Gala apples, $2.49/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.69/lb
    Dole bananas, 39¢/lb
    Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
    Vine Roma tomatoes, 1.1 lb (half kilo) box, $2.99
    Bok choy OR Napa cabbage, 69¢/lb
    Iceberg, 99¢ ea
    Earthbound Farms organic box salad, 1 lb, $3.99


Bashas':

    Beef t-bone OR boneless top sirloin steaks, value pack, $4.99/lb
    Beef Black Angus top sirloin steaks, 12 oz portions, $5
    Ground beef round, fat content not listed, value pack, $3.49/lb
    Pork loin end chops, bone in, $2.49/lb
    Center cut pork chops, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    “Pork loin end country” … um, yeah.  Anyway, value pack, $1.99
    Chicken breast or leg quarters, bone in, 99¢/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
    Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb “weather permitting”
    King salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Albacore tuna steaks, bone in, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Tillamook cheeses, 8 oz chunk or shreds, 5/$10
    Kraft Cracker Barrel cheeses, 8 oz chunk, 3/$10
    Bashas' cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $2.29
    Bush's variety (non-baked) beans, 15-16 oz cans, 69¢
    Food Club tomatoes or veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢/lb
    Nature's Own whole-grain bread, 20 oz long loaves, $2.49
    Barilla pasta, 13-16 oz boxes, $1.19
    Chicken of the Sea solid white tuna, $1.19
    Lean Cuisine “Simple Favorites”, 5/$10
    Gala apples (small), 77¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 87¢/lb
    Bartlett pears, 77¢/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 2 lbs/$3
    Zucchini OR grey squash, 88¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR bunch spinach, 99¢ ea
Fry's:

    Beef ribeye steaks, bone in, 50% off
    Beef London broil, $4.29/lb
    Pork loin center chops, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
    Foster Farms boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, buy 1 get 2 free
    Jennie-O 93/7 ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.99
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Steelhead fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Cod fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Fry's milk, gallons, $1.87
    Land O Lakes Butter, $2.79
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk or shreds, $1.79
    Oroweat bread, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $2.99
    American Beauty pasta, 1 lb pkg, 10/$10
    Del Monte fruit or veggies, 11-15 oz cans, 10/$10
    Kroger frozen veg, 10-12 oz bags, 10/$10
    Green Giant frozen veg, 7-10 oz boxes, 10/$10
    Healthy Choice frozen entrées, 5/$10
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.88/lb
    Gala apples, $1.29/lb
    Yelllow peaches, 99¢/lb
    Red or black plums, $1.99/lb
    Whole pineapples, 2/$5
    Vine tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Red or yellow bell peppers OR English cucumbers, 88¢ ea
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 99¢


Safeway:

    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef NY Strip steaks, bone in, value pack, $4.99/lb (boneless, $2/lb higher)
    Beef round tip steak, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef chuck 7-bone pot roast, $2.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, value pack, $2.49/lb
    93/7 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork loin assorted chops, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Safeway Farms chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, value pack, $1.39/lb
    Jennie-O “extra lean” ground turkey breast, 20 oz pkg, $5.99
    Coho salmon fillets … it says “farm raised” but has the “wild caught” symbol, $8.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Sargento cheeses, 6-8 oz shingle pack, 2/$7
    Lucerne milk, half gallons only, 10/$10
    Lucerne yogurts, 10/$4
    Nature's Own bread, 20 oz long loaves, 2/$4
    Safeway Kitchens tomatoes or sauce, 14 oz cans, 79¢
    American Beauty pasta, 1 lb pkg, 5/$5
    Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, 2/$3
    Healthy Choice “Baked” entrées, 5/$10
    “Pristine” green seedless grapes, 99¢/lb
    Pears:  Bartlett, red, Bosc, 99¢/lb
    Nectarines OR yellow peaches, $1.99/lb
    Organic Gala apples, $1.99/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.89/lb
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Bell peppers, red/yellow/orange, 2/$3


Sprouts:

    Beef eye round steak or roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Beef New York steak, boneless, $8.99/lb
    “Organic grass-fed” ground beef, fat content not listed, $4.99/lb
    Pork tenderloin, $2.49/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Zacky Farms 93/7 ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.49
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Peaches, 98¢/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, 2 lbs/$3
    Organic Gala apples, $1.48/lb
    Seedless watermelon, 3 lbs/$1
    Blackberries/raspberries/blueberries, 4-6 oz boxes, 3/$5
    Roma tomatoes, 98¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning September 11th:

Fun piece at NPR.org's “The Salt”:  photographer Stephanie Gonot has produced a series on fad diets.  Specifically, she's taken beautifully composed still-life photos of exactly what you're eating on various fad diets.  The longer I look at these, the better WW seems!  Fooducate has a collection of healthy snacks for kids – a lot of them look good for adults too, although I might steer clear of the dried fruits – and a quick guide to probiotics, prebiotics, and what the difference is.  (Probiotics eat prebiotics.)  Weighty Matters has a guest review of Power Hungry:  The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook. 

Scientists at Texas A&M are working on a way to extract dyes for foods from purple sweet potatoes.

At Chow.com I find ultra-simple seared salmon fillets, spaghetti-squash cakes (a peculiar but appetizing bastardization of latkes and pan frittatas), quick breads both savory and sweet, autumnal salads (and, listed separately for some reason, a warm salad of quinoa and roasted winter veggies), two sets of apple recipes – how much overlap there may be I have not ascertained – including, God help us all, DIY apple-cinnamon Pop-Tarts.  Also how to clean your toaster-oven, how to cook breakfast on/in a coffee maker (sadly these do not work for my electric kettle), and a review of Cuisinart's new HONKING ENORMOUS slow-cooker (sixteen inches long, twenty-one pounds empty).

More recipes!  Sprouted Kitchen has mushroom burgers, a slightly more elaborate take than Snack Girl's:  these are marinated (if five minutes counts as “marinating”) in a mixture of soy sauce and maple syrup with a shot of lemon juice.  Simply Recipes has a very pretty summer garden risotto, Smitten Kitchen a tomatoless baked pasta.  And from Snack Girl we have baked apples with a crust, making your own tomato sauce, a special Welcome message for us Weight Watchers members, and chili with pumpkin.  Chili.  With.  Pumpkin.  To each her own.

Friday is Snack A Pickle Day, which let us enjoy as most pickles are PointsPlus-free.  The day after is National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day, perhaps better celebrated in the breach than the observance as I have not yet found a PointsPlus-free cream-filled doughnut, but they're your Points to spend.


September 11th:  National Hot Cross Buns Day
September 12th:  National Chocolate Milkshake Day
September 13th:  Snack A Pickle Day, National Peanut Day, International Chocolate Day
September 14th:  National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day, Eat A Hoagie Day;  1752, this date immediately followed September 2nd
September 15th:  National Crème de Menthe Day, National Linguine Day
September 16th:  Mexican Independence Day, National Guacamole Day, National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day
September 17th:  National Apple Dumpling Day,
September 18th:  National Cheeseburger Day



Albertson's:

    Beef petite sirloin steaks, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef New York steaks, bone in, $7.99/lb
    80/20 hamburger patties, pkg of 10, $10
    93/7 ground beef, $3.29
    Center cut pork loin chops, boneless, $6.99/lb (seasoned $1/lb higher), buy 1 get 2 free
    Assorted pork chops OR country style ribs, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breast/thighs/tenders, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Unbranded (store) boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.79/lb
    Thin cut chicken breast, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Jennie-O 93/7 ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.49
    Whole pink salmon, wild caught, $2.77/lb
    Coho salmon fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Flounder fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Bay scallops (little), farm raised, $4.99/lb
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.89
    Albertson's eggs, AA large, dozens, $1.99/, buy 1 get 1 free
    Albertson's sour cream, 16 oz tubs, $1
    Essential Everyday cheeses, 6-8 oz shreds, $3.99, buy 1 get 1 free
    Tillamook cheeses, 8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle pack, $2.99
    Deli:    Signature rotisserie turkey breast, $5.99/lb
        Jennie-O “Honey Smoked” or “Oven Brown” turkey, $5.99/lb
        USA Gold ham, $5.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $5.99/lb
        Charlie's Pride Italian roast beef, corned beef, beef pastrami, $5.99/lb
        Stella Swiss/Provolone/Muenster cheeses, $5.99/lb
    Nature's Own “WhiteWheat” bread, 20 oz long loaves, $2.49
    Hunt's pasta sauces (24 oz cans) or tomatoes (14 oz cans), $1
    Essential Everyday pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, $1
    Ro*tel tomatoes, $1
    Bush's baked or “Grillin'” beans, 21-28 oz cans, $1.99
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, $1
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, $3.99
    HoneyCrisp apples!!! $3.99/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, $1.99 ea, buy 1 get 1 free
    Yellow peaches, nectarines, black plums, $1.99
    Kiwifruit, 1 lb bag, $2.99
    Apple pears, $1 ea
    Minneola tangelos, $1.69/lb
    Organic vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
    Roma tomatoes, $1/lb
    Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, $1 ea
    Sweet corn, 4 pk, $2.99
    Cucumbers, 79¢/lb


Bashas':

    Beef London broil, value pack, $2.88/lb (regular pack, $1/lb higher)
    Beef top round steak, $3.88/lb
    Beef sirloin tip roast, $3.99/lb
    Ground beef sirloin, fat content not listed, $2.88/lb
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.77/lb, cut & wrapped free
    Pork chops, center cut, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Bashas' boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
    Bashas' chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, bone in, 99¢/lb
    Jennie-O lean ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.89
    Swai fillets, $2.49/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Borden cheeses, 8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$5
    Food Club cheeses, 6-8 oz shingle pack, 2/$5
    Food Club salsa, 16 oz jars, $1.49
    Herdez salsa, 16 oz jars, 2/$3
    Food Club pasta, 1 lb pkg, 88¢
    Flav-R-Pac frozen veg, 12-16 oz bags, 3/$5
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 6-12 ct, $2.88
    Green seedless grapes, 77¢/lb
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, 88¢/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.49/lb
    Fuji apples, 99¢/lb
    Whole pineapples, 2/$5
    “Tasti-Lee” tomatoes, 1 lb pkg, $1.99
    Dole shredded lettuce, 8 oz bags, 10/$10
    Green cabbage, 2 lbs/$1
    Green bell peppers, 59¢ ea (red, 10/$10)
    Yellow onions, 59¢/lb


Fry's:

    Beef t-bone steaks, 50% off
    Beef chuck/crossrib steak or roast, bone in, $2.99/lb
    Beef top round roast or London broil, boneless, $4.99/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $2.99/lb (2 lb chub)
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.88/lb
    Pork shoulder butt or picnic roast (that's what it says), whole in bag, $1.49/lb
    Center cut pork chops, boneless, family pack, $2.99/lb
    Kroger boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.79
    Kroger chicken thighs/drumsticks, bone in, 99¢/lb
    Kroger 99/1 ground turkey breast, 1 lb pkg, $4.99
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Fry's milk, gallons, $1.87
    Kroger cheeses, 1 lb chunk or shreds, $2.99
    Healthy Choice frozen entrées, 5/$10
    HoneyCrisp apples!!!  $2.99/lb
    Yellow peaches, 99¢/lb
    Raspberries, 6 oz box, 99¢
    “Mini peeled” carrots, 1 lb bag, 88¢
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 99¢ ea
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Broccoli, 99¢/lb

Safeway:

    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef crossrib steak, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Beef bottom round roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Beef chuck 7-bone pot roast, $2.99/lb
    Beef ribeye or NY strip steaks, bone in, value pack, $8.49/lb
    90/10 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Pork sirloin or shoulder country-style ribs, bone in, value pack, $1.69/lb
    “All natural” pork loin chops, bone in, $2.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, $1.79/lb
    Eating Right boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Jennie-O ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $3.99
    Jennie-O turkey bacon, 12 oz pkg, 2/$5
    Coho salmon fillets, farm raised, value pack, $5.99/lb (regular pack $1/lb higher)
    Alaskan pollock fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, $6.99/lb
    Pace salsa or picante sauce, 24 oz jars, buy 1 get 1 free
    StarKist solid white tuna, 2/$3
    Safeway Kitchens veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 79¢
    Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauces, 23-24 oz jars, buy 1 get 1 free
    Lean Cuisine “Simple Favorites” entrées, 5/$10
    Yellow peaches, 99¢/lb
    Gala apples, $1.79/lb
    Cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Mangos, 10/$10
    “Pristine” green seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Red or black seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Sweet corn, 6/$2
    Hot house tomatoes, $1.99/lb
    Green asparagus, $3.99/lb
    Cucumbers OR green bell peppers, 79¢/lb
    Red or orange yams, 99¢/lb


Sprouts:

    Beef sirloin tip steak or roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
    93/7 ground beef sirloin, $3.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $1.79/lb
    Chicken breast tenders, $2.49/lb
    Whole/half/cut-up chickens, $1.59/lb
    Seafood OR broccoli-cheddar stuffed salmon, 6 oz portions, $2.99
    Haddock fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Ahi tuna steaks, bone in, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Gala apples OR Bartlett pears, 98¢/lb (organic, $1.49/lb)
    Pluots, red or black plums, 88¢/lb
    Organic red or black plums, 98¢/lb
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, 2 lbs/$3
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 2 lbs/$3
    Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, 2 lbs/$3
    Whole cantaloupes, 98¢ ea
    Seedless watermelon, 3 lbs/$1
    Roma tomatoes, 48¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR bunch spinach, 98¢ ea

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning September 4th:

Fruit, as we all know, is PointPlus-free – perhaps students at UMass Amherst were thinking of this on Monday when they created a 15,000-pound fruit salad:  “20 varieties of apples, five kinds of banana, 14 varieties of berries, three of currants, four of cherries, three kinds of mint, three of grapefruit, 10 kinds of grapes, three kinds of mangoes, 19 different melon varieties, 10 kinds of oranges, three kinds of papayas, 13 of peaches, 12 of pears, two pineapples, nine different plums, three kinds of kiwi, 15 other fruits and 500 pounds of orange juice”, all mixed in a 15-foot swimming pool which had been specially donated for the occasion.  As was the fruit, and I am informed all of it will be used, none wasted.

Nutrition Diva has why you're so much hungrier than usual during your period, and how to deal with it;  Marion Nestle analyzes the word “natural” on food labels.  (The FDA has declined to give this word a definition, so essentially it is all but meaningless.)  Fooducate has fruit, and Weighty Matters offers a brief photo essay on the pitfalls of shopping the “edges” of the supermarket.  And at Summer Tomato, a kale-and-radicchio salad, and six ways to motivate yourself to go to the gym!

Recipes!  Chow.com has a salad of green beans and cherry tomatoes, a melon baller review, and for some reason again with the bloody bacon jam.  Smitten Kitchen has pink-lemonade popsicles and a baked zucchini-parmesan crisp, Simply Recipes has an ALT:  an Avocado-Lettuce-Tomato sandwich!  The poster calls it her father's favorite sandwich:  “I once asked him, why not add bacon? His response? A grumbled, 'Why should I? It’s perfectly fine with avocado,' along with a look that said, if I wanted a BLT I would have made a BLT.”  The only nutritional quibble I'd make concerns the use of the verb “slather” in connection with the mayonnaise.  And Snack Girl has baked oatmeal, what she admits is a wholly unfair “best” v. “worst” pasta sauce analysis (unfair because she compares a tomato-based sauce with a cheese-based sauce), and a set of “two-ingredient snacks”.  Her values of “two” are sometimes inventive:  she counts “edamame and salt” as two ingredients, as well as “hard-boiled egg and pepper” and “avocado half and spoon”.

I forgot to mention in the last handout that this is National Apple Month!  Specifically is the first of three consecutive National Apple Months, which is a tribute either to the popularity of the apple or the power of the apple-growers' lobby. The 9th is National Steak au Poivre Day, which can be quite PointsPlus-friendly if you choose your steak (and your serving size) well.  Today is Eat An Extra Dessert Day – perhaps not quite so friendly, but they're your PointsPlus to spend!  The 7th is National Acorn Squash Day – cut in half, scoop out the seeds, add a bit of butter and brown sugar, and bake.  And boring ordinary people can settle for a National Day or a National Week, but the 7th is also the first day of National Scottish Food And Drink Fortnight.


September 4th:  Eat An Extra Dessert Day, National Macadamia Day
September 5th:  National Cheese Pizza Day
September 6th:  National Coffee Ice-Cream Day
September 7th:  National Acorn Squash Day, National Napoleon Day, first day of National Scottish Food And Drink Fortnight ;  yesterday was National Procrastination Day
September 8th:  National Date Nut Bread Day
September 9th:  Wienerschnitzel Day, National Steak au Poivre Day
September 10th:  TV Dinner Day (for no reason I can discover:  National TV Dinner Day, the anniversary of the introduction of TV dinners, is in April)
September 11th:  National Hot Cross Buns Day




Albertson's:

    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb (seasoned $1/lb higher), buy 1 get 2 free
    Beef chuck, crossrib, eye/bottom round roast or steaks, boneless, family pack, buy 1 get 1 free
    Pork sirloin chops, bone in, family pack, 99¢/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.88/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Coho salmon fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Rockfish/Dover sole/Alaska cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.89
    Daisy sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, 2/$5
    Essential Everyday butter, 2/$5
    Deli:     Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $2.99/lb
        Signature Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
        Stella Muenster of Provolone cheeses, $4.99/lb
        Charlie's Pride regular or Italian roast beef, $6.99/lb
        Stella Swiss cheese, $6.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson Black Forest or Gourmet Lite turkey, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson honey ham, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson Buffalo chicken breast, $7.99/lb
    Swanson's chunk white chicken, 9 oz cans, $2.99
    Essential Everyday olive oil, 51 oz (!! that's what it says) bottles, $7.99
    Herdez salsa, 16 oz jars, $1.79
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, $1.88
    Cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Peachesm nectarines, “King Kong” pluots, $1.99/lb
    Organic green or red grapes, $2.99/lb
    Bartlett pears, 99¢/lb
    Gala apples, $1.69/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.69/lb
    Slicing tomatoes, $1.29/lb
    “Cherub” grape tomatoes, 10 oz boxes, $3.99
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 99¢
    Rapini (broccoli rabe), 2 bunches/$3
    Celery hearts, 2/$4
    Earthbound Farms organic bag salads, 5 oz, $2.99


Bashas':

    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef crossrib steaks, boneless, $4.49/lb
    Beef sirloin tip or bottom round steaks, bone in, $4.49/lb
    Ground beef round, fat content not listed, value pack, $3.49/lb
    Assorted pork chops, $1.99/lb
    Center cut pork chops, bone in, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.87/lb
    Tilapia fillets, $2.49/lb
    Atlantic salmon, 5 oz portions, skin on, $3
    Bashas' milk, gallons, $1.89
    Bashas' sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, $1.29
    Food Club cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/cubelets, 5/$10
    Classico pasta sauces, 8-24 oz jars, 2/$5
    C&W or Birds Eye frozen veg, 10-16 oz, 2/$4
    Cantaloupe OR honeydew melons, 29¢/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, 88¢/lb (organic, $1.99/lb)
    Black seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    Gala apples OR Bartlett pears, 77¢/lb
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, $1.49/lb
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green or red, 99¢ ea
    Bell peppers, green/red/gold, 77¢ ea
    Zucchini, 77¢/lb


Fry's:

    Beef roasts: sirloin tip, eye/top round, chuck, shoulder, 50% off
    Beef NY strip steak, bone in, 50% off
    80/20 ground beef, 3 lb chub, $8.97 ($2.99/lb)
    Pork loin center chops, boneless, family pack, $2.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, $1.99/lb
    Chicken leg quarters, bone in, 99¢/lb
    Jennie-O 93/7 ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.99
    Coho salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Fry's milk, gallons, $1.87
    Yoplait yogurts, 20/$10
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle pack, $1.79
    Kroger string cheese, 10-12 oz, $3.29
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, 3/$5
    Bush's Best variety (non-baked) beans, 15-16 oz cans, 10/$10
    Lean Cuisine “Simple Favorites”, 6/$10
    Bartlett pears, 99¢/lb
    Minneola tangelos, 99¢/lb
    SweeTango apples, $1.68/lb
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, 99¢/lb
    Red or black plums, 99¢/lb
    Pluots, $1.88/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
    Cantaloupes, $1.99 ea
    Sweet corn, 2/88¢
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 99¢ ea
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Broccoli, 99¢/lb


Safeway:

    Beef crossrib steak OR country style ribs, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Beef ribeye steak, bone in, value pack, $8.49/lb
    Beef London broil, boneless, $4.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
    93/7 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, $1.59/lb
    Chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, $1.39/lb
    King salmon fillets, farm raised, color added, $7.99/lb
    Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $1.89
    Yoplait yogurts, 10/$5
    Chobani Greek-style yogurt, 10/$10
    Safeway solid white tuna, 4/$5
    Safeway Kitchens veggies, 14/15 oz cans, 79¢
    Lean Cuisine “Simple Favorites”, 5/$10
    Safeway Kitchens frozen veg, 8-16 oz bags, 3/$5
    Morningstar Farms veggie burgers, 2/$7
    Gala apples, 99¢/lb
    Yellow peaches OR “Red Lion” nectarines, $1.99/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.49/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $2.99/lb
    Mangos, 10/$10
    Raspberries, 6 oz box, buy 1 get 1 free
    Vine tomatoes, $2.49/lb
    Sweet corn, 2/$1
    Hass avocados, 77¢ ea
    Broccoli crowns OR cauliflower, $1.49/lb


Sprouts:

    “Buffalo stampede”:  prices range from $7.99/lb for buffaloburger to $24.99/lb for filet mignon
    Beef New York steak, boneless, $8.99/lb
    Beef rump roast or stew meat, $4.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork loin chops or roast, center cut boneless, $2.99/lb
    Pork or chicken sausage, sweet or hot, $2.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken thighs, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Chicken drumsticks, bone in, $1.29/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
    Chilean sea bass fillets, wild caught, $12.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Wholly Guacamole, buy 1 get 1 free
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 68¢/lb
    Peaches OR nectarines, 88¢/lb
    Gala apples OR Bartlett pears, 98¢/lb
    Whole seedless watermelon, 3 lbs/$1
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$3
    Cherub tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$4
    Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Italian or yellow squash, 98¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
    Sweet corn, 48¢ ea