Wren's bargain guide, week beginning March 26th:

From the Guardian last week:  what's good food, what's not?  Health authorities are switching sides faster than windshield wipers.  A few years ago, we were being told to eat no more than two eggs a week:  now it turns out the cholesterol in egg yolk has almost no effect on blood cholesterol.  I can myself remember when we were all being told to eat the margarine with good healthy polyunsaturates – this is before any of us had heard the phrase “trans fats” (and a new metastudy indicates saturated fat might not be the bugaboo we've all been led to believe).  Counting calories, we were told, was the essence of losing weight – but scientists are now beginning to zoom in on the concept of satiety, the notion that if you're hungry all the time you're going to be miserable and this is not conducive to staying on a weight-loss plan!

Speaking of eggs as I just was, Fooducate gives ten reasons to enjoy them as well as a look at Oscar Meyer's new line, the “P3”, or Portable Protein Pack:  “Lunchables for millennials”.  High in protein, but also in salt and plastic packing material.  Darya Rose has a nice tip for avoiding thoughtless eating.  And a new study from the University of New Hampshire, published in the journal Memory, indicates that just calling up a positive memory of exercise – recalling a workout you enjoyed, or a time you felt good while exercising – can be incentive to move more!

Recipes!  At Chow.com I find DIY flour tortillas (read the comments before you try this one), twenty-two salad dressings, and for March Madness, three salsas in thirty minutes!  (Three cups of each.  That is a lot of chopping, but it's also a lot of salsa.)  At 101 Cookbooks, something labeled “giant lemon fennel beans” which sounds an interesting combination.  Simply Recipes uses up the last of the winter veggies by roasting them and adding tomatoes and kale.  And Snack Girl has reduced-calorie wine, a grab-and-go breakfast, and how to turn one ounce of chocolate into THREE CUPS of yummy snack.

Friday, the 28th, is National Something On A Stick Day.  If you cut up your fresh fruit and spear it it's still PointsPlus-free.


March 26th:  National Nougat Day
March 27th:  National Paella Day
March 28th:  National Black Forest Cake Day, National Something On A Stick Day
March 29th:  National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
March 30th:  Turkey Neck Soup Day
March 31st:  Clams on the Half Shell Day, Tater Day (not to be confused with National Potato Day, in August), Oranges and Lemons Day
April 1st:  National Sourdough Bread Day
April 2nd:  National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

What's for breakfast?


Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye/t-bone/New York steaks, bone in, family pack, $8.99/lb
    Beef bottom round roast or family pack steaks, $4.79/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $2.99/lb (3 lbs or more)
    93/7 ground beef, $3.99/lb
    Center cut pork chops, boneless, $7.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    Pork sirloin, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Unbranded (store) boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms tray pack boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Rockfish or Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Kraft or Cracker Barrel cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or Kraft shreds, 2/$6
    Sargento cheeses, 6-8 oz shingle pack, 2/$7
    Deli:    Signature rotisserie turkey breast, $5.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson pepper or “oven classic” turkey, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson classic or honey maple ham, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson baby Swiss, $7.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $4.99/lb
    Hunt's tomato sauce, 8 oz cans, 25¢
    Essential Everyday veggies OR tomatoes OR variety (non-baked) beans, 14-15 oz cans, 2/$1
    Essential Everyday pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 50¢
    Bumble Bee solid white tuna, 4 pk of 5 oz cans, $5.99
    Birds Eye “Steamfresh” veggies, 12 oz bags, $1
    Pictsweet “Steamables” or deluxe veg, 10-14 oz bags, 3/$5
    Healthy Choice frozen entrees, $2.99
    Whole seedless watermelons, $2.99
    Pink Lady apples, $1.99/lb
    Papayas, $1.99 ea
    Strawberries, 1 lb boxes, $2.99
    Blackberries/raspberries/blueberries, 6 oz boxes, $2.99
    Roma tomatoes, $1/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, $1 ea
    Organic grape tomatoes, 10 oz boxes, $2.99
    Cucumbers, 75¢ ea


Bashas':

    Beef top sirloin steak OR London broil, value pack, $3.87
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.48/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Bashas' milk, gallons, 2/$5
    Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, $1.88
    Shedd's Country Crock spread, 12-15 oz tubs, $2.49
    Bashas' sour cream, 16 oz tubs, $1.69
    Bashas' cottage cheese, 24 oz tubs, $2.39
    Eggland's Best eggs, Grade A large, dozens, $2.49
    Bush's variety (non-baked) beans, 15-16 oz cans, 69¢
    Food Club veggies or tomatoes, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢
    American Beauty pasta, 1 lb pkg, 99¢
    No Yolks noodles, 8 oz bags, 99¢
    Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, 99¢
    Pompeian olive oil, 16-24 oz bottles, $3.99
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 97¢
    Bumble Bee solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, $1.49
    Whole seedless watermelons, 25¢/lb
    Cantaloupe OR honeydew melon, 50¢/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 75¢/lb
    Asparagus, $1.99/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 99¢
    Green/red/gold bell peppers, 77¢ ea

Fry's:

    Beef top sirloin, boneless, whole in bag, $3.77/lb
    Beef ribeye steaks, bone in, $7.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $3.99/lb (3 lb chub)
    Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, family pack, $1.69/lb
    Center cut pork loin chops, bone in, family pack, $2.99/lb
    Cod fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets OR swordfish loins, $5.99/lb
    Swai fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
    Fry's milk, half gallons only, 99¢
    Kroger veggies, 11-15 oz cans, 3/$2
    Kroger fruit, 15 oz cans, 10/$10
    Simple Truth organic variety beans, 15 oz cans, 10/$10
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 79¢
    PictSweet frozen veggies, 6-12 oz pkg, 10/$10
    Kroger frozen veggies, 10-12 oz pkg, 10/$10
    Smart Ones “Classic” or “Creations” frozen entrees, $1.69
    Whole jumbo cantaloupes, 87¢/lb
    Blackberries, 6 oz boxes, 87¢ ea
    Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $2.99/lb
    Apples:  Gala, Granny Smith, Red/Golden Delicious, 99¢/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb boxes, 2/$5
    Mandarins, 3 lb bag, $4.99
    Mangos, 99¢ ea
    “Mini peeled” carrots, 1 lb bag, AZ grown, 88¢ ea
    Cucumbers OR green bell peppers, 2/99¢
    Red or yellow bell peppers, 99¢ ea
    Mini sweet peppers, 1 lb bag, $1.99


Safeway:

    Beef round tip roast, boneless, $3.29/lb
    Beef chuck 7-bone roast, $2.99/lb
    Beef NY strip steak, bone in, value pack, $8.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, $2.99/lb
    Pork shoulder country style ribs, bone in, value pack, $2.99/lb
    “All natural” pork loin chops, bone in, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Safeway Farms chicken breast/thighs/drums/leg quarters, bone in, value pack, 99¢/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, value pack, $8.99/lb (2 lbs or more)
    Raw shrimp, 16-20 ct, peeled and deveined, $9.99/lb
    Lucerne cheeses, 2 lb chunk, $6.99
    Sargento cheeses, 8 oz shreds,2/$6
    Lucerne soft cream cheese incl. Light, 8 oz tub, 2/$3
    Safeway Kitchens variety bread, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $1.99
    Del Monte veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 88¢
    Del Monte tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 88¢
    Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, 88¢
    S&W variety beans, 15 oz cans, 88¢
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 99¢
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Gala apples, $1.79/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.49/lb
    Bananas, 59¢/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, $2.99 ea
    Organic vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
    Broccoli OR cauliflower, $1.49/lb
    O Organics “mini peeled” carrots, 1 lb bag, $1.69


Sprouts:

    Beef New York steaks, boneless, $7.99/lb
    Pork spareribs or baby back ribs, $2.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast OR ground pork, $2.99/lb
    Chicken breast tenders, $2.49/lb
    Chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, value pack, $1.49
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Sprouts butter, $2.99
    Sprouts sprouted-grain breads, 24 oz wide-pan loaves, $3.49
    Sprouts naan bread, 8 oz pkg, $2.29
    Sprouts variety beans, 15 oz cans, 89¢
    Sprouts pasta sauces, 24 oz jars, $2.99
    Sprouts tomatoes, 28 oz cans, $1.69
    Sprouts olive oil, 1 litre bottles, $6.99
    Sprouts frozen fruit, 12 oz bags, 2/$5
    Sprouts frozen veg, 1 lb bags, $1.99
    Navel oranges, 25¢/lb
    Seedless watermelons, 25¢/lb
    Yellow mangos, 2/$1
    Gala or Cameo apples, 98¢/lb
    D'Anjou pears, 98¢/lb
    Organic Bartlett pears, 2 lbs/$3
    Sprouts mini peppers, 1 lb bag, $2
    Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Sprouts organic grape tomatoes, dry pint, $2
    Broccoli crowns OR cauliflower, 88¢/lb
    Asparagus, $1.98/lb
    Iceberg OR cucumbers, 2/$1
    Organic chard, red/green/rainbow, 2/$3

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning March 19th:

The Guardian this past week has had a series of interesting articles:  columnist Zoe Williams, not herself a WW member, touches on why diets don't work and why Weight Watchers does.  “So how do they do it?” she asks, and answers herself:  “By not thinking of it as a diet, but as a different way of living; not thinking of restrictions, thinking of abundance.” 

Guardian food columnist Jay Rayner touches on “superfoods”:  “What really gets me is the smugness of the people who push this stuff. They claim to have stumbled upon some truth the rest of us have missed. Which is: nuts, berries and greens are good for us. Big bloody news. Put out the bunting.”  And just for laughs, he levels the same entertaining unkindness on Pizza Hut UK's newest special offering (which seems, perhaps not entirely unfortunately, not to have crossed the Atlantic), a pizza with cheeseburgers in the crust.  “The middle is standard Pizza Hut: a soft doughy base … a scab of waxy cheese and flaps of pink salami the colour, worryingly, of a three-year-old girl's party dress.”

Fooducate investigates seaweed snacks:  how healthy are they?  (Surprisingly okay.)  The NYT investigates what your activity meter observes and what it ignores.  And at Stone Soup, what “season to taste” means and how to do it.

Recipes!  Chow.com has fully three dozen recipes for fish and seafood dinners, which should easily see you through the rest of Lent, and nearly four dozen for the spring ingredients that are turning up in such abundance at the ranch market.  Simply Recipes has guacamole deviled eggs and nettle soup (you won't find nettles at the ranch market, nor at Sprouts, but I'm sure the Agricultural Extension Office will let you know where to find them).  And from Snack Girl, smoky roasted cauliflower – two PointsPlus per one-cup serving, and it has the magical ingredient of smoked paprika.

Today's National Poultry Day:  by all means celebrate it with another damned boneless skinless chicken breast.  The 22nd, this Saturday, is the healthy National Water Day.  The 25th is either Lobster Newberg Day or Lobster Newburg Day:  I'd better have both.  Just to be sure.  And one week from today is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day:  I hereby declare it Do Not Waste Points Day. 

March 19th:  Poultry Day, National Chocolate Caramel Day
March 20th:  National Ravioli Day, Bock Beer Day
March 21st:  National French Bread Day, California Strawberry Day;  1413, Henry V becomes King of England;  1804, France adopts the Code Napoléon, which allowed freedom of religion, forbade privilege of birth, (nobility), and ended nepotism in government jobs
March 22nd:  Coq au Vin Day, National Water Day
March 23rd:  National Chip and Dip Day, National Melba Toast Day;  1857, Elisha Otis installs his first elevator, 488 Broadway, New York City
March 24th:  National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25th:  National Lobster Newberg/Newburg Day, National Pecan Day, National Waffle Day;  3019 of the Third Age (1419 in the Shire Reckoning), destruction of the One Ring at the Cracks of Doom
March 26th:  Spinach Day, National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, National Nougat Day


Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye or New York steaks, bone in, family pack, $5.97/lb
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roast or family pack steaks, boneless, $4.79/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $3.29/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $3.49/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.99/lb
    Pork loin roast OR assorted chops OR country style ribs, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Pork loin chops, center cut boneless, $7.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Rockfish or Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
    Catfish fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Cod, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $1.99/lb
    Mahi mahi OR ahi tuna, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $2.99
    Sockeye salmon (wild caught) OR Atlantic salmon (farm raised), 5 oz portions, $3.99/lb
    Alaskan salmon fillets, wild caught, 20 oz IQF pkg, $4.99
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Shedd's Country Crock, 45 oz tubs, $3.49
    Tillamook cheeses, 8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle pack, $2.99
    Kraft Cracker Barrel cheeses, 8 oz chunk, $2.99
    Prego pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, 2/$5
    Bumble Bee solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, 3/$5
    Essential Everyday olive oil, 25 oz bottles, $3.99
    Vlasic pickles, 16-24 oz jars, 2/$5
    Essential Everyday tomatoes or variety (non-baked) beans, 69¢
    PictSweet frozen veg or “Steamables”, 10-14 oz bags, 3/$5
    Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, $1.99
    Healthy Choice frozen entrees or dinners, 2/$5
    Strawberries, 3 lb flat, $3.75 – make jam
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Pacific Rose apples, $1.99/lb
    Clementines, 3 lb bags, $4.99
    Cut up watermelon, 2 lb bowls, $4.99
    Cut up strawberries, 24 oz bowls, $4.99
    Grape tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$4
    Iceberg, 99¢
    Red bell peppers, 99¢ ea
    Broccoli crowns, 99¢/lb
    Yellow onions, 99¢/lb
    Summer squashes (zucchini/yellow/grey), 99¢/lb

Bashas':

    Beef ribeye/t-bone/New York steaks, bone in, value pack, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef crossrib/bottom round roast or steaks, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef tri tip roast, $5.99/lb
    Ground beef chuck, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Center cut pork roast or chops, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Whole chickens OR leg quarters, 87¢/lb
    Cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Food Club butter, 2/$5
    Bashas' cottage cheese, 16 oz tub, $1.89
    Tillamook cheeses, 12 oz slices OR 16 oz chunk, $3.99
    Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauces, 23-24 oz jars, 2/$3
    Crown Prince oysters, clams, sardines, 3-10 oz cans, $1.69
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 99¢
    Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, 99¢/lb
    Apples, Red Delicious or Granny Smith, 99¢/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Bell peppers, green/red/gold, 77¢ ea
    Cucumber, 77¢ ea
    Sweet mini peppers, 1 lb bag, $1.99
    Grape tomatoes, 12 oz boxes, 2/$4
    Large artichokes, 2/$4
    “Mini peeled” carrots, 1 lb bag, 2/$4
    Zucchini squash, 88¢/lb

Fry's:

    Beef chuck or crossrib roast, boneless, $3.49/lb
    Beef NY strip steaks, bone in, $7.99/lb
    Beef stew meat or cube steaks, $3.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, $3.69/lb (3 lb chub)
    Tyson chicken, buy 1 get 1 free
    Kroger 85/15 ground turkey, $2.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Tilapia OR corvina fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Swai fillets, $2.99/lb
    Kroger cheeses, 16 oz chunk or shreds, 3/$10
    Kroger veggies or variety (non-baked) beans, 11-15 oz cans, 2/$1
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 2/$1
    Kroger pasta, 12-22 oz boxes, 87¢
    Starkist chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans OR 2-3 oz pouches, 4/$5
    Smart Ones “Classic” or “Creations” frozen entrees, $1.69
    Mini seedless watermelons, 99¢ ea
    Apples:  Lady Alice, Gala, Granny Smith, Red/Golden Delicious, 99¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $2.99/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Vine tomatoes, 75¢/lb
    Asparagus, $1.99/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 99¢
    Mini sweet peppers, 1 lb pkg, $1.99
    Hass avocados, 4/$5
    Organic cherry tomatoes, dry pint, 2/$6
    Organic kale, 99¢/bunch

Safeway:

    Beef chuck crossrib roast, boneless, $4.99/lb
    Beef bottom round steak, boneless, value pack, $4.99/lb
    Beef ribeye steak, bone in, value pack, $9.99/lb
    90/10 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
    “All natural” pork shoulder country style ribs, bone in, $1.79/lb
    “All natural” pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms thin sliced boneless skinless chicken breast, $4.99/lb
    Alaskan pollock fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Snapper fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb, “availability subject to fishing and weather conditions”
    Yellowfin ahi tuna steaks, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $8.99/lb
    Jennie-O turkey burgers, 3 lb IQF pkg, $6.99
    Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $2.19
    Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars, 7-10 oz boxes, 2/$5
    Nature Valley protein bars, 7 oz boxes, 2/$6
    Kellogg's Special K cereal, 11-13 oz boxes, 2/$5
    Teasdale pinto beans, 30 oz cans, $1.79
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, $2.29
    Hunt's tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 10/$10
    El Pato salsa de chile fresco, 27 oz cans, $1.19
    American Beauty pasta, 1 lb pkg, 5/$5
    Pantry Essentials frozen veggies, 12 oz bags, 99¢
    Lean Cuisine “Simple Favorites”, 5/$10
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 6-12 ct, $3.99
    Gala apples, $1.49/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $2.99
    Navel oranges, $1.49/lb
    Red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
    NatureSweet “Glory” cherry or grape tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$6
    Hass avocados, 4/$5
    Green cabbage, 49¢/lb
    Mini tulips/daffodils/hyacinths, in 4 inch pot, 3/$9.99

        If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
        And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,
        Sell one, and with the dole
        Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

Sprouts:

    Pork loin chops or roast, center cut boneless, $2.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken thighs, value pack, $1.99/lb
    All the frozen food you can fit into a sale bag, 20% off
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 98¢
    Navel oranges, 48¢/lb
    Texas Red grapefruit, 88¢ ea
    Cantaloupes OR honeydew melons, 48¢/lb
    Pink Lady or Cameo apples, 98¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.98/lb
    Apple pears, 3/$1
    Organic Valencia oranges, 4 lb bags, 2/$5
    Vine tomatoes, 98¢/lb
    Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Cucumbers OR red bell peppers, 48¢ ea
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 88¢ ea
    Brussels sprouts OR Italian squash, 98¢/lb
    Organic Garnet or Jewel yams, 98¢/lb
    Organic grape tomatoes, dry pint, 2/$5

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning March 12th:

News is a bit thin this week, I fear.  At Summer Tomato, the top 10 overrated (yogurt, egg whites, protein bars) and underrated (aged cheeses, mushrooms – ooh, oysters!) health foods.  And a study from Iowa State University found that the longer you chew, the less you eat.

Recipes, though – now, those we've got!  Chow.com has making your own corned beef (not the prepackaged kind – this recipe involves two cups of salt and two-thirds of a cup of sugar, along with peppercorns by the handful, bacon skins, and “pink curing salt”), additional St. Patrick's Day-oriented recipes including a Guinness milkshake, and such traditional St. Patrick's Day dishes as miso soup and homemade smoked sriracha.  Also how to finish up that blood-orange digestif from last week, and a salad of mustard greens with an anchovy dressing.

Smitten Kitchen has a kale and quinoa salad;  Sprouted goes Irish with corned beef from the oven and a soup of potatoes, Cheddar cheese, and Guinness.  Somehow a dish of cod poached in court bouillon worked its way in there.  Fooducate has five ways with Brussels sprouts:  one involves turning them into a slaw.  Snack Girl in her turn does the same with broccoli.  And Summer Tomato has a salad of fennel and pears dressed with a red wine vinaigrette.

Today's National Baked Scallops Day:  I may yet bake some myself.  This Saturday, the 15th, is National Poires belle Hélène Day which I'm not even going to touch as I genuinely cannot conceive a way to make pears poached in sugar syrup and served with vanilla ice-cream and chocolate sauce PointsPlus-friendly.  Better luck on the 17th in anticipation of which we have huge promotions on all things green and green things are healthy, right?  Green cabbage!  Green salads!  Green kale!  Green broccoli!  Green cupcakes!  Green beer!



March 12th:  National Baked Scallops Day
March 13th:  Coconut Torte Day
March 14th:  National Potato Chip Day;  Pi Day
March 15th:  National Poires belle Hélène Day
March 16th:  National Artichoke Hearts Day
March 17th:  Corned Beef and Cabbage Day, National Green Beer Day
March 18th:  Oatmeal Cookie Day
March 19th:  National Poultry Day, National Chocolate Caramel Day



Oh, and Friday is 3.14, so bake a pi.  Whoever told you πr^2 was putting forward a base canard.  Pi are round.  Cornbread are square.


Albertson's:

    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roast or family pack steaks, boneless, buy 1 get 1 free
    John Morell corned beef, flat cut, $2.99/lb
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef ribeye/t-bone/New York steaks, $7.99/lb
    Beef top sirloin/tri tip/London broil, boneless, $4.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $3.79/lb
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, $1.79/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.49/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Alaskan cod fillets/rockfish/Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Cod, 5 oz portions, $1.99
    Ahi tuna OR mahi mahi, 5 oz portions, $2.99
    Sockeye salmon, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $3.99
    “Colossal” sea scallops (that means under 10 to the pound), $17.99/lb
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Tillamook butter, 2/$5
    Essential Everyday cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$5
    Deli:    Jennie-O turkey breast, $3.99/lb
        Signature turkey breast, $5.99/lb
        Charlie's Pride Italian roast beef, corned beef, beef pastrami, $5.99/lb
        Stella Swiss/Provolone/Muenster cheeses, $5.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson classic or pepper turkey, classic or honey maple ham, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson baby Swiss, $7.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $4.99/lb
    Essential Everyday pasta, 12-16 oz pkg, 10/$10
    Crystal Light, 5 qt tubes, 2/$5
    Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, 10/$10
    Hunt's tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 10/$10
    Ro*tel tomatoes, 10 oz cans, 10/$10
    Bertolli pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, 2/$5
    Bumble Bee chunk white tuna, 5 oz cans, 10/$10
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 88¢
    PictSweet “Steamables”, 10 oz bags, 10/$10
    Green Giant “Boil in Bag” veggies, 9-10 oz bags, 10/$10
    Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$10
    Lady Alice apples, $1.99/lb
    Navel oranges, $1.29/lb
    Fruit salad, 2 lb bowl, $9.99
    Slicing tomatoes, $1.69/lb
    English cucumbers, 2/$3
    Earthbound Farms organic box salad, 1 lb, $4.99
    Russet potatoes, 10 lb bag, $1.49
    Taylor Farms broccoli florets, 9 oz steam bag, 2/$5


Bashas':

    Skylark corned beef, point cut $1.99/lb (flat cut $1/lb higher), Friday through Sunday ONLY
    Beef ribeye/t-bone/New York steaks, bone in, buy 1 get 1 free
    Ground beef round, fat content not listed, $3.49/lb
    Bottom round roast or steak, $4.99/lb
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, $1.57/lb
    Center cut pork chops, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
    Jennie-O ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.99
    Rockfish/Dover sole/true cod fillets, $5.99/lb
    Shamrock Farms dairy products, 40% off
    Food Club cheeses, 8 oz chunk/shreds/cubelets, 5/$10
    Libby's veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 79¢
    Food Club fruit or applesauce, 23-30 oz cans or jars, $1.69
    Starkist chunk light tuna OR Bumble Bee chunk white tuna, 5 oz cans, 99¢
    Green or red seedless grapes, 99¢/lb
    “Texas Red” grapefruit, 2/$1
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Braeburn or Red Delicious apples, 99¢/lb
    Bosc or D'Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
    Organic vine or hothouse tomatoes, AZ grown, $1.99/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, AZ grown, 99¢ ea
    Asparagus, $1.99/lb


Fry's:  Bloody illiterates who don't know it's “St. Paddy's Day”, not “St. Patty's Day”.

    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, family pack, $3.49/lb
    Beef t-bone steaks, $8.99/lb
    Beef eye or bottom round roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Kroger corned beef brisket, point cut, $1.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, $3.69/lb (3 lb chub)
    Pork country style ribs, bone in, family pack, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.77/lb
    Jennie-O 85/15 ground turkey, 1 lb pkg, $2.99
    Atlantic salmon, 5 oz portions, $4.99
    Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $8.99/lb
    Fry's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle, $1.99
    Sargento cheeses, 8 oz shreds, $2.99
    Kroger fruit, 15 oz cans, 10/$10
    Bumble Bee solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, 10/$10
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, 2/$3
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 97¢
    Apples:  Gala, Granny Smith, Red/Golden Delicious, 99¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green or red, $2.99/lb
    Whole pineapples, 97¢
    Mangoes, 97¢
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Green cabbage, 3 lbs/$1
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, AZ grown, 99¢
    Cauliflower, AZ grown, 77¢/lb


Safeway:

    Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $6.99/lb
    Beef chuck 7-bone roast, $2.99/lb
    Beef round steak, boneless, value pack, $4.99/lb
    Open Nature beef London broil, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Safeway Farms corned beef brisket, point cut, $1.89/lb (flat cut $2.99/lb)
    93/7 ground beef, $4.99/lb
    Half pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.99/lb
    Pork top loin chops, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Pork country style ribs, bone in, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Eating Right boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
    Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
    Swordfish steaks, bone in, wild caught $6.99/lb
    Pacific snapper fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Alaskan pollock fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Catfish fillets OR dressed rainbow trout, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Kraft cheeses, 6-8 oz shreds, $2.99
    Nature's Own bread, 20 oz long loaves, 2/$5
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, $1.99
    Safeway Kitchens tomatoes, 14-15 oz cans, 79¢
    American Beauty pasta, 1 lb bags, 5/$5
    Chicken of the Sea solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, 4/$5
    Green Giant frozen veggies, 7-10 oz boxes, 3/$5
    O Organics frozen veggies, 1 lb bags, $2.49
    Birds Eye “Steamfresh” frozen veggies, 10/12 oz bags, $1.99
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1.99
    Gala apples, $1.69/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
    Asparagus, $2.99/lb
    Green cabbage, 39¢/lb


Sprouts:

    Beef New York steak, bone in, $5.99/lb
    Beef rump roast OR extra lean stew meat, $4.99/lb
    Corned beef brisket or round, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Pork shoulder roast or country style ribs, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Zacky's 93/7 ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $4.99
    Center cut swordfish steaks, bone in, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Corvina fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $9.99/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$3
    Blackberries, 5 oz box, 2/$3
    Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
    Texas grapefruit, 88¢ ea
    Cantaloupe OR honeydew melons, 2 lbs/$1
    Granny Smith apples, 98¢/lb
    D'Anjou or Bosc pears, 98¢/lb
    Organic Valencia oranges, 4 lb bags, 2/$5
    Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Asparagus, $1.98/lb
    Green cabbage, 4 lbs/$1
    Organic butternut squash, 88¢/lb
    Eggplant, 98¢ ea

Wren's bargain guide, week beginning March 5th:

The FDA, as you've probably heard or read, is working on revising the current nutrition label design.  The new labels will have calorie content displayed more prominently, will eliminate “Calories From Fat”, but will include a line for “Added Sugars”.  Also serving sizes will be revised, mostly upward (a pint carton of ice-cream will now be two servings, not four) and servings-per-container clearly shown.

A new study in the journal Appetite shows an interesting technique for overcoming cravings:  Plymouth University found that cravings, whether for food, drink, nicotine, or caffeine, were reduced an average of 24 percent by three minutes of Tetris, of all things.  So a logon to FreeTetris.org might be worth a try the next time you're overcome in your home or workplace.  (Highly disrecommended on the 60 in evening traffic.)

A terrific set of “36 Lessons About Habits”.  How to tell if your olive oil is authentic.  A suggestion that American cheesemakers should invent American names for their products.  And how to turn a bizarre assortment of the only ingredients you can find (“In an instant all those grandiose dreams of spaghetti carbonara you concocted on the commute home are gone. Left in its place: a carton of leftover delivery rice, mysterious cheese, and orange juice”) into a meal:  put an egg on it!

Does that count as a recipe?  There are more!  Fooducate has how to make better trail mix than the stuff you buy premade.  From Chow.com, a DIY blood-orange digestif and forty recipes for after you have your wisdom teeth taken out.  From 101 Cookbooks, a salad of shredded eggs.  Simply Recipes has brined pork chops with gremolata, the gremolata, and broiled grapefruit.  And Snack Girl has DIY 100-calorie snacks and an 80-calorie slice of chocolate chip cake!

With Lent starting, lots of promotions on fish and seafood in all forms.  Today's both National Absinthe Day and National Cheese Doodle Day:  exercise moderation on both.  Friday is National Crown Roast of Pork Day – I'll give that a miss, in fact I'll give anything a miss that has to be ordered from your butcher ahead of time – but Sunday is National Crabmeat Day which I will never turn down, and with National Baked Scallops Day coming up in a week, the Lenten fast is looking less penitential (and tastier) by the minute.



March 5th:  National Cheese Doodle Day, National Absinthe Day
March 6th:  National Frozen Food Day, National White Chocolate Cheesecake
March 7th:  National Crown Roast of Pork Day, National Cereal Day
March 8th:  National Peanut Cluster Day
March 9th:  National Crabmeat Day, National Meatball Day
March 10th:  National Blueberry Popover Day, National Pack Your Lunch Day
March 11th:  National Oatmeal-Nut Waffles Day
March 12th:  National Baked Scallops Day




Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye or New York steaks, bone in, family pack, $5.97/lb
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef brisket, boneless, whole in bag, $2.79/lb
    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roasts or family pack steaks, boneless, $4.79/lb
    85/15 ground beef, $3.49/lb
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, $1.69/lb
    Center cut pork loin chops, bone in, $6.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Pork sirloin chops, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Pork butt shoulder roast, $1.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, buy 1 get 2 free
    Unbranded (store) boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $10.99/lb
    Rockfish or Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
    Catfish fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Tilapia or swai fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
    Rockfish fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Cod portions, wild caught, 5 oz ea, $1.99
    Ahi tuna portions, wild caught, 5 oz ea, $2.99
    Sockeye salmon portions, wild caught, 5 oz ea. $3.99
    Sea scallops, wild caught, 10-20 ct, $12.99/lb
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Essential Everyday cheeses, 2 lb chunk or shreds, $7.99/lb
    Deli:    Dietz & Watson “Oven Classic” or pepper turkey, classic or honey maple ham, $7.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson baby Swiss, $7.99/lb
        Jennie-O turkey breast or Provolone cheese, $4.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $4.99/lb
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans OR 2.5 oz pouches, 99¢
    Bumble Bee/Snow's clams, 6 oz cans, 2/$3
    Bumble Bee solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, 3/$5
    Herdez salsa, 16 oz jars, 2/$4
    Libby's veggies, 11-15 oz cans, 88¢
    Libby's fruit, 15 oz cans, 2/$3
    Essential Everyday olive oil, 51 oz bottle (that's what it SAYS), $9.99
    Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, $1.88
    Birds Eye “Steamfresh” veggies, 10-12 oz pkg, 2/$3
    Essential Everyday frozen veggies, 14-16 oz bags, 88¢
    Whole cantaloupes, 88¢ ea
    Clementines, 3 lb bag, $4.99
    Apples:  Sage, Gala, Red Delicious, 3 lb bag, $2.99
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99
    Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
    Asparagus, $3.99/lb
    Snacking cucumbers, 2 lb bag, $3.99


Bashas':

    Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $4.88/lb (regular pack $1/lb higher)
    Beef sirloin tip steaks, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef New York steak, bone in, $6.99/lb
    Beef tri tip roast, $5.99/lb
    Pork loin roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Center cut pork chops, boneless, $2.99/lb (thin cut, $1/lb higher)
    Chicken breasts or leg quarters, bone in, 97¢/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
    True cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Atlantic salmon fillets, $6.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon, 5 oz portions, $2.99
    Albacore or ahi tuna OR ono wahoo, 5 oz portions, $2.99
    Swordfish/halibut/mahi mahi, 5 oz portions, $2.99
    Challenge butter, $2.99
    Tillamook cheeses, 8 oz chunk or shreds, $1.99
    Food Club cheeses, 2 lb chunk or shreds, $7.99/lb
    Hunt's tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 99¢
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 79¢
    Ro*tel tomatoes, 10 oz cans, 4/$5
    Flat Outs flatbread, $1.99
    Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 40% off
    Morningstar Farms frozen, 2/$7
    Cantaloupes OR honeydew melons, 39¢/lb
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Braeburn or Red Delicious apples, 99¢/lb
    Roma or slicing tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Asparagus, 88¢/lb
    Broccoli OR cauliflower, AZ grown, 99¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, AZ grown, 99¢ ea
    Cucumbers, 77¢ ea
    Green/red/gold bell peppers, 77¢ ea


Fry's:

    Beef NY strip steaks, bone in or boneless, 50% off
    Corned beef brisket, flat cut boneless, $3.49/lb
    90/10 ground beef, $4.69/lb (2 lb chub)
    Entire selection of fresh pork, 50% off
    Turkey breast, bone in, frozen, $1.79/lb
    Chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, $1.29/lb
    Cod fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Swordfish steaks, wild caught, bone in, $5.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $12.99/lb
    Kroger butter, 2/$5
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle pack, $1.99
    Crosse & Blackwell cocktail sauce, 12 oz bottles, 10/$10
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 59¢
    Chicken of the Sea pink salmon, 14 oz cans, $2.99
    Prego pasta sauces, 12-24 oz jars, 2/$3
    Blackberries, 6 oz boxes, 75¢
    Apples:  Gala, Granny Smith, Red/Golden Delicious, 99¢/lb
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Asparagus, 75¢/lb
    Cucumbers OR green bell peppers, 2/99¢
    Red or yellow bell peppers, 99¢ ea
    Vine tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, AZ grown, 99¢


Safeway:

    Beef London broil, boneless, $3.29/lb
    Beef chuck crossrib roast, boneless, $3.49/lb
    Beef bottom round steak, boneless, $4.99/lb
    Corned beef brisket, flat cut, $2.99/lb
    90/10 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Whole pork shoulder, whole in bag, $1.99/lb
    Pork loin chops, bone in, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms whole chickens, 88¢/lb
    Safeway Farms chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, bone in, 99¢/lb
    Rainbow trout fillets, $6.99/lb
    Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Swai fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $2.19
    Lucerne or Open Nature cheeses, 24-32 oz chunk, $6.99
    Sargento cheeses, 8 oz shreds, 2/$7
    Del Monte tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 10/$10
    Bush's Best variety (non-baked) beans, 15-16 oz cans, $1 ea
    Safeway Select simmer sauces, 16-18 oz jars, 2/$6
    Herdez salsa, 24 oz jars, 2/$5
    Libby's veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 99¢
    Bumble Bee solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, 4/$5
    Safeway Kitchens pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 99¢
    Bertolli olive oil, 25 oz bottles, buy 1 get 1 free
    Healthy Choice “Bakes” frozen entrees, 5/$10
    O Organics frozen veg, 1 lb bags, $2.49
    Safeway Kitchens frozen veg or potatoes, 24-32 oz bags, 2/$5
    Safeway Kitchens frozen fruit, 3 lb bags, $11.99
    Green Giant “Seasoned Steamers”, 11-12 oz bags, $1.99
    Skinny Cow ice-cream novelties, 4-6 ct, $3.99
    “Texas Ruby Red” grapefruit, 2/$1
    Gala apples, $1.69/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, $2.99 ea
    Green or red seedless grapes, $2.99/lb
    Asparagus, 99¢/lb
    Red bell peppers, 2/$3
    Fresh Express bag salads, 4/$5
    NatureSweet “Glory” cherry tomatoes, 10 oz boxes,  AZ grown, 2/$6
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, AZ grown, 99¢ ea


Sprouts:

    Beef porterhouse steaks, bone in, $7.99/lb
    85/15 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Pork shoulder roast OR country style ribs, boneless, $2.49
    Pork loin chops or roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken thighs or “wingettes”, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $9.99/lb
    Sea of Cortez halibut fillets, wild caught, $12.99/lb
    Apples:  Braeburn, Jonagold, Granny Smith, 98¢/lb
    Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
    “Texas Red” grapefruit, 88¢ ea
    Blackberries, 5 oz boxes, 2/$3
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, 2 lbs/$5
    Vine tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Asparagus, 88¢/lb
    Organic broccoli, 98¢/lb
    Earthbound Farms organic box salads, buy 1 get 1 free
    Cauliflower OR Brussels sprouts, 98¢/lb