Bargain guide, week beginning December 7th

I must be brief as I'm short on time. Heavy promotions this week on baking supplies and the larger slabs of meat – and, blessedly, fruit and veggie trays.

At Fooducate Andy Bellatti has a fascinating article based on the notion of, in his phrase, “calling off the war on obesity”: “Obesity is too abstract of an 'enemy'.... . What, exactly, does victory look like? A population that is of normal weight? While there are certainly some medical and health risks that accompany obesity, it is possible to be at a 'healthy weight' while subsisting on minimally nutritious foods.” Chow.com has recipes for “an epic Christmas feast”, for “crazy-easy Christmas cookies”, and for some homemade fruitcakes if you're not ordering from Collin Street Bakery which I heartily recommend.

Serious Eats has how to cook a crown roast of pork as well as taste tests for instant mashed potatoes and various brands of eggnog, and Summer Tomato has six tips on how to make desserts worth their caloric cost. (“Resist the piles of cookies, brownies and candies set out around the house. If you do choose to eat one, do not make light of it. Sit down with a chair, table and napkin and enjoy every bite.”)

Next Tuesday, the 13th, is for absolutely no reason I've been able to determine National Ice Cream And Violins Day, so settle in with Itzakh Perlman and Bunny Tracks if it so please you:

December 7th: National Cotton Candy Day
December 8th: National Brownie Day
December 9th: National Pastry Day, Apple Pie Day
December 10th: National Lager Day
December 11th: National Noodle-Ring Day
December 12th: National Ambrosia Day, National Gingerbread House Day
December 13th: National Cocoa Day
December 14th: National Bouillabaisse Day



Albertson's:

Beef rib roast, bone in, large end, $3.97/lb (small end, $4.99/lb)
Beef rib roast, boneless, $6.99/lb
Beef rib roast, bone in, ENTIRE DAMN THING, $4.49/lb (this is an entire region of a cow)
Beef New York strip roast, bone in, $3.77/lb
Beef roasts: bottom/top round, London broil, sirloin tip, crossrib, chuck, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1
93/7 ground beef, $2.99/lb
Pork loin roast, center cut, bone in, $2.99/lb
Pork picnic roast, bone in, $1.69/lb
Pork shoulder roast, $1.99/lb
Rack of pork, bone in, $2.99/lb
Hormel spiral sliced ham, bone in, $1.47/lb
Cook's ham, bone in, shank portion, $1.29/lb (butt portion $1.49/lb)
Hormel Cure 81 whole or half ham, boneless, $3.99/lb
Leg of lamb, bone in, $7.99/lb
Unbranded boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.99/lb
Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breast or tenders, $4.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.88/lb
Albertson's eggs, AA large, dozens, $1
Albertson's cream cheese incl. Reduced-fat, 8 oz blocks, 4/$5
Challenge butter, 2/$6
Imperial spread, 1 lb quarters, $1
Deli: USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
Jennie-O deli turkey breast, $4.99/lb
Deli Fresh cheeses, $4.99/lb
Shannon's Deli corned beef OR beef pastrami, $4.99/lb
Hunt's diced tomatoes, 14 oz cans, $1
Hunt's pasta sauces, 26 oz cans, $1
Libby's veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢
DaVinci pasta, 1 lb pkg, $1
PictSweet “Deluxe Sides”, 2 ct or 6-7 oz pkg, $1
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 5/$10
Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, $1
Bananas, 39¢/lb
Blackberries, 6 oz box, $1
HoneyCrisp apples, $1.99/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Kiwifruit, 1 lb bag, $1.99
“Cuties” clementines, 3 lb bag, $3.99
Spinach, 2 bunches/$1
Banana squash, 49¢/lb
Organic carrots, 1 lb bag, 88¢
Cut up fruit tray, $14.99
Cut up veggie tray, $9.99



Bashas':

Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $3.47/lb
Beef crossrib or bottom round roast, $3.99
Assorted pork chops, value pack, $1.69/lb
Pork center cut chops, boneless, value pack, $3.47/lb
Pork loin, bone in, 99¢/lb
Pork loin roast, boneless?, $3.49/lb
Swordfish steaks, $7.99/lb
Cod loins, wild caught, $4.99/lb
Bashas' milk, half gallons only, 88¢
Tillamook cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk/shreds/slices, $1.88
Bashas' sour cream OR cottage cheese incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, $1.49
General Mills cereals incl. all Fiber One, 2/$7
Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz box, 10/$10
Classico pasta sauces, 8-24 oz jars, 2/$5
Del Monte canned fruits or veggies, 13-15 oz cans, 10/$10
S&W tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 10/$10
PictSweet frozen veggies, 10-12 oz bags, 3/$5
Red seedless or red globe (seedy) grapes, 97¢/lb
Cuties clementines, 3 lb bag, $2.77
Pears: Bartlett, Anjou, Bosc, 97¢/lb
Texas red grapefruit, 87¢/lb
Bananas, 57¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 97¢ ea
Italian or yellow squashes, 97¢/lb
Green bell peppers, 2/$1
Red bell peppers, 97¢/lb
Cucumbers, 2/$1



Food City:

Beef chuck steak, bone in, value pack, $1.97/lb
Beef skirt steak, value pack, $3.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.47/lb
Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $2.49/lb
Food City eggs, AA large, 18 ct, $1.97
Cantaloupe, 3 lbs/99¢
Large tomatoes, 3 lbs/99¢
Cucumbers, 10/99¢
Italian squash, 3 lbs/99¢



Fry's:

Beef New York strip steak (family pack) or roast, $4.97/lb
Beef chuck roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
85/15 ground beef, $3.20/lb (3 lb chub)
Kroger corned beef brisket flats, $3.49/lb
Entire selection of fresh pork, 50% off
Cook's spiral sliced ham, bone in, $1.37/lb
Foster Farms whole chickens, 67¢/lb
Foster Farms boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
Kroger Value chicken leg quarters, bone in, 88¢/lb
Fry's milk, gallons, $1.57/lb
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
Kroger cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $1.99
Kroger cream cheese, 8 oz bars, 4/$5
Nature's Own bread, $1.99
Oroweat wide-pan bread, 2/$5
PopChips, 2/$4
Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 10/$10
Hunt's pasta sauce, 26 oz cans, 10/$10
Kroger veggies, 11-15 oz cans, 2/$1
Kroger fruit, 15 oz cans, 10/$10
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, $1.97
Birds Eye frozen veggies, 10-12 oz bag or 4 ct, $1.79
C&W frozen veggies, 14-16 oz bags, 3/$5
Apples: Ambrosia, HoneyCrisp, Pink Lady, Sonya, $1.99/lb
Mangoes, 99¢ ea
Red seedless or red globe (seedy) grapes, $2.49/lb
Pears: Anjou, red, Bosc, 99¢/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Yellow or zucchini squash, 99¢/lb
Private Selection “mini peeled”, 1 lb bag, 2/$3
Private Selection bag salads, 2/$6
Vine tomatoes, 99¢/lb
Dole bag salads, 2/$3


Safeway:

Beef New York strip roast, boneless, $6.99/lbfs
Beef chuck 7-bone pot roast, $2.29/lb
Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $7/99/lb
Beef chuck crossrib roast, boneless, $3.89/lb
Beef bottom round roast, $4.49/lb
93/7 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
Safeway Select spiral sliced half ham, bone in, $2.29/lb
Pork loin chops, “assorted” bone in, value pack, $1.99/lb
“French-style” rack of lamb, $13.99/lb
Chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, value pack, 99¢/lb (whole leg quarters, 89¢/lb)
Jennie-O Turkey Store lean ground turkey breast, 20 oz pkg, $5.99
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $8.99/lb
Albacore tuna steaks, wild caught, $12.99/lb “weather permitting”
Safeway canned veggies (except peas), 11-15 oz cans, $1.09
Gorton's “Grilled Fillets”, 2/$6, still only 2 Points per serving!
Apples: Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, 75¢/lb
Navel oranges, 10 lbs/$10
Mangos, 10/$10
Vine tomatoes, $1.28/lb
Fresh Express bag salads, 2/$4
Iceberg, 10/$10
Celery, 10/$10
Avocados, 10/$10



Smart & Final:

Beef London broil, boneless, $2.99/lb
First Street chicken leg quarters, bone in, value pack, 69¢/lb
Eat Smart veggie tray w/ dip, 4 lbs, $9.99
Seedless red grapes, 2 lb pkg, $1.99
Fuji apples, 3 lb bag, $2.49




Sprouts:

Pork loin roast, center cut, boneless, $1.99/lb
Haddock fillets, wild caught, $3.99/lb
Sprouts Omega-3 eggs, grade A large, dozens, 2/$5
Sprouts butter, $2.99
Whole pineapples, from Costa Rica, 99¢ ea
Fuji or Braeburn apples, 88¢/lb
Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
Red seedless grapes, 2 lbs/$3
Organic D'Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
Organic Delicious apples, 99¢/lb
Green bell peppers, 3/$1
Large cucumbers, 3/$1
Eggplant, 77¢ ea
Iceberg, 77¢ ea
Hass avocados, 77¢ ea
Vine tomatoes, 2 lbs/$3