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

RECALL:  Rancho Feeding Corporation, said to be the largest beef slaughterhouse in Northern California, is recalling approximately 8.7 million pounds of beef produced without federal inspection.  (This is the company's entire product for the year 2013.)  None of this beef was itself distributed to retailers in Arizona;  however, some was used in Hot Pockets products sold in this state.   Nestlé USA has announced the voluntary nationwide recall of Hot Pockets Philly Steak & Cheese varieties, in both regular and croissant crust.

News!  The FDA is considering a proposal to revoke the Generally Recognized As Safe, or GRAS, status of partially hydrogenated oils.  Ingredients that fall into the GRAS category can be used in almost any food without prior FDA approval;  they're considered, based on past experience and consensus of experts, to present no health hazard.  If this status is revoked, it would mean an effective end to use of partially hydrogenated oils in American food products.

More news:  In response to consumer concerns, Subway's about to stop putting “dough conditioner” azodicarbonamide in its bread, and Kraft's going to do the same with a preservative in Kraft Singles.  At the New York Times, Gary Taubes (Why We Get Fat) has an article on “Why Nutrition Is So Confusing”, and the business section has a piece on the war between the sugar and corn-refining industries.  Darya Rose explores the distinction between “celebrating” and “emotional eating”.  And did you know that a century ago, there was a project to import hippopotami to the US for ranching?  Apparently hippo brisket can be cured into something euphemized as “lake cow bacon”.  Yum.

Recipes!  From Chow.com, salad dressings, healthy winter soups (now that winter seems to have ended in our area), and, god help us, DIY Girl Scout cookies.  Simply Recipes has aromatic coconut rice (not too sweet, good with curries).  And from Snack Girl, pork and pears, apples and peanut butter, a stack of light snacks to get your shrieklings (and your stressed-out self) through until dinner reaches the table without anybody damaging anybody, and a handy guide to the nutrition information PER COOKIE in Girl Scout Cookies – print it out and tape it to your fridge!

This Sunday is both National Banana Bread Day and National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.  I have sampled several varieties of dog biscuit and found none that I appreciated as much as banana bread.

February 19th:  National Chocolate Mint Day
February 20th:  National Cherry Pie Day
February 21st:  National Sticky Bun Day
February 22nd:  National Margarita Day
February 23rd:  National Banana Bread Day, National Dog Biscuit Appreciation day
February 24th:  National Tortilla Chip Day
February 25th:  National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day, National Clam Chowder Day
February 26th:  National Pistachio Day


Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye/t-bone/New York steaks, bone in, buy 1 get 1 free
    Petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roast or family pack steaks, boneless, $4.49/lb
    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $4.99/lb
    80/20 ground beef, $2.49/lb (3 lbs or more)
    93/7 ground beef, $3.79/lb
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.88/lb
    Center cut pork chops, boneless, $2.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops, bone in, 3 lbs or more, $1/lb
    Pork loin back ribs or spare ribs, buy 1 get 1 free
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.99/lb
    Sanderson Farms tray pack chicken breasts/thighs/tenders, buy 1 get 1 free
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Sockeye salmon, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $3.99 ea
    Tilapia or swai fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
    Ahi tuna, wild caught, 5 oz portions, $2.99 ea
    Rockfish or Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
    Catfish fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$5
    Essential Everyday cheeses, 8 oz shingle pack, 2/$6
    Deli:    All Dietz & Watson turkey, chicken, ham, cheese, $7.99/lb
        Deli Fresh hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $4.99/lb
    Bumble Bee chunk white tuna, 10/$10
    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
    De Cecco pasta, 1 lb boxes, 2/$5
    Bigelow tea bags, 18-20 ct, 2/$5
    Birds Eye “Steamfresh” veggies, 10-12 oz bags, 10/$10
    PictSweet “Steamables” veggies, 10 oz bags, 4/$5
    PictSweet “Deluxe Sides”, 6-7 oz boxes, 4/$5
    Jonagold apples, $1/lb
    Navel oranges, $1/lb
    Mangos, $1 ea
    Vine tomatoes, $2.49/lb
    Asparagus, $2.99/lb
    Broccoli crowns, $1/lb


Bashas':

    Beef tri tip steak, $5.99/lb
    Beef crossrib roast, $4.99/lb
    Beef top sirloin steak, $4.99/lb
    Ground beef round, fat content not listed, value pack, $4.49/lb
    Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.87/lb, “cut & wrapped free”
    Pork picnic, whole in bag, $1.49/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.49/lb (regular pack 50¢/lb higher)
    Rockfish or true cod fillets, $6.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Swai fillets, $2.99/lb
    Ahi tuna loins, $9.99/lb
    Bashas' cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $2.29
    Bashas' sour cream incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $1.69
    Food Club butter, 2/$3
    Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, $1.99
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna OR Chicken of the Sea chunk white tuna, 88¢/lb
    Libby's veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 88¢
    S&W tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 4/$5
    Progresso Light soups (with the WW logo), 4/$5
    Green Giant “ValleyFresh Steamers”, 11-12 oz pkg, 2/$3
    Halos mandarins, 3 lb bag, $1.99
    Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, AZ grown, 99¢
    Broccoli OR cauliflower, AZ grown, 77¢/lb
    Artichokes, 2/$3
    Asparagus, $2.99/lb


Fry's:

    Beef NY strip steak, bone in or boneless, 50% off
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
    Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, family pack, $1.69/lb
    Pork loin center cut chops, bone in, family pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork shoulder butt steaks OR country style ribs, bone in, family pack, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, 3 lb IQF bag, $5.97 ($1.99/lb)
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Swai fillets, $2.99/lb
    Kroger cottage cheese OR sour cream, 16 oz tubs, $1.99
    Kroger cheeses, 1 lb shreds, 3/$10
    Healthy Choice frozen entrees, $1.88
    Morningstar Farms frozen meals, 3/$10
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    “Mini seedless” watermelons, 2/$6
    Mandarins, 3 lb bag, $4.99 (5 lb box, $6.99)
    Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Broccoli OR cauliflower, AZ grown, 89¢/lb
    Zucchini OR yellow squah, 99¢/lb
    Simple Truth organic spring mix OR baby spinach, 1 lb box, $4.49
    Organic cherry tomatoes, dry pint, 2/$6


Safeway:

    * Buy $20 in Weight Watchers products, get $5 back instantly!
    Open Nature beef NY strip steak, boneless, $9.99/lb
    Beef London broil, boneless, $6.49/lb
    Beef bottom round roast, boneless, $2.49/lb
    80/20 ground beef, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, $2.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb
    Pork shoulder for pozole, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Pork shoulder, bone in, whole in bag, $1.49/lb
    Open Nature lamb shoulder blade chops, bone in, $4.99/lb
    Chicken breast/drums/thighs/leg quarters, bone in, 99¢/lb
    Jennie-O Turkey Store ground turkey, 20 oz pkg, $5
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, value pack, $8.99/lb
    Alaskan pollock fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
    Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $1.99
    Land O Lakes butter, $3.49
    Lucerne OR Open Nature cheeses, 24-32 oz chunk or shreds, $6.99
    Sargento cheeses, 6-8 oz shingle pack, 2/$7
    * Yoplait “Greek 100” yogurts, 10/$10
    Nabisco snack crackers, 2/$5
    Bertolli pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, buy 1 get 1 free
    Del Monte fruit, 14-15 oz cans, buy 1 get 1 free
    * Progresso Light soups (with the WW logo), 2/$4
    Healthy Choice “Bakes” entrees, 5/$10
    * Smart Ones frozen entrees, 5/$10
    Pantry Essentials frozen veg, 12 oz bags, 99¢
    * Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 4-12 ct, $3.99
    Gala or Fuji apples, $1.49/lb
    Navel, Cara Cara, or Moro oranges, $1.49/lb
    Green seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    “Texas Ruby Red” grapefruit, 99¢ ea
    Envy apples, $2.99/lb
    Kiwifruit, 2/$1
    Vine or hot-house tomatoes, $2.99/lb
    Safeway Farms grape tomatoes, 11 oz box, $2.99
    Organic kale, $1.99/bunch


Sprouts:

    Beef New York steak, boneless, $7.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $4.99/lb
    Ethnic Gourmet OR Artisan Bistro frozen entrees, 2/$6
    Navel oranges, 48¢/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 3/$5
    Blackberries or blueberries, 5-6 oz boxes, 3/$5
    Braeburn or Red Delicious apples, 98¢/lb
    D'Anjou or Bosc pears, 98¢/lb
    Red seedless grapes, 2 lbs/$5
    Organic Valencia oranges, 68¢/lb
    Beefsteak tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Organic Roma tomatoes, 98¢/lb
    Asparagus, $1.48/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea