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