Wren's bargain guide, week beginning May 28th:

And as a follow-up to two weeks ago's roundup of horrifying and mostly sweet fair foods, AlterNet presents the roundup of horrifying non-sweet fair foods!  Python kebabs.  Camel sliders.  Smoked lizard on a stick – that one's from right here in Arizona, and we are assured, “Don't worry, these farm lizards were raised for food purposes.”  To which AlterNet's editor responds, “THEIR FARM-RAISED VS. WILD-CAUGHT STATUS IS NOT WHY I AM ALARMED, SIR OR MADAM.”

The FDA has recently approved another artificial sweetener, Advantame.  It's described as “a free-flowing, water soluble, white crystalline powder,” usable “as a tabletop sweetener as well as in cooking applications.”  It's also 20,000 times sweeter than sugar.

A new report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests that WHO's recommendation of five servings of fruits and veg a day isn't really enough:  up that to at least seven.  Another, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says that combining nitrite- and nitrate-rich veggies with unsaturated oils, such as olive or avocado, produces compounds that reduce blood pressure.  TheKitchn explains what to do with carrot tops and that they're not poisonous, and LifeHacker explains why not to boil your vegetables until they're yellow.  And Tesco, the biggest supermarket chain in the UK, has banned checkout-lane candy displays! 

Recipes!  Chow.com has an easy teriyaki chicken:  up the health quotient by serving it on brown rice.  Sprouted Kitchen has a frittata of chard and leeks (or any green veggie and onion-variant) that can serve 8 from six eggs!  And Snack Girl offers up a carrot cake smoothie as well as a review of the newest exercise tracking device, the Shine.

June is Turkey Lovers' Month, apparently just to remind people that it is in fact possible to eat turkey not in November or December.  Also National Seafood Month which I'll eagerly celebrate, National Dairy Month, and National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month.  And National Iced Tea Month!

May 28th:  National Brisket Day, National Hamburger Day
May 29th:  National Coq au Vin Day
May 30th:  National Mint Julep Day, National Macaroon Day
June 1st:  National Hazelnut Cake Day
June 2nd:  National Chocolate Macaroon Day
June 3rd:  National Egg Day, National Rocky Road Day
June 4th:  National Cheese Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day, National Cognac Day
June 5th:  National Gingerbread Day

And a bonus tip from Connie:  Chop up rhubarb, simmer it in a very little water until it "turns to mush" which will not take long, she says.  Mix in cut-up strawberries and Splenda to taste.  This makes a sort of chunky syrup which is good on frozen yogurt or Greek yogurt or pancakes or waffles or toast.



Albertson's:

    Beef ribeye or New York steaks, bone in, family pack, $5.97/lb (boneless, $1/lb higher)
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $10.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roast or family pack steaks, boneless, $4.79/lb
    80/20 ground beef, $2.97/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Assorted pork chops, bone in, family pack, $1.99/lb
    Pork loin chops, center cut boneless, $7.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    Unbranded (store) boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.79/lb
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm-raised, $6.99/lb
    Rockfish fillets, wild caught, $3.49/lb
    Tilapia OR swai fillets, farm raised, $3.49/lb
    Yoplait yogurts, 50¢
    Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Albertson's eggs, AA large, 18 ct, 2/$5
    Essential Everyday cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle, 2/$6
    Deli:     Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $3.99/lb
        Signature rotisserie turkey breast, $5.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson chicken breast varieties, $5.99/lb
        Dietz & Watson cheeses, $7.99/lb
    Essential Everyday tomato sauce, 8 oz cans, 25¢
    La Moderna pasta, 7 oz bags, 25¢
    Essential Everyday veggies or tomatoes, 14-15 oz cans, 50¢
    Essential everyday variety (non-baked) beans, 15 oz cans, 75¢
    Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 75¢
    Essential Everyday pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 75¢
    Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, $1
    Ro*tel tomatoes, 10 oz cans, $1
    Red seedless grapes, 75¢/lb
    Yellow peaches OR nectarines, $2.99/lb
    Red cherries, $5.99/lb
    Honeydew melons, 99¢/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, AZ grown, 2/$5
    Grape tomatoes, 10 oz boxes, 2/$4
    Red bell peppers, 50¢ ea
    Iceberg, 99¢ ea
    Organic vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
    Earthbound Farms organic box salads, 1 lb, $4.99


Bashas':

    Beef crossrib roast, $4.99/lb
    Ground beef round, fat content not listed, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Rib half pork loin, bone in, $1.49/lb, “sliced free”
    Assorted pork chops, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Center cut pork chops, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, 99¢/lb
    Swai fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
    Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
    Food Club butter, $2.99
    Food Club cheeses, 10-16 oz chunk/shreds/string snacks, $3.99
    Bashas' cottage cheese incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, $1.89
    Ro*tel tomatoes, 10 oz cans, $1 ea
    Chicken of the Sea solid white tuna, 5 oz cans, $1 ea
    Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauces, 23-24 oz jars, $1.99
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, 97¢/lb
    Mangos, 33¢ ea


Fry's:

    Beef strip steak, bone in, $8.99/lb
    Beef flap meat, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Pork half loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.88/lb “sliced and wrapped free”
    Foster Farms chicken thighs or drumsticks OR whole chickens, 88¢/lb
    Kroger 85/15 ground turkey, 1 lb pkg, $2.99
    Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
    Fry's milk, gallons, $1.99
    Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
    Sargento cheeses, 6-8 oz shingle slices, 2/$6
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 5 oz cans, 2/$1
    Bumble Bee solid or chunk white tuna, 4/$5
    Kroger tomatoes or variety beans, 14-15 oz cans, 2/$1
    Ragu pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, $1.77
    Birds Eye “SteamFresh” veggies, 10-16 oz bags, 2/$5
    Smart Ones frozen entrees, 5/$10
    Whole cantaloupes, AZ grown, 87¢ ea
    Mini seedless watermelons, AZ grown, 2/$3
    Honeydew melons, AZ grown, 2/$4
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, 99¢/lb
    Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99
    Red cherries, $3.99
    Sweet corn, 2/99¢
    NatureSweet “Cherub” tomatoes, AZ grown, 10 oz boxes, 2/$4
    “Mini peeled” carrots, 1 lb bag, 99¢/lb
    Mini sweet peppers, 1 lb bag, $1.99
    Organic cherry tomatoes, dry pint, 2/$6
    Organic kale, 99¢/bunch
    Red onions, 99¢/lb
    Green bell peppers, 59¢ ea


Safeway:

    Beef chuck roast, boneless, $2.99/lb (steaks 50¢/lb higher)
    80/20 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
    “All natural” assorted pork loin chops, bone in, $3.99/lb
    Pork shoulder, whole in bag, $2.49/lb
    Sanderson Farms whole chickens, 99¢/lb
    Lucerne cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk, $2.69
    Lucerne cheeses, 2 lb chunk, $7.99
    Sargento cheeses, 8 oz shreds, 2/$6
    Prego pasta sauces, 14-24 oz jars, $1.79
    La Victoria salsa, 16 oz jars, 2/$5
    Healthy Choice “Bakes” frozen entrees, $1.99
    Lean Cuisine “Simple Favorites”, $1.99
    Red seedless grapes, 99¢/lb
    “Dulcinea” mini seedless watermelons, $2.99
    Gala or Fuji apples, $1.99/lb
    Sweet corn, 6/$2
    Organic vine tomatoes, AZ grown, $2.99/lb
    Large Hass avocados, 2/$3
    Cucumbers, 2/$1
    Red or yellow bell peppers, 2/$3
    NatureSweet “Cherub” tomatoes, 10 oz boxes, $2.99
    Heirloom tomatoes, $3.49/lb, save the seeds for replanting


Sprouts:

    Beef ribeye steak, bone in, $8.99/lb
    Beef chuck roast or steak, boneless, $5.49/lb
    Assorted (“2 center and 2 end”) pork chops, bone in, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast/thighs/tenders, $2.99/lb
    Chicken drums or leg quarters, bone in, value pack, 99¢/lb
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    Halibut fillets, wild caught, 6 oz portions, $7.99 ea
    Cod fillets, wild caught,  $7.99/lb
    Red seedless grapes, 88¢/lb
    Yellow nectarines, 88¢/lb
    Red or yellow mangos, 2/$1
    Cantaloupes, 88¢ ea
    Navel oranges, 88¢/lb
    Organic Bartlett pears, 2 lbs/$3
    Mini seedless watermelons, 2/$5
    Whole honeydew melons, 2/$5
    Roma or beefsteak tomatoes, 88¢/lb
    Organic vine tomatoes, $1.98/lb
    Red bell peppers, 2/$1
    Yellow or orange bell peppers, 98¢ ea
    Eggplant, 98¢ ea
    Cucumbers, 2/$1