Bargain guide, week beginning April 18th

From Fooducate, an analysis of hunger satisfaction in the brain. Turns out – as though we hadn't known this for years – that solid foods are more satiating than beverages, even smoothies; and eating large quantities of low-energy foods is more satisfying than eating small amounts of high-energy foods. Surprise. Chow.com has a collection of “36 Vegetarian Recipes for Dinner”, which demonstrates that vegetarian dishes can be healthy and lower in Points than meat dishes, or not. (Witness the chiles rellenos, described as “oozy”.) Also, a set of “Flavorful and Easy Chicken Breast Recipes” – it's good to have options for the standard WW protein.

At Summer Tomato, a very good article on how to slow your eating down (all the standard tips – put your fork down between bites, eliminate distractions such as TV, chew your food – but it's handy to have them all in one spot and will be even easier if one applies them), and another on “6 Ways Eating Out Causes Overeating (And How To Stop It)”.

Yoni Freedhoff at Weighty Matters posts on the latest wedding-preparation fad: “the pre-wedding day feeding tube diet”. His ire is directed not at the women who are desperate enough to submit to this procedure, nor even (primarily) at “our screwed up societal ideals of beauty”, but at the doctors who are putting their patients at “unnecessary risk of infections, perforations, and cardiac risks”.

And Marion Nestle has a very good entry on “Do We Need Better Advice About Eating Well?”: “People are bombarded with conflicting advice, much of it from sources with a vested interest in selling particular foods, supplements or diet plans. Nutrition studies tend to focus on single nutrients, making their results difficult to apply to real diets. No wonder people have a hard time knowing what or whom to believe.”

This Friday, the 20th, is National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day – and, as well, National Lima Bean Respect Day. In honor of which I append to this handout a c. 1940 recipe for “Baked Lima and Salmon Loaf”, a perfect example of why lima beans are not respected, but with a PointsPlus count of 5. The 23rd is Picnic Day, a good time to celebrate it before the heat sets in.

April 18th: National Animal Cracker Day
April 19th: Amaretto Day, National Garlic Day
April 20th: Food Day, National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day, National Lima Bean Respect Day
April 21st: National Chocolate Covered Cashew Truffle Day
April 22nd: National Jelly Bean Day (Not to be confused with Jump for Jelly Beans Day, which is in July.)
April 23rd: National Picnic Day, National Cherry Cheesecake Day
April 24th: National Pigs-In-A-Blanket Day
April 25th: National Zucchini Bread Day

And don't forget, there's a special deal on facials and hair maintenance at the International Academy of Hair Design! 4812 S. Mill Avenue in Tempe, (480) 964-8675.


Albertson's:

93/7 ground beef, $2.97/lb
Beef t-bone or bone-in ribeye steaks, family pack, $7.99/lb
Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, family pack, $4.99/lb
Pork sirloin chops, boneless, family pack, $1.99/lb
Cook's ham steaks, bone in, $3.49/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
Jennie-O turkey patties, 3 lb frozen pkg, $7.99
Tilapia or Swai fillets, $2.99
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
Yoplait yogurts incl. Light, 10/$5
Albertson's eggs, AA large, 18 ct, $1.99
Tillamook cheeses, 8 oz chunk/shreds/shingle slices, $2.99
Deli: All Deitz & Watson fresh-sliced meats & cheeses, $7.99/lb
Shannon's Deli roast beef/corned beef/Italian beef/beef pastrami, $6.99/lb
Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $4.99/lb
USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
Stella natural Swiss/baby Swiss/Provolone/Muenster, $5.99/lb
Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 10/$10
Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, $1.29
Wild Harvest organic pasta sauces, 24 oz jars, 2/$5
Wild Harvest organic pasta, 12 oz boxes, 2/$3
Wild Harvest organic tomatoes, 14 oz cans, $1.49
Wild Harvest organic variety (non-baked) beans, 15 oz cans, 4/$5
Albertson's fruit, 29-30 oz cans, $1.88
Albertson's frozen veg, 14-16 oz bags, 10/$10
PictSweet cut corn, 28 oz bag, 2/$5
Healthy Choice steam-bag (large) entrees, 5/$10
Strawberries, 3 lb box, $2.99 (limit 2)
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Fuji apples, $1.49/lb
Cut up “fruit medley”, 36 oz container, $5.99
Cut up cantaloupe, 24 oz container, $3.99
Cut up seedless watermelon, 2 lb bowl, $3.99
Hot house tomatoes, $1.49/lb
Sweet corn, 4 pk, $2.99
Red bell peppers, $1 ea
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 99¢ ea
Fresh Express bag salads, 2/$4


Bashas':

Beef top round or London broil roast, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef crossrib roast, $3.99/lb
Beef ground round, fat content not listed, $2.99/lb
Bashas' boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.88/lb
Dover Sole fillets, $5.99/lb “weather permitting”
Challenge butter, $2.69
Food Club cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk/shreds/string, $3.88
Libby's vegetables, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢
Bertolli olive oil, 25 oz bottles, $5.99
PictSweet frozen veg, 28 oz bags, 2/$5
Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 6-12 ct, $2.88
Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1.27
Whole seedless watermelons, $2.97 ea
Navel oranges, 97¢/lb
Whole pineapples, $1.97 ea
Bosc pears, 97¢/lb
Organic Bartlett pears, $1.39/lb
Large or Roma tomatoes, 97¢/lb
Organic vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR iceberg, 97¢ ea
Full Circle organic box salads, 20 oz, 2/$6
Artichokes, $1.97


Food City:

Beef chuck steaks or roast, boneless, value pack, $2.48/lb
Sirloin cut pork chops, boneless, value pack, $1.99/lb
Chicken breast, bone in, 88¢/lb
Tilapia fillets, $2.49/lb
Del Monte pasta sauce, 25 oz cans, 99¢
Iceberg, 4/99¢
Green bell peppers, 6/99¢
Cabbage, 3 lbs/99¢


Fry's:

Beef shoulder “flat iron” steak, boneless, $6.99/lb
Beef London broil, boneless, $4.79/lb
Pork half loin, boneless, $1.97/lb, sliced free
Boneless skinless chicken breast or tenderloins, $1.88/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, $5.99/lb
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
Oroweat wide-pan bread, 24 oz loaves, OR sandwich thins, buy 1 get 1 free
Special K or Nutri-Grain bars, 5-10 ct, $2.49
Kroger tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 69¢
Green Giant frozen veg, 7-10 oz boxes, 10/$10
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees$1.97
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 4/$5
Pink Lady or Jazz apples, 99¢/lb
Red or Ataulfo mangos, 2/99¢
Seedless watermelons, $4.99 ea
Vine tomatoes, AZ grown, 88¢/lb
Grape tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$5
Vidalia onions, 79¢/lb
“Mini peeled” carrots, AZ grown, 1 lb bag, $1


Safeway:

Beef chuck pot roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
Beef bottom round steak, boneless, thin cut, $3.99/lb
Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
93/7 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
Pork tenderloin, boneless, whole in bag, $4.79/lb
Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, value pack, 99¢/lb
Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $8.99/lb
Lucerne cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$4
Open Nature wide pan breads, 24 oz loaves, 2/$5
Hunt's tomatoes or tomato sauce, 14-15 oz cans, 4/$5
Hunt's pasta sauce, 24 oz cans, $1.35
Safeway vegetables, 14-15 oz cans, 59¢
Del Monte fruit, 14-15 oz cans, 4/$5
Ro*tel tomatoes, 99¢
Green Giant frozen veg, 7-10 oz boxes, 2/$4
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$10
Whole seedless watermelons, $4.99 ea
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Kiwifruit, 3/$1
Gala or Red Delicious apples, $1.29/lb
Sweet corn, white, 3/$1
Artichokes, $2.49


Smart & Final:

Beef tri tip roast, boneless, $3.99
First Street chicken thighs/drumsticks, 99¢/lb
First Street cheeses, 2 lb chunk, $4.99
First Street milk, gallons, $1.59 (must buy 2)
Navel oranges, 5 lb pkg, $1.99
Salad tomatoes, 2 lbs/$1


Sprouts:

Beef rump roast or stew meat, boneless, $3.99/lb
Pork loin chops OR rack of pork, bone in, $2.99/lb
Ground chicken/pork/chicken breast, $2.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken thighs, value pack, $1.77/lb
Tilapia fillets, $6.99/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$4
Tomatoes, 77¢/lb
Whole seedless watermelons, 4/$5
Fuji or Gala apples, 99¢/lb
Bosc or D'Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
Organic Bartlett pears, $1.29/lb
Red mangos, 77¢ ea
Eggplant, 88¢ ea
Summer squashes, grey/yellow/Italian, 88¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea
Organic heirloom tomatoes, 22 oz pkg, $3.99
Grape tomatoes, dry pint, $1.99

====================


BAKED LIMA and SALMON LOAF

(From Good Housekeeping, March 1940. Actually printed in an ad for Seaside lima beans.)

3 cups cooked, dried limas
2 cups soft bread crumbs
1 cup flaked canned salmon
1/2 cup canned tomatoes
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp chopped pimiento
1/4 cup buttered crumbs

Mash limas and combine with all ingredients except buttered crumbs. Place in greased 5 1/2" x 7" loaf pan and sprinkle with buttered crumbs. Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) about 45 minutes. Serves 8.

Bargain guide, week beginning April 11th

Occasional disclaimer: Not remotely an official Weight Watchers publication.

I rather hope Weight Watchers sues Vogue and Dara-Lynn Weiss for trademark infringement.

At Fooducate, an informative piece on exactly what an “incomplete protein” is, and a nice article on superfoods, superfruits, and “how clever marketing has got us buying exotic fruits such as goji berries, pomegranates, mangosteens, sea buckthorn, and jujube fruit, to name a few. All in the name of health.”

Chow.com has a collection of recipes to deal with your leftover Easter whatever – be it ham, lamb, or hardboiled eggs; Serious Eats has a Serious List of words never again to be uttered or printed in connection with food (including “farm fresh”, “decadent”, “toothsome”, “medley”, “authentic”, and “____ goodness” – it's not “buttery goodness”, they point out, it's just butter).

Summer Tomato has time-saving kitchen tips (boil the potatoes, then peel them; chill the wine quickly by putting the bottle in ice-water with a handful of salt; peel a hardboiled egg quickly by blowing it out of the shell, although frankly I'll pass on that one). Yoni Freedhoff, at Weighty Matters, reviews a new exercise-and-role-playing iPhone app called Zombies, Run! – for $7.99 (the price of a glossy magazine or a fast-food combo, Freedhoff points out) you get to run, listen to music, and escape hordes of the walking undead.

I find it amusing that this year, National Glazed Spiral Ham Day comes exactly one week after Easter. The 16th is Day of the Mushroom, and also National Eggs Benedict Day – some sauteed mushrooms might not go amiss in your Eggs Benedict. The day after is National Cheese Ball Day, and in its honor I present Chow.com's twelve-layer, five-pound Cheese Ball As Big As A Baby's Head. (The actual title is “Turducken of Cheese Balls”.)

April 11th: National Cheese Fondue Day
April 12th: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, National Licorice Day
April 13th: National Peach Cobbler Day
April 14th: National Pecan Day
April 15th: National Glazed Spiral Ham Day; Fordicidia (Roman festival to honor Ceres, goddess of agriculture and grain crops)
April 16th: Day of the Mushroom, National Eggs Benedict Day; feast of St. Drogo, patron saint of coffee house keepers, and of St. Marcus of Orkney, patron of fishmongers; 1956, first broadcast of the Great I Love Lucy Grape Stomp
April 17th: Healthy Kids Day, National Cheese Ball Day
April 18th: National Animal Cracker Day

And here's a link to the XKCD cartoon I printed in last week's handout.


Albertson's:

Beef ribeye steak, bone in, family pack, $4.77/lb
Beef crossrib roast OR London broil, boneless, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef crossrib steaks, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
85-15 ground beef, $2.99/lb
Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, $2.79/lb
Sanderson Farms chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters/whole fryers, 99¢/lb
Jennie-O ground turkey, 85/15, 1.25 lb pkg, $3.69
Cod/rockfish/Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.57
Deli: Jennie-O “honey smoked” or “oven brown” turkey, $5.99/lb
Margherita salami or pepperoni, $5.99/lb
USA Gold Virginia ham, $3.99/lb
Deli Fresh Provolone/pepperjack/Muenster/mild Cheddar cheeses, $5.99/lb
Nature Valley or Fiber One bars, 5-6 ct, $2.99
Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, $1
Hunt's pasta sauce, 24 oz cans, $1
Ro*Tel tomatoes, $1
Hunt's diced tomatoes OR tomato sauce, 14-15 oz cans, $1
Smart Ones frozen entrees, 4/$9
Weight Watchers ice-cream singles, $1
Mangos, 2/$1
Navel Oranges, 99¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1
Red Delicious apples, 99¢/lb
Cut up cantaloupe, 24 oz bowl, $3.99
Cut up strawberries, 20 oz bowl, $3.99
Vine tomatoes, 14 oz pkg, 2/$5
Sweet corn, 5/$1
Fresh Express bag salads, 99¢
Live Gourmet butter lettuce, 2/$4


Bashas':

Beef top sirloin steaks, value pack, $6.99/lb
Beef crossrib roast, boneless, $4.49/lb
Ground beef chuck, value pack, $2.99/lb
Farmland entire damn pork loin, bone in, $1.17/lb
Rib half, sliced, $1.47/lb
Loin half, sliced, $1.57/lb
Bashas' chicken breast, bone in, 97¢/lb
Bashas chicken leg quarters, 97¢/lb
Cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
Shamrock Farms sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, $1.49
Sargento cheeses, 5-8 oz shreds, 2/$4
Nature's Own wide-pan bread, 24 oz loaves, 2/$4
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain or Fiber Plus bars, 2/$5
Food Club pasta, 2 lb pkg, 2/$4
Prego pasta sauces, 24 oz jars, 2/$4
Bush's variety (non-baked) beans, 88¢
Ranch Style beans, 88¢/lb
Flav-R-Pac “premium” frozen veg, 14-16 oz bags, 5/$10
Bananas, 33¢/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Anjou or Bosc pears, 99¢/lb
Vine tomatoes, 77¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 97¢ ea
Roma or large slicing tomatoes, 99¢/lb
Cucumbers, 2/$1
Bashas' box salads, 5-12 oz, $1.99
Organic kale, green or red, $1.99



Food City:

Beef crossrib steak (value pack) or roast, boneless, $2.79/lb
Beef stew meat, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb
Sirloin cut pork chops, bone in, value pack, $1.29/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.59/lb
Banquet cheeses, 1 lb block or half-round, $3.99
Pagasa pasta, 7 oz pkg, 5/$1
Food Club pasta, 13-16 oz pkg, 99¢
Mazola cooking spray, 5 oz cans, $1.19
Food Club fruit, 15 oz cans, 99¢
Food Club tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 77¢
Food Club salsa, 16 oz jars, 2/$3
Watermelon, 5 lbs/$1
Anjou pears, 2 lbs/$1
Pink grapefruit, 2/99¢
Roma tomatoes, 4 lbs/$1
Brown onions, 6 lbs/96¢
Green bell peppers, 4/99¢
Mexican grey squash, 2 lbs/98¢


Fry's:

Beef t-bone steaks, buy 1 get 1 free
Tyson beef tri tips, boneless, $7.99/lb
Pork loin chops, boneless, $6.99/lb
Foster Farms whole chickens, 77¢/lb
Foster Farms drums/thighs/bone-in breast, $1.69/lb
Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
All cooked or raw shrimp, 25% off
Fry's milk, half gallons only, buy 1 get 1 free
Kroger cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, 2/$4
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $3.29
Kraft or Sargento cheeses, 5-8 oz chunk or shreds, 2/$4
Hunt's pasta sauces, 24-26 oz cans, 89¢
Kroger variety beans, 15 oz cans, 58¢
Bush's baked beans, 21-28 oz cans, $1.88
Nutri-Grain cereal bars, 6 ct, $2.69
Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 6-12 ct, $3.99
Healthy Choice frozen entrees, $1.97
Ambrosia/Gala/Pink Lady apples, 88¢/lb
Mini seedless watermelons, 2/$3
Navel oranges OR Minneola tangelos, $1/lb
Mangos, 2/$1
Pears: Red, Bosc, d'Anjou, $1/lb
Cantaloupes, $1.99
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Blackberries, 6 oz box, 2/$5
Red or yellow bell peppers, 88¢/lb
Broccoli OR cauliflower, $1/lb
Nature Sweet cherry tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$4
Sweet yellow onions, 2 lbs/$1


Safeway:

Beef London broil, boneless, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef New York strip steak, bone in, $7.99/lb
Beef chuck or crossrib steak, boneless, thin cut, $3.99/lb
90/10 ground beef, buy 1 get 1 free
Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, buy 1 get 1 free
Pork sirloin chops, boneless, $2.49/lb
Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breast, buy 1 get 1 free
Sanderson Farms chicken thighs or drumsticks, bone in, $1.69/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
Haddock fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
Kraft cheeses, 6-12 oz shreds or singles OR 7-8 oz “natural slices”, buy 1 get 1 free
Laughing Cow cheese wedges incl. Light, 12 oz value pack, buy 1 get 1 free
Oroweat wide-pan bread (24 oz loaves) or sandwich thins, buy 1 get 1 free
Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, buy 1 get 1 free
Mazzetta pasta sauces, 24-25 oz jars, buy 1 get 1 free
Chicken of the Sea solid white tuna, 4/$5
Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, 4-12 ct, buy 1 get 1 free
O Organics frozen veg, 1 lb bags, buy 1 get 1 free
Mangos, 10/$10
Roma tomatoes, 10 lbs/$10
Zucchini or yellow squash, 10 lbs/$1
Iceberg, 10/$10
Bell peppers, any color in which they naturally occur except purple, 10/$10
Fresh Express bag salads, buy 1 get 1 free
Nature Sweet “Sunburst” or “Cherub” tomatoes, 10 oz box, buy 1 get 1 free


Smart & Final:

Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $3.69/lb
Pork tenderloin, boneless, $3.69/lb
First Street whole chickens, twin pack, 99¢/lb
First Street ground turkey, 3 lb pkg, $5.97/lb ($1.99/lb)
First Street wide-pan bread, 24 oz loaves, $1.99
Prego pasta sauces, 67 oz jars, $3.99
Strawberries, 4 lb flat, $4.99 (make jam, or freeze)
Seedless red grapes, 2 lb pkg, $2.99
Roma tomatoes, 2 lbs/$1

Sprouts:

Beef London broil, $3.99/lb
Beef for stew, “extra lean”, $3.99/lb
New York strip steaks, boneless, $9.99/lb
85/15 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $2.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, $4.99/lb
Sprouts pasta sauce, 24 oz jars, 2/$5
Sprouts frozen fruit, 12 oz bags, 2/$6
Tandoor Chef frozen entrees, $2.99
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 99¢/lb <== Best price
Braeburn or Pink Lady apples, 88¢/lb
Bosc or D'Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
Organic Pink Lady apples, 3 lb bag, $2.99
Grapefruit, 2/$1
Navel oranges, 2 lbs/$1
Yellow mangos, 2/$1
Organic bartlett pears, $1.29/lb
Organic kiwifruit, 1 lb bag, $1.99
Organic Red Delicious apples, 99¢/lb
Eggplant, 88¢ ea
Summer squashes, 88¢/lb
Red/yellow/orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea
Green bell peppers, 3/$1
Cucumbers, 3/$1
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
Broccoli crowns, 99¢/lb
Grape tomatoes, dry pint, 4/$5
Artichokes, 2/$3
Organic kale, $1.29/bunch

Bargain guide, week beginning April 4th

Sorry this week's flyer is short: half the store flyers never showed up.

Biggest deals and promotions this week: ham, lamb, eggs, and anything kosher-for-Passover. Turkeys are promoted but not heavily discounted, I fear. This is also that rare period when it's possible to find medium and even small eggs in supermarkets if for some reason you want them (I can't think why except for coloring: most recipes that call for eggs require large or better).

This past Sunday, Fooducate published an April Fool's story about how the cola companies were supposedly going to reduce the sugar content of their products by 30%. Well, it turns out Pepsi is actually bringing out a new product, Pepsi Next, which has “60% less sugar”. It still has 4 teaspoons of sugar in every 12-ounce can, and artificial sweeteners.

Fooducate also has a recipe for “mini apple crisp” with a PointsPlus count per serving of 1, or 3 for the entire recipe! Chow.com has a video on making your own marshmallow chicks, if for some inexplicable reason you want to. Oh, and a few recipes for Scotch eggs, which are tasty but extraordinarily Points-unfriendly, more's the pity.

Serious Eats has an article on “favorite cooking hacks”, including hotel paninis (the hotel room doesn't have a panini press, so use the iron!) and using a beer cooler as a sous-vide cooker, as well as a couple of pages on Easter eggs, including natural dyes, making them look like Chinese tea eggs, and making them heart shaped. Heart shaped eggs.

Welcome to April, which is National Food Month. Perhaps someone thinks food doesn't occur the rest the year? It's also National BLT Month and National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month, as well as – yum! – National Garlic Month. This is National Bake Week, and the day after tomorrow being Good Friday is National Hot Cross Buns Day. Friday is also Fresh Tomato Day and the 58th anniversary of the frozen TV dinner. Saturday is the birthday (1860) of Will Keith Kellogg – the cereal Kellogg, not the “Road to Wellville” Kellogg.

April 4th: Cordon Bleu Day
April 5th: National Caramel Day, National Dandelion Day
April 6th: National Caramel Corn Day, Fresh Tomato Day; Teflon patented, 1938; TV Dinners released, 1954 (roast turkey and dressing only)
April 7th: Coffee Cake Day
April 8th: National Empanada Day
April 9th: Chinese Almond Cookie Day
April 10th: National Cinnamon Croissant Day
April 11th: National Cheese Fondue Day


Albertson's:

Beef ribeye or New York roasts, bone in, $4.67/lb
Hormel spiral sliced ham, bone in, $1.47/lb
Cook's ham, bone in, shank portion, $1.29/lb (butt portion 10¢ higher)
Albertson's sliced quarter ham, boneless, $3.99/lb
Hormel “Cure 81” boneless ham, $4.99/lb
Cook's ham slices, bone in, $3.49/lb
Pork shoulder roast, bone in, $1.99/lb
Pork roast, boneless, rolled and tied, $3.99/lb
Leg of lamb, $6.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.88/lb
Honeysuckle White frozen turkey, 10-22 lb, $1.29/lb
Honeysuckle White fresh turkey, 12-14 lb, $1.59/lb
Honeysuckle White frozen turkey breast, $1.77/lb
Alaskan halibut fillet portions, wild caught, 5 oz each, $6.99
Barramundi fillet portions, 5 oz each, $2.99
Rockfish OR Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
Catfish fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
Challenge butter, $1.99
Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, $2.49
Philadelphia cream cheese, 8 oz brick, 3/$5
Deli: All Dietz & Watson meats and cheeses, $7.99/lb
Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $4.99/lb
USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
Deli Fresh Muenster/pepperjack/Provolone cheeses, $4.99/lb
Deli Fresh corned beef or beef pastrami, $4.99/lb
Sara Lee wide-pan bread, 24 oz loaves, $1.99
Libby's veg, 14-15 ounce cans, 4/$3
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$10
PictSweet frozen veg, 14-16 oz bags, 77¢
Strawberries, 3 lb box, $2.99
Whole pineapples, 99¢/lb
Gala or Granny Smith apples, $1.49/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
Cut up seedless watermelon, 2 lb bowl, $3.99/lb
Cut up pineapple, 20 oz bowl, $3.99
Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
Earthbound Farms organic box salads, 1 lb, $4.99
Fresh Express bag salads, 4-12 oz, 2/$5
Broccoli crowns OR cauliflower, 99¢/lb


Bashas':

Beef tenderloin, boneless, whole in bag, $6.99/lb through Sunday only
Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $4.59/lb through Sunday only
Beef bottom round steak, value pack, $3.99/lb
Ground beef round, value pack, $2.47/lb
Cook's smoked ham shank, bone in, 95¢/lb
Cook's butt portion ham, bone in, $1.29/lb
Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, 95¢/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.79/lb
Rainbow trout fillets, $6.99/lb
Philadelphia cream cheese, 8 oz bricks, 3/$5
Food Club butter, $1.99
Daisy sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tub, $1.49
Food Club pasta, 13-16 oz pkg, 99¢
Del Monte veg, 13-15 oz cans, 10/$10
Dole OR Food Club fruit, 13-15 oz cans, 10/$10
Flav-R-Pac frozen veg, 12-16 oz bags, 77¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1.27
Whole pineapples, 97¢ ea
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Organic mangos, $1.49
Organic Bartlett pears, $1.49/lb
Vine tomatoes, 97¢/lb
Organic vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb
Bashas' box salads, 5-12 oz, 2/$5
Asparagus, $2.97/lb
Organic green kale, $1.99 ea


Fry's:

Beef New York strip steaks, bone in, family pack, $4.67/lb (roast, $4.97/lb)
Beef sirloin tip roast or steak, boneless, $4.29/lb
Cook's half ham OR spiral-sliced ham, bone in, $1.47/lb
Hormel “Cure 81” spiral sliced ham, bone in, $2.69/lb
Private Selection spiral-sliced half hams, $2.49/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.97/lb
Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
Kroger butter, $1.99
Private Selection organic butter, $3.99
Simple Truth cage-free eggs, AA large, dozens, brown or white, 2/$5
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
Philadelphia cream cheese, 8 oz blocks, 10/$10
American Beauty pasta, 12-16 oz pkg, 10/$10
Kroger veg, 14-15 oz cans, 67¢
Ro*Tel tomatoes, 94¢
Kroger fruit, 15 oz cans, 10/$10
Hunt's pasta sauces, 24-26 oz cans, 10/$10
Healthy Choice frozen entrees, $1.97
Birds Eye veggies, 10-12 oz pkg, 10/$10
Kroger frozen veggies, 9-12 oz bags, 88¢
Gala/Granny Smith/Jazz/Pink Lady, 99¢/lb
Mangos, 99¢ ea
Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $2.49/lb
Mini seedless watermelons, 2/$5
Whole or cored pineapples, $1.98/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Broccoli OR cauliflower, 78¢/lb
Asparagus, 98¢/lb
Vine tomatoes, $1.98/lb


Safeway:

Beef ribeye roast, bone in, $4.99/lb
Beef ribeye steaks, bone in, value pack, $5.99/lb
Beef bottom round roast, $3.89/lb
Safeway smoked half ham, shank end, bone in, 97¢/lb (rump end, $1.17/lb)
Safeway spiral-sliced whole or half ham, bone in, $1.99/lb
Pork loin, boneless, whole in bag, $1.99/lb
Open Nature semi-boneless leg of lamb, $7.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
Lucerne cheeses, 2 lb chunk or shreds, $5.99
Strawberries, 3 lb box, $3.77/lb
Asparagus, $2.99/lb
Broccoli OR cauliflower, $1.49/lb
Radishes OR green onions, 2 bunches/$1
Green Line fresh green beans, 12 oz bag, buy 1 get 1 free

Bargain guide, week beginning March 28th

After mentioning “pink slime” last week only to point out that I was not mentioning it, this week I mention it to announce that multiple grocery chains are discontinuing use of it, including Wal-Mart, Albertson's, Safeway, and Fry's. (Bashas' never used it.)

At Chow.com we have a set of kosher-for-Passover breakfast recipes including yummy matza brei and a startling but delicious-looking smoked salmon hash, and another of Easter leg-of-lamb recipes including one so refreshingly simple it should be labeled “Leg of Lamb for People Who Have Never Made Leg of Lamb”. Also just in time for Easter, a video on how to make a perfect hard-boiled egg. At Serious Eats – what is it with cooking blogs and kale this year? – there's a recipe for kale quiche; at Summer Tomato, some suggestions on how to overcome texture-based food aversions.

Wow – per Marion Nestle, citing the CDC, 90% of Americans consume too much salt. Only 10% of salt is added at the table; 65% comes from retail processed foods, including 44% from ten foods: “breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, poultry, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pasta dishes, meat dishes, and snacks”.

This Saturday, the 31st, is Tater Day (not to be confused with National Potato Day which was in October) and Oranges and Lemons Day. Next Monday, being the first Monday in April, is the beginning of National Bake Week. And next Monday, April 2nd, is National Peanut Butter and Jelly 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: Tater Day, Oranges and Lemons Day, National Clams on the Half Shell Day
April 1st: National Sourdough Bread Day
April 2nd: National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day; 1862, Richmond Bread Riot
April 3rd: National Chocolate Mousse Day
April 4th: National Cordon Bleu Day



Albertson's:

Beef petite sirloin steaks, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
Beef bottom round roast OR London broil, boneless, $3.99/lb
Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, family pack, $2.49/lb
Pork sirloin chops, boneless, $1.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $4.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
Tilapia fillets, 1 lb IQF bag, $7.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
Catfish OR Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
Rockfish OR Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
Albertson's eggs, AA large, dozens, 99¢
Albertson's cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $2.29/lb
Sargento cheeses, 5-8 oz shreds, 2/$5
Deli: Shannon's Deli roast beef/Italian beef, $6.99/lb
Stella Swiss cheese, $6.99/lb
Jennie-O turkey pastrami OR hickory smoked turkey breast, $3.99/lb
Eckrich “super lean” ham, $3.99/lb
Al Fresco chicken sausage, 12 oz pkg, $3.99
Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 79¢
Smart Ones frozen entrees, 5/$10
Red seedless grapes, 69¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Cut up mixed fruit, 36 oz bowl, $5.99/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Gala apples, $1.49/lb
Cantaloupes, 2/$4
Vine tomatoes, 14 oz pkg, 2/$5
Fresh Express bag salads, 2$5
Red/orange/yellow bell peppers, $1 ea


Bashas':

Ground beef chuck, value pack, $2.27/lb
Beef Black Angus ribeye steaks, boneless, $9.99/lb
Beef top sirloin steaks, value pack, $5.99/lb
Beef crossrib roast, $4.49/lb
Center cut pork chops, value pack, $3.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.67/lb
Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $4.99/lb
Haddock fillets, $4.99/lb
Bashas' milk, gallons, $1.57
Shamrock Farms cottage cheese, 24 oz tub, $3.49
Daisy cottage cheese incl. Light, 16 oz tub, $2.29/lb
Daisy sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tub, 2/$4
Food Club cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/cubes, $1.88
Nature's Own bread, 20 oz long loaves, $1.99
Pompeian olive oil, 16 oz bottles, $3.99
Betty Crocker “80Cal” potatoes, 10/$10
Gorton's “Grilled Fillets”, $3.99
Healthy Choice frozen entrees, 2/$5
Weight Watchers ice-cream novelties, $3.99
Green or red seedless grapes, $2.49/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Whole pineapples, $2.99 ea
Bosc or Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
Bananas, 57¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 99¢ ea
Organic vine tomatoes, $2.99/lb


Food City:

Beef crossrib steaks (value pack) or roast, boneless, $2.69/lb
Beef stew meat, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb
Sirloin cut pork chops, bone in, value pack, 99¢/lb
Whole frying chickens, 59¢/lb
Pollock fillets, $1.99/lb
Tina's burritos, 3-4 oz, 3/$1
Navel oranges, 6 lbs/96¢
Bosc pears, 2 lbs/98¢
Fry's:

Beef top round/eye round/chuck/sirloin tip/bottom round roasts, buy 1 get 1 free
Center cut pork loin chops, bone in, family pack, $2.89/lb
Kroger Value boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
Foster Farms whole chickens, 98¢/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, $6.99/lb
Kroger Value tilapia fillets, 2.5 lb IQF bag, $9.99
Land O Lakes OR Challenge butter, $2.99
Kroger Greek yogurt, 6 oz, 5/$4
Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz shreds or slices, $1.78
Fry's eggs, AA large, dozens, 98¢
PowerBars, 10/$10
Gatorade, 32 oz bottles, 88¢
Propel flavored water, 24 oz bottles, 88¢
Vitaminwater flavored water, 20 oz bottles, 4/$5
SoBe beverages, 20 oz bottles, 88¢
Ro*Tel tomatoes, 88¢
Hunt's pasta sauces, 24-26 oz cans, 88¢
American Beauty pasta, 1 lb pkg, 88¢
Quaker “Quakes” chips, 3 oz bags, 10/$10
PopChips, 3 oz bags, 2/$4
Healthy Choice frozen entrees, $2.39
Cantaloupes, 99¢ ea
Jazz or Gala apples, 88¢/lb
D'Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
Whole or cored pineapples, $1.98
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Blackberries, 6 oz box, 2/$5
Grape tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$4
Dole bag salads, 10/$10
Artichokes, 2/$4


Safeway:

Beef crossrib roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
Beef London broil, $4.99/lb
93/7 ground beef, value pack, $3.99/lb
Beef New York strip steak, bone in, value pack, $4.99/lb
Pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
Pork sirloin chops, boneless, value pack, $1.49/lb
Chicken leg quarters, 10 lb IQF bag, $7.49 (75¢/lb)
Jennie-O ground turkey breast, 20 oz pkg, $4.99
Swai fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
Alaskan cod fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
Dannon “Oikos” Greek yogurt, 10/$10
Yoplait yogurt, 10/$6
Lucerne cheeses, 16 oz chunk or snacks, $3.49
Challenge butter, $2.99
Del Monte tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 10/$10
Safeway Select pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, 2/$4
Safeway pasta, 12-16 oz pkg, 10/$10
Green or red seedless grapes, $1.28/lb
Apples: Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, 97¢/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$6
Vine tomatoes, AZ grown, $2.49/lb
Asparagus, $2.99/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, AZ grown, 99¢ ea


Smart & Final:

Beef New York steaks, boneless, $5.99/lb
Farmer John spiral sliced ham, half or whole, bone in, $1.59/lb
First Street boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.97/lb
Navel oranges, 5 lb bag, $1.99
Apples: Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, 8 ct, $2.99/lb


Sprouts:

Spiral sliced ham, $1.97/l¢/lb
Pork sirloin roast or chops, $2.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $2.97/lb
Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $7.99/lb
Navel oranges, 49¢/lb
“Rio Red” grapefruit, 49¢ ea
Blackberries, 6 oz box, 99¢
Fuji or Gala apples, 99¢/lb
D'Anjou or Comice pears, 99¢/lb
Organic Valencia oranges, 4 lb bag, 2/$5
Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
Organic Cameo apples, 99¢/lb
Vine tomatoes, 4 lbs/$5
Romaine hearts, 3 pk, 4/$5
Eggplant, 99¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
Red bell peppers, 49¢ ea
Summer squashes, grey/yellow/Italian, 99¢/lb

Bargain guide, week beginning March 21st

A very interesting article at Fooducate: researchers at the Mayo Clinic did a small study – 17 adults over the course of eight nights, divided into two groups. Both groups' activity and food intake were monitored, and one group slept eighty minutes longer than the other. Both groups expended the same amount of energy – but the people in the sleep-deprived group each consumed an average of 549 calories more per day. They're careful to point out that this was only a single and very small project, but it's worth giving some thought. (One in four American adults sleeps less than six hours per night.)

Also per Fooducate, another study has found that buying foods in bulk is substantially cheaper – across the board, you'd save 89% by buying in bulk. Serious Eats has an entirely regrettable slideshow from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: six fried things that in combination could turn me off to food entirely. (Batter-fried red velvet cake. Curly-fries loaf. Sauerkraut puppies.) Summer Tomato has a list of healthy, non-fattening carbs, including fruit, beans, lentils, oats, quinoa, and whatever the hell “farro” may be. Yoni Freedhoff, at Weighty Matters, snarks on the recent eat-red-meat-and-DIE study: “ … this study would suggest that you'll die ever so slightly younger if you eat red meat each and every day of the week, and even younger still if you eat processed red meat each and every day of the week. Did you catch the caveat of each and every day of the week?”

It's still Lent and still National Frozen Food Month, which means major deals on fish, frozen foods, and especially frozen fish. Tomorrow's National Coq au Vin Day (chicken, mushrooms, garlic, and wine, how can you go wrong?) and, let us celebrate this every day, World Water Day. The 26th is National Make-Up-Your-Own-Holiday Day: I hereby declare it to be Do Not Waste Points Day. (If you're going to use up your Points on, say, a cheeseburger, that is your privilege; but do not waste them on a cheap cheeseburger.) And one week from today is National Something On a Stick Day.

March 21st: California Strawberry Day, National French Bread Day
March 22nd: National Coq au Vin Day, National Bavarian Crepes Day, World Water Day
March 23rd: National Melba Toast Day, National Chip and Dip Day; 1857, Fannie Merritt Farmer born, author of the Boston Cooking School Cook Book and often called the Mother of Level Measurements. Thus we all owe her a debt of gratitude, for Weight Watchers could not exist in a world without measures
March 24th: National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25th: National Lobster Newburg Day, National Pecan Day, National Waffle Day, Tichborne Dole Day
March 26th: National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, National Spinach Day, National Nougat Day; 1726, birth of Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford. He invented the percolator and the pressure cooker
March 27th: National Spanish Paella Day
March 28th: National Black Forest Cake Day, National Something On a Stick Day


Albertson's:

Beef London broil, boneless, $4.99/lb
Beef crossrib steaks (family pack) or roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $4.99/olb
93/7 ground beef, $2.79/lb
Pork sirloin chops or roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
Pork picnic roast, bone in, $1.49/lb
Sanderson Farms chicken breast, bone in, 99¢/lb
Unbranded boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
Catfish fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
Swordfish steaks, wild caught, $9.99/lb
Coldwater lobster tails, wild caught, 4 oz, $5.99 ea
Tillamook sliced cheeses, 12 oz, $3.99
Sargento sliced cheeses, 6-8 oz, 2/$6
Deli: Unbranded rotisserie turkey breast, $5.99/lb
Jennie-O “Honey Smoked” or “Oven Brown” turkey breast, $5.99/lb
Shannon's Deli corned beef/Italian beef/beef pastrami, $5.99/lb
Deli Fresh mild Cheddar/Colby/Cojack/pepperjack/Provolone, $5.99/lb
Kellogg's breakfast cereals, 15-18 oz boxes, 2/$5
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$8.88 ($2.22 ea)
Cuties clementines, 3 lb bag, 2/$4
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Green or red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
Fuji apples, $1.49/lb
Whole cantaloupes, 2/$3
Large tomatoes, $1.49/lb
Earthbound Farms box salads, 1 lb, $4.99


Bashas':

Beef top sirloin, value pack, $3.47/lb
Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roast, $4.49/lb
Ground chuck, fat content not listed, value pack, $2.99/lb
Pork shoulder steaks or roast, value pack, $2.49/lb
Sirloin cut pork chops, boneless, value pack, $1.99/lb
Sanderson Farms frying chickens, 77¢/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $4.99/lb
Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb “weather permitting”
Food Club butter, $2.29
Kraft cheeses, 6-8 oz chunk/shreds/“Big Slices”, $2.88
Nature's Own “WhiteWheat” bread, 20 oz long loaves, $1.99
StarKist chunk light tuna, 69¢
Food Club tomatoes or veg, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢
Strawberries, 1 lb box, $1.48
Green seedless grapes, 88¢/lb
Navel oranges, 98¢/lb
Vine tomatoes, $1.98/lb
Iceberg OR leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea


Food City:

Beef chuck steak or roast, bone in, value pack, $2.49/lb
Chicken breast, bone in, 88¢/lb
Tilapia fillets, $1.99
Ataulfo mangos, 4/$1
Whole pineapples, 4 lbs/$1
Iceberg, 2/99¢


Fry's:

Beef t-bone steaks, $4.77/lb
Beef London broil, boneless, $4.99/lb
Assorted pork loin chops, bone in, family pack, $1.47/lb
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $3.29
Ragu pasta sauce, 16-26 oz jars, 10/$10
Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 69¢
Mangos, 88¢ ea
Blackberries, 6 oz box, 98¢
Gala apples, 88¢/lb
Pears: Red, D'Anjou, Bosc, 88¢/lb
Cara Cara navel oranges, 88¢/lb
Minneola tangelos, 88¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
Whole cantaloupes, $1.99
Whole mini seedless watermelons, $1.99
Hass avocados, 88¢ ea
English cucumbers OR red bell peppers, 88¢ ea
Broccoli OR cauliflower, 88¢/lb
Nature Sweet “Cherub” tomatoes, 10 oz box, 2/$5


Safeway:

Beef round steak/bottom round roast/round tip roast, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
Beef petite sirloin steaks, value pack, $3.99/lb
Beef eye of round roast, boneless, $3.49/lb
Beef London broil, boneless, value pack, $3.49/lb
90/10 ground beef, $2.99/lb
Pork shoulder blade roast, bone in, whole in bag, $1.87/lb
Pork tenderloin, boneless, whole in bag, $4.79/lb
Pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, 4 lb IQF bag, $7.52 ($1.88/lb)
Eating Right boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.49/lb
Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
Open Nature boneless chicken breast tenders, $5.49/lb
… They do this just to make my life more difficult.
Chicken leg quarters, 10 lb bag, $7.49 (75¢/lb)
Jennie-O Turkey Store turkey burgers, 3 lb pkg, buy 1 get 1 free
Swordfish steaks, wild caught, $10.99/lb
Swai fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
Nabisco snack crackers (Wheat Thins, etc), 2/$5
Del Monte stewed or diced tomatoes, 14 oz cans, 10/$10
Safeway pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 99¢
Safeway variety (non-baked) beans, 15 oz cans, 99¢
O Organics tomatoes or tomato sauce, 14-15 oz cans, 4/$5
Pepperidge Farms “Baked Naturals” crackers, 5-10 oz boxes, buy 1 get 1 free
Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce, 16-24 oz jars, 99¢
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$10
Whole cantaloupes, $2.49
Kiwifruit, 3/$1
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Roma tomatoes, 99¢/lb
Fresh Express bag salads, 99¢
O Organics box salads, 1 lb, $4.99
O Organics Romaine hearts, 3 ct, 2/$6
Zucchini or yellow squash, 99¢/lb


Smart & Final:

Beef top round steak OR London broil, boneless, $3.29/lb
Pork loin roast, boneless, $1.99/lb
First Street whole chickens, twin pack, 99¢/lb
First Street cheeses, 1 lb chunk, $2.79
First Street wide pan bread, 24 oz loaves, $1.99
Mandarins, 3 lb bag, $2.49
Gala apples, 3 lb bag, $2.49
Italian squash, 5 ct pkg, $1.99


Sprouts:

Beef top round roast or stew meat, boneless, $4.99/lb
Beef London broil, boneless, $2.99/lb
93/7 ground sirloin, $4.49/lb
Beef ribeye steaks, boneless, $10.99/lb
Pork loin chops or roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
Whole or cut up chickens, $1.49/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.99/lb
Barramundi fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $10.99/lb
Pop Chips, 3 oz bag, 25% off
Whole pineapples, 97¢ ea
Gala or Pink Lady apples, 88¢/lb
Organic Cameo apples, 99¢/lb
Bosc or D'Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
Organic Bartlett pears, $1.49/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$4
Blackberries, 6 oz box, 2/$4
Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $1.99/lb
Navel oranges, 49¢/lb
Ataulfo mangos, 49¢ ea
Yellow nectarines OR black plums, $1.99/lb
Eggplant, 88¢ ea
Roma tomatoes, 77¢/lb
Red bell peppers, 3/$1
Gold or orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
Sweet corn, 49¢ ea

Bargain guide, week beginning March 14th

Occasional disclaimer: most assuredly NOT an official Weight Watchers publication.

I will spare you anything about Pink Slime in this entry. If you know what it is, you don't want to read any more about it; if you don't, Google it and you will learn far, far more than you want to know.

At Fooducate, there's an article on things to do to make kale edible: kale chips are suggested, as well as a raw-kale salad which involves (I swear I did not make this up) massage. The editors at Serious Eats also are on something of a kale kick, with fully fifteen kale recipes including one involving a pound of kale, a half-pound of mushrooms, SIX cloves of garlic, and a PointsPlus count of 2 per serving. Personally I would double the PointsPlus count by poaching an egg on each serving.

Per both Fooducate and Summer Tomato, the Archives of Internal Medicine just published a major study linking high consumption of red meat with increased mortality. Darya is kind enough to analyze the analysis, as well as the popular interpretations of it (“Realistically, the lowest group probably ate red meat 1-2 times per week, while the highest group ate it once or twice a day. How we got from here to 'all red meat will kill you' isn’t exactly clear”).

It's still National Frozen Food Month, so there are heavy promotions on frozen foods, and still Lent. This third week of March is American Chocolate Week, as if we needed another reason.

3/14: it's Pi Day. Bake one. Tomorrow is the nutritionally dubious anniversary of the introduction of Chicken McNuggets. This Saturday, of course, is National Green Beer Day, National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day, and National Green Things Are Healthy So Please Pass The Green Cupcakes Day.

March 14th: Pi Day, National Potato Chip Day
March 15th: National Poires belle Hélène Day; the turkey buzzards return to Hinckley, Ohio (Ah to be a vulture, now that Spring is here.)
March 16th: National Artichoke Hearts Day
March 17th: National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day, National Green Beer Day
March 18th: National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
March 19th: National Poultry Day, National Chocolate Caramel Day
March 20th: Bock Beer Day, National Ravioli Day
March 21st: National French Bread Day


Albertson's:

“All the frozen food you can fit in a bag”, 10% off
Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roasts, boneless, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef London broil, boneless, $4.99/lb
Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, family pack, $8.49/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef chuck/crossrib bottom round steaks, boneless, $3.99/lb
Pork picnic roast, bone in, $1.49/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $1.67/lb
Swai or tilapia fillets, $2.99/lb
Mahi mahi fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
Albertson's milk, gallons, $1.67
Albertson's eggs, AA large, dozens, $1
Kraft cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk or shreds, $2.99
Tillamook cheeses, 2 lb “baby loaf” chunk, $8.99
Deli: Jennie-O “honey smoked” or “oven brown” turkey breast, $5.99/lb
Unbranded rotisserie turkey breast, $5.99/lb
Stella Swiss/Muenster/Provolone/baby-Swiss cheeses, $5.99/lb
USA Gold honey or baked ham, $5.99/lb
American Beauty pasta, 12-16 oz pkgs, $1
Hunt's pasta sauces, 24 oz cans, $1
Hunt's diced tomatoes, 14 oz cans, $1
Ro*Tel tomatoes, 10 oz cans, $1
Chicken of the Sea sardines or chunk white tuna, $1
Strawberries, 3 lb flat, $3.77
Pink Lady apples, $1/lb
Anjou pears, $1/lb
Navel oranges, $1/lb
Cuties clementines, 3 lb bag, $3.99
Mixed berries, 12 oz box, $3.99/lb
Cantaloupes, 2/$4
Vine tomatoes, 14 oz pkg, 2/$5
Summer squashes, zucchinni/yellow/grey, 99¢/lb
Earthbound Farms organic box salads, 1 lb, $4.99


Bashas':

Beef London broil, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef top round steak or roast, $3.99/lb
Beef ground round, still not listing the fat content, $3.49/lb
Skylark corned beef, point cut, $1.57/lb (flat cut $1 higher)
Assorted pork chops, bone in, value pack, $1.37/lb
Center cut pork roast or chops, value pack, $2.49/lb
Chicken breast, bone in, buy 1 get 1 free
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.99/lb
Haddock fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $4.99/lb
Nature's Own bread, $2.19
Skinny Cow ice-cream novelties, 4-12 ct, $3.88
Seedless green grapes, 97¢/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Seedless red grapes, $1.97/lb
Bananas, 57¢/lb
Asparagus, 97¢/lb
Large or Roma tomatoes, 97¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 77¢ ea
Cucumbers, 2/88¢
Dole or Taylor Farms bag salads, 2/$5
Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb (organic, $2.99/lb)
Organic kale, green or red, $1.99 ea
Full Circle organic box salads, 5 oz, $2.99
Broccoli OR cauliflower, 99¢/lb (organic, $1.49/lb)





Food City:

Beef chuck roast or steak, boneless, $2.99/lb
Beef stew meat, boneless, value pack, $2.49/lb
Sirloin cut pork chops, bone in, 97¢/lb
Chicken thighs OR drumsticks, value pack, 67¢/lb
StarKist chunk light tuna, 59¢
Tangelos, 2 lbs/98¢
Mexican grey squash, 2 lbs/98¢
Red onions, 3 lbs/99¢
Bulk garbanzo beans, $1.99/lb


Fry's:

Beef t-bone steaks, family pack, $7.99/lb
Beef chuck roast, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
Corned beef brisket, boneless, point cut $1.79/lb, flat cut, $2.69/lb
Half pork loin, boneless, $1.97/lb, sliced free
Foster Farms chicken, buy 1, get 1 free (same item
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $6.99/lb
Fry's milk, half gallons, buy 1 get 1 free
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $3.29
Fry's eggs, AA large, 18 ct, $1.88
Gorton's “Grilled Fillets”, $2.99
Morningstar Farms frozen, 2/$7
Apples: Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Ambrosia, Red/Golden Delicious, 88¢/lb
Green or red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
Cantaloupes, $1.99 ea
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Blackberries, 6 oz box, 2/$5
Vine or slicing tomatoes, 88¢/lb
Cabbage, 4 lbs/$1
Zucchini or yellow squash, 99¢/lb
Mini sweet peppers, 2 lb bag, $2.99


Safeway:

93/7 ground beef, value pack, $2.99/lb
Beef chuck crossrib roast, boneless, $2.99/lb
Beef ribeye steaks, bone in, value pack, $7.99/lb
Pork loin chops, assorted, $1.49/lb
Pork shoulder blade roast, bone in, whole in bag, $1.87/lb
Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, value pack, 99¢/lb
Safeway boneless skinless chicken breast, 4 lb IQF brag, $7.96 ($1.99/lb)
Swai fillets, farm raised, $3.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $7.99/lb
Whole rainbow trout, dressed, $5.99/lb
Pantry Essentials milk, gallons, $1.57
Lucerne cheeses, 2 lb chunk or shreds, $5.99
Safeway fruit, 15 oz cans, 89¢
Bertolli olive oil, 25 oz bottles, buy 1 get 1 free
Bush's variety (non-baked) beans, 15-16 oz cans, 99¢
Classico pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, $1.99
Skinny Cow ice-cream novelties, 4-6 ct, $4.49
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, 4/$10
Cantaloupes, 2/$3
Seedless grapes, green/red/black, $2.49/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$6
Organic apples: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, $1.49/lb
Vine tomatoes, AZ grown, 97¢/lb


Smart & Final:

Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $3.69/lb
First Street corned beef brisket, whole or half, $2.99/lb
Pork tenderloin, $3.69/lb
First Street chicken leg quarters, 79¢/lb
Roma tomatoes, 3 lbs/99¢


Sprouts:

Beef sirloin tip roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
85/15 ground beef, value pack, $3.89/lb
Ground pork OR ground chicken breast, $2.99/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box,4/$5
Navel oranges, 49¢/lb
Braeburn or Cameo apples, 88¢/lb
Bosc or D'Anjou pears, 88¢/lb
Green or black seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
Organic Cameo apples, 99¢/lb
Organic Valencia oranges, 4 lb bag, 2/$5
Organic Fuji apples, 3 lb bag, $2.99/lb
Italian or yellow squash, 88¢/lb
Broccoli crowns or cauliflower, 88¢/lb
Roma tomatoes, 77¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 88¢ ea
Green bell peppers, 49¢ ea
Red/gold/orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea

Bargain guide, week beginning March 7th

The Germans have the coolest vocabulary! They have a word for “eating due to frustration”: frustessen. And kummerspeck, which refers to the result of frustessen: it translates literally as “grief bacon”, but actually means “the excess weight gained from emotional overeating”.

As of this week, raw meat and poultry will begin carrying nutrition labels. There are a couple of good articles about it at Fooducate. Chow.com has a selection of “Easy and Flavorful Low-Carb Recipes” which might come in handy if you could figure some way to moderate the fairly lavish inclusion of fats. Serious Eats has a delicious-looking recipe for pan-seared scallops with salsa verde, as well as a stack of intriguing popcorn toppings, some conventional, some less so (furikake, anyone? How about the cheese powder from Kraft Dinner?). Summer Tomato has very specific instructions on how to make a perfect steamed artichoke. (It involves steaming it twice, once upside down, once rightside up.) And at Smithsonian magazine are some truly lovely polarized microphotographs of fruits and vegetables.

At Weighty Matters, Yoni Freedhoff posts a pithy entry on your Indulgence Autopilot. While admitting – while, in fact, specifically pointing out – that a weight-loss plan involving never again eating your favorite foods will not and cannot work, he offers cautions around the idea of automatic indulgences, like “We're going to order pizza because it's Friday and that's Pizza Night”. (I shall be keeping this in mind as I plan my Wednesday Night After-Weight-Watchers Dinner.) The key question, he says, is not “Am I allowed?”, but “Is it worth it?” and “How much do I need to be satisfied?”

This is the second week in March, National Chocolate Chip Cookie Week. The 11th is National Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day, oddly specific but it might be fairly healthy, and the day before that, the 10th, is National Pack Your Lunch Day, which merits my twice-annual mention of the not-updated-in-two-years-but-still-informative lunchinabox.net, subtitled “Building a Better Bento”.

March 7th: National Crown Roast of Pork Day, National Cereal Day
March 8th: National Peanut Cluster Day
March 9th: National Crabmeat Day
March 10th: National Blueberry Popover Day, National Pack Your Lunch Day
March 11th: National Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day
March 12th: National Baked Scallops Day
March 13th: National Coconut Torte Day
March 14th: National Potato Chip Day, Pi Day (bake one)


Albertson's:

Beef ribeye steaks, bone in, family pack, $4.77/lb
Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, $4.77/lb
93/7 ground beef, $2.79/lb
Assorted pork chops, bone in, family pack, $2.79/lb
Pork sirloin chops, boneless, $1.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $2.49/lb
Tilapia or swai fillets, $2.99/lb
Catfish fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
Rockfish OR Dover sole fillets, wild caught, $5.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
Deli: Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast, $4.99/lb
USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
Shannon's Deli corned beef OR beef pastrami, $4.99/lb
Stella Provolone or Muenster cheeses, $4.99/lb
Post breakfast cereals, 15-24 oz boxes, 2/$5
Nabisco snack crackers (Wheat Thins/Triscuits), OR Keebler Wheatables, $2.99
Starkist chunk light tuna, 69¢
Chicken of the Sea chunk white tuna, 10/$10
Albertson's canned veggies, 14-15 oz cans, 69¢/lb
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Gala apples, $1.49/lb
Seedless green or red grapes, $2.49/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
Earthbound Farms organic box salads, 5 oz, $2.99kj
Asparagus, 99¢/lb
Bell peppers, red/yellow/orange, $1 ea


Bashas':

Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roasts, boneless, buy 1 get 1 free
Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $2.97/lb
Center cut pork chops, boneless, value pack, $2.97/lb
Pork shoulder roast, bone in, $2.49/lb (steaks 50¢/lb higher)
Chicken drums/thighs/leg quarters, $1/lb
Flounder fillets, wild caught, $1.99/lb
Tilapia fillets, $2.99/lb
Basa fillets, $3.99/lb
Cod fillets, wild caught, $4.99/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
True cod fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb “weather permitting”
Bashas' milk, gallons, $1.57/lb
Smart Balance spread, 15 oz tubs or 7.5 oz twin packs, $2.79
Nature's Own wide-pan bread, 24 oz loaves, $1.99
Kellogg's breakfast cereals, 17-30 oz boxes, buy 1 get 1 free
Kashi breakfast cereals, 7-15 oz boxes, buy 1 get 1 free
Bumble Bee chunk light tuna, 69¢
Deming's boneless skinless pink salmon, 6 oz cans, 69¢
Full Circle swordfish steaks OR cod fillets, 12 oz frozen box, $5.99
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$3
Dole pineapples, 97¢ ea
Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
Roma or slicing tomatoes, 77¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 77¢ ea
Iceberg, 99¢ ea
Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
Dole OR Taylor Farms bag salads, 5-12 oz, 2/$5
Asparagus, $1.99/lb
Broccoli OR cauliflower, 99¢/lb
Green bell peppers, 2/$1
Red bell peppers, 99¢ ea




Food City:

Beef crossrib steaks or roast, boneless, value pack, $2.69/lb
Country style pork ribs, bone in, value pack, $1.79/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.69/lb
Pollock fillets, $1.99/lb
Food City eggs, AA medium, FIVE DOZEN, $3.99 – heart attack thrown in free
Bosc pears, 2 lbs/98¢
Large tomatoes, 4 lbs/96¢
Italian squash, 2 lbs/98¢


Fry's:

New York strip steak, bone in, family pack, $4.88/lb
Pork loin chops, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
Kroger boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.88/lb
Cod fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
Kroger butter, $2.29
Kroger cheeses, 12-16 oz chunk or shreds, $3.29
Fiber One cereal bars or brownies, 5-12 ct, $2.49
Skinny Cow candy snacks, $3.50
Healthy Choice frozen entrees, $1.97
Quorn meatless frozen entrees, $3.49
Green Giant frozen veggies, 7-10 oz boxes, 3/$4
“Cuties” clementines, 3 lb bag, $1.98
Ambrosia apples, 88¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Mangos, 10/$10
Green or red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
Organic Fuji or Gala apples,$1.29/lb
Roma tomatoes, 88¢/lb
Vine tomatoes, $1.98/lb
Asparagus, $1.99/lb


Safeway:

Beef t-bone steaks, value pack, $4.99/lb
Beef thin-cut chuck steak, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
Beef New York strip steak, bone in, value pack, $4.99/lb
Beef London broil, value pack, $2.99/lb
Beef chuck 7-bone pot roast, $3.99
Corned beef brisket flats, $2.99/lb
Pork top loin chops, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
Chicken leg quarters, 10 lb IQF bag, $7.49 (75¢/lb)
WHOLE Alaskan sockeye salmon, wild caught, 4-6 lbs, $4.99/lb
Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb
Lucerne sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tub, $1.59
Open Nature bread, 24 oz loaves, $2.49
Quaker oats, 42 oz round box, $2.99
Bear Creek soup mixes, buy 1 get 1 free
Bertolli or Classico pasta sauces, 15-24 oz jars, buy 1 get 1 free
Barilla pasta, 12-16 oz boxes, 10/$10
O Organics tomatoes, 28 oz cans, 4/$5
Healthy Choice frozen entrees, 4/$10
Birds Eye “Steamfresh” veggies OR C&W frozen veggies, 11-16 oz, $1.99
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$3
Kiwifruit, 3/$1
Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
Asparagus, $1.99/lb


Smart & Final:

First Street boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.97
Great American pre-portioned salmon fillets, 1.25 lb, $6.99
Nature's Own wide pan bread, 24 oz loaves, 2/$4
Lean Cuisine frozen entrees, $1.99


Sprouts:

All the frozen food you can fit in the sale bag, 20% off
Beef crossrib roast, boneless, $3.99/lb
Center cut pork loin roast, boneless, $1.97/lb
Center cut pork chops, boneless, $2.99/lb
Boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $2.99/lb
Haddock fillets, wild caught, $3.97/lb
Swordfish steaks, center cut, $9.99/lb
Green or red seedless grapes, 97¢/lb
Navel oranges, 49¢/lb
Gala or Cameo apples, 99¢/lb
Comice or D'Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
Ataulfo mangos, 49¢ ea
Pineapples, 2/$3
Organic Cameo apples, 99¢/lb
Organic Pink Lady apples, 3 lb bag, $2.99
Organic Bosc pears, 3 lb bag, $1.99
Summer squashes, Italian/yellow/grey, 99¢/lb
Vine tomatoes, 97¢/lb
Fresh green beans, 97¢/lb
Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, OR fresh spinach, 88¢/bunch
Organic grape tomatoes, dry pint, $1.99