News sources continue to warn of coming rises in meat, poultry and egg prices. A variety of factors are responsible, everything from the Midwest drought to avian flu in Mexico. So if you see a good price now on something which can be frozen or stored, it might be a good idea to stock up.
In similar news, apple prices remain relatively high considering that this is apple harvest season. One reason for this might be the near total failure of the Michigan apple (and tart cherry) crops. A hard freeze last spring caught most trees flowering or setting fruit.
Stock Up and Save - Screamin’ Deals
Albertsons: Malt-o-Meal Bagged Cereal $.88/12 oz bag
Safeway: 5 lb bag russet potatoes or 3 lb bag onions $.99
Albertsons: Broccoli Crowns and Cauliflower $88/lb
Best Prices on Everyday Items
Milk: Safeway $1.77/gal
Bread: Albertsons, Sara Lee select varieties $1.78 (with coupon, limit 2); Safeway, Safeway Kitchens $1.99; Fry’s, Kroger Value Bread $.99
Eggs: Albertsons, large $.98/dz (with coupon, limit 2)
Best Bargains this Week
Albertsons
Special Sales Crazy 8’s Sale: In every department look for good bargains with prices ending in 8 - particularly good deals shown below.
General Mills cereals, select varieties including Honey Nut Cheerios buy 4 save $4
Meat and Seafood
- Chicken parts, Sanderson Farms, bone in, jumbo pack $.88/lb
- New York Strip Steak, bone in, $4.88/lb
- Turkey Breast, Honeysuckle, frozen, bone in $1.88/lb
- Tilapia Filet, frozen, bagged Buy One Get Two Free
- Pork loin chops BOGO
- Pork chops, assorted $1.28/lb
Produce
- Broccoli crowns or Cauliflower $.88/lb
- Radishes Green onions or Cilantro $.44/each
- Red Yellow or Orange Bell Peppers $.88/each
- Red Grapes $.68/lb
Other Grocery
- Purex Laundry Detergent, 50 oz, select varieties $1.88 (with coupon, limit 2)
- Many Homelife and Everyday essentials items $.98/each including, mustard, ketchup, foam plates, everyday napkins, tissue, marshmallows
- Albertsons sour cream, 16 oz. $.88
- Tillamook cheese, sliced, block or shredded, 8 oz. $3.00/each
- Albertsons canned fruits and beans $.88
- Albertsons frozen vegetables, select varieties $.88
Fry’s
Special Sales 99 cent sale - look for special 99 cent prices throughout the store
Shamrock Dairy Sale - All sizes and varieties 50% off
Specials on Wines - Buy 6 bottles of selected varieties, get 25% off
Meat and Seafood
- Chicken breasts, Kroger, boneless skinless $1.67/lb
- Beef, boneless chuck roast $2.99/lb
- Ribs, previously frozen BOGO
- Pork shoulder roast, bone in $1.89/lb
Produce
- Grapes, red seedless $.75/lb
- Raspberries, Driscoll 6 oz $2
- Pears, organic, Bartlett $1.49/lb
Other Grocery
- Dennison’s Chili $.99
- Del Monte canned vegetables $.99
- Bush’s Best Beans, select varieties $.99
- Softsoap liquid hand soap $.99
- Kroger cottage cheese, 16 oz $1.25
- Kroger cheese, bars, shreds or sliced, 6-8 oz $1.88
Safeway
Special Sales $5 Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) Items include: Safeway 8 ct muffins, Safeway Select coffee 10-12 oz, Lucerne chunk cheese select varieties.
Many coupons, some digital, some either clip or digital including 1) Digital Only - Open Nature bread $1.49, American Beauty Pasta $.67, and Safeway Softly bath tissue $2.49 2) Digital or Clip - Milton’s Crackers $1.99, Best Foods Mayonnaise $2.49 and Smuckers Preserves $2.49
Meat and Seafood
- Chuck Steak, boneless $2.99/lb b
- Whole beef top sirloin, whole in the bag $2.99/lb
- Pork, assorted loin chops, bone in $1.49
Produce
- Grapes, green, seedless $.99/lb
- Hot house cucumbers $1.50/each
- Asparagus $2.99/lb
Other Grocery
- Cake or Brownie mix, Pillsbury $1/box
- Powdered sugar, Safeway brand, 2 lb bag $2
- Flour, Gold Medal, 5 lb bag $3
Broccoli Soup
Very Simple
Start with a pound or two of broccoli, some liquid (could be canned stock homemade stock or water), salt, pepper and olive oil.
Place broccoli in large pot. Add enough stock or water to barely cover the broccoli, this will vary depending on the shape of the pot and exactly how much broccoli you have. Heat to boiling, reduce to medium and cook until quite tender, 10-25 minutes, approximately. Use a stick blender to puree (your choice, smooth or a little chunky), add a little more liquid if necessary to get the texture you want. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top. Or serve with shredded cheese, cheddar or parmesan.
More Complex
4 cups broccoli florets and stems
½ medium onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 potato (yellow, red, or white), diced
1 teaspoon fresh herbs, finely chopped (basil, tarragon, rosemary or other)
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chicken stock
1 ½ cups non-fat milk
In a large pot, sauté onion and celery in olive oil. Add potato, broccoli, salt, pepper, stock and milk Cook until broccoli is soft, about 15 minutes. Check for seasonings, add chopped fresh herbs. Remove from heat. Puree with stick blender, or in food processor or blender.
Serve hot with garnish of cheddar cheese and chopped chives or green onion tops. Add a dollop of fat free sour cream.
Really complex, and good
Follow the recipe above except do not add the milk with the stock. Instead, after pureeing the soup, make a roux as follows:
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
1 ½ cups milk
Melt the butter in a small pan, sprinkle flour over and cook, stirring about for about a minute. Add milk slowly while stirring all the time (it helps if the milk is warm—easy to accomplish with a microwave.)
Cook until thickened, then add to soup.
Serve hot with a garnish of crumbled bacon.
Ideas for Cauliflower
Of course you could just cook the florets and serve with butter or olive oil (try mixing in a few spices, a little chili powder and a little ground cumin, or a little curry powder, or a spice mix like Cajun powder, fajita seasoning or anything your imagination can devise.)
But have you considered mashed cauliflower? The cauliflower is usually steamed or braised, then mashed with a potato masher or stick blender. Add a little milk, cream or sour cream and there you have it. Sometimes people add a cooked potato or a quarter cup of instant potato for improved flavor and texture. This is good just seasoned with salt and pepper. You can also change the flavor easily by adding flavorings as above, or maybe some roasted garlic (or granulated garlic.)
A great idea is to cut off just the ends of the florets and chop very fine or grate. For about 2 cups of grated cauliflower you will need about two tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Just melt the butter in a pan, add the cauliflower, lemon juice and seasonings. Stir the cauliflower around to coat with butter, then lower the heat, cover the pot and steam/braise until tender enough for you, about 2-3 minutes. This is a great vegetable dish for a dinner party. The cauliflower can be prepared well ahead of time and cooked at the last minute.
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