Thursday, December 31, 2015

Lucky Foods For The New Year

Traditions abound around the world as to what foods eaten for New Year's, especially tomorrow on the Day, will bring good luck for the year. Whether they do or not, the prevalence of things like legumes and winter greens makes them attactive for menu planning. And you can get really picky by looking into things like whether certain shellfish might bring bad luck because they swim backwards. Here are a few guides to help you out: Lucky Foods for the New Year from Epicurious, A Buffet for Luck: New Year's Foods from Around the World from Whole Foods, Lucky Foods for the New Year from Martha Stewart, and 10 Foods That Will Bring You Good Luck in the New Year from Bon Appetit.

Have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Cured's Annual Sale Tomorrow

Cured, that fabulous, one-of-a-kind local purveyor of artisanal cheese, charcuterie, wine, and lots of other wonderful things, will hold its annual sale tomorrow, with just about everything 20% off at both its original store on Pearl, and the new adjunct at the west end. Here's what they say:

Cured’s Annual Sale: Some of you may be remembering…isn’t there a sale that happens around this time of year?! Good news my friends, you happen to be correct. Every year on the 31st, Cured opens its doors and knocks down its prices, letting you have SD-Sale-Graphic copyat all our scrumptious goodies at a 20% discount. That means cheese, meat, truffle salt, olive oil, wine, beer, spirits…you name it!Everything in our shop that isn't bolted down, other than platters and sandwiches, is yours for the taking :) Plus, this year we have an extra special treat for you in the form of our sweet little Cured West.Everyone knows the youngest child is the favorite, so to honor little Westie, we’re offering 25% off everything at Cured West, excluding our daily sandwiches. Obviously we don't quite have the wine, cheese and charcuterie selection there, but I guarantee you there are an epic number of decadent chocolate bars, extra virgin olive oils, truffle products and more for you to indulge in. So whether you find yourself on the East End, the West End, or both, come and pay us a visit between 10:30 and 5 on the last day of 2015 to stock your pantry for the year ahead! 

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while as mentioned in the post just below, Vitamin Cottage is on a sales Hotline hiatus, probably until January 1st, almost upon us. Here's what's looking good to me now.

In Sprouts' new sale through January 6th, I'm liking boneless sirloin tip roast or steak for $3.99 a pound (just cut that up for stew beef), all of their fresh chicken sausage $3.99 a pound, fresh ground chicken breast or previously frozen ground turkey breast also $3.99 a pound, and their very good stuffed chicken breasts $2.99 a pound. They also have stew beef at $4.99 a pound, but note you could buy the sirloin tip and take a second to cut it up yourself for less. In fish, fresh farmed Atlantic salmon fillets are just $4.99 a pound (and I've been surprised by how pleased I've been with these in the past), raw peeled and deveined 31/40 count wild shrimp are $5.99 a pound, and wild Alaskan cod fillets are $7.99 a pound, both of the latter previously frozen.

In organic produce at Sprouts, green curly, Lacinato or red Russian kale are all 98 cents a bunch, a better price than you'll see in the Whole Foods sale below. Red, yellow or orange bell peppers are $1.50 each, four pound bags of Valencia oranges or grapefruit are both $2.98 each, and bananas are just 48 cents a pound. In conventional produce, Hass avocados are notable at 48 cents each. Elsewhere in the store at Sprouts, I'm liking select Annie's products at 50% off, some Cascadian Farm cereals also 50% off (their granola or bars also included), some Odwalla juices $2 for that usual 15-ish ounce bottle, and some Spectrum chia seeds are 25% off, although I burned out on those a while ago, using too often and plentifully on my salads, but they really are good.

In Whole Foods' new sale through January 5th (that's exceptionally short for them), organic green kale is $1.50 a bunch, but you'll do better than that at Sprouts. For turkey breast that's freshly ground instead of previously frozen as at Sprouts, that's $5.99 a pound. Some Rumiano sliced cheeses are $3.99 each (size not specified in the flyer), paiche fillets are $9.99 a pound (a new favorite in the fish world and it's good, although fresh/frozen not specified in the flyer), Uniekaas Robusto gouda is $13.99 a pound, Ford Farm Seaside cheddar is $8.99 a pound, and WFM's own chocolate mousse sounds tempting at $6.99 a pound. Plus, the big 100 ounce sizes of Seventh Generation laundry detergents are $11.99 each, although I've gotten hooked on the convenience of WFM brands' tablet form for that.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Vitamin Cottage Hotline Hiatus

I made it to Vitamin Cottage, but found that they are again on a hiatus for their full Hotline sales flyer, but not for long. The helpful person at customer service told me they expect the next one on January 1st, which of course is awfully close. She also mentioned there are a few specials for the holidays currently to be found around the store, even without a sale flyer.

Monday, December 28, 2015

New Year's Eve Ideas

With Christmas just behind us, it's time to start thinking about New Year's Eve, although that isn't a big deal in this house. For inspiration, here are a few guides to help you out:  New Year's Eve Recipes for a Crowd from Food and Wine magazine, Most Elegant, Festive New Year's Party. Ever. from Epicurious, and at Cooking Light, when you click on New Year's, it brings you to Holiday Open House Menu.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Chef's Call Back Actually Works!

As previously mentioned, with Chef's Catalog's most unfortunate going out of business sale, it has been impossible to place an order through the overloaded website, and I had their phone line on speakerphone for at least an hour and a half this morning hoping to get through. During that time, I heard frequent messages that you could request a call-back and still maintain your place in the queue, but with the way things go these days, I just didn't believe it. But when giving up on the phone call, I requested the call-back, and lo!, at 1:30 this afternoon, I got one. That's from being 217th in line very early this morning. I would have expected a totally stressed responder, but Denise was absolutely perfect, getting my order exactly correct while thanking me for condolences re the closing (this must effect folks like her particularly hard, so sad to see).

Giving Up On Chef's Sale

As mentioned yesterday (post just below), Chef's Catalog is sadly going out of business, and announced considerable discounts yesterday. They have some flatware I've been interested in, but their poor website must be so overloaded, it's completely disfunctional in terms of placing orders. So a little before 7:30 this morning, I called their customer service number (800 338-3232) and spent about 20 minutes doing redial just to get past a busy signal before finally reaching the system. There, I found I was 217th in line to place an order. Given that I've now been waiting a full hour and a half with their hold music on speakerphone, I think it's time to give up and get on with my day. But darn, I did want that flatware.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Chef's Going Out Of Business

I was shocked to receive an email today from Chef's Catalog, saying they are going out of business after 36 years. All sales are final, and are up to a whopping 90% off. They are perhaps going out of business even faster than they thought since at least at this moment, their website, chefscatalog.com, is not working.

While I like to shop locally at places like Peppercorn first, there have been times I've turned to Chef's, with generally great results. I'll miss them.

Greenwood's Calendar

Okay, so I can't find any way to tie this to the theme of this blog, except that Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is a place I hugely respect, just as I do the Boulder food scene. Greenwood does enormously important work saving wildlife, the critters not handled at all by that also fabulous place, the Boulder Valley Humane Society. Since it's always a challenge to find an interesting wall calendar, if you are looking for one this year, I doubt you could do better than this:

We still have 2016 custom Greenwood calendars for sale for only $20, featuring many of the adorable critters we've cared for this year! Stop by our Center in Lyons or our Thrift Shop and Consignment Gallery at 3600 Arapahoe in Boulder to get one now. Or, call 303-823-8455, and we'll mail one or more to you for a small fee. All proceeds benefit the wildlife in our care. 

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas Parking Lot

I hope you have everything organized for your Christmas cooking needs. If not, it's just getting crazy out there, so good luck. I stopped by the Whole Foods on Pearl Street yesterday to pick up the previously mentioned tamale special, and they actually had Boulder police in the parking lot, seemingly for crowd control. While people were circling madly for a parking space, I'm glad to report that at least what I saw was quite civil. Merry Christmas Eve!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Special Sales Through Tomorrow

Whole Foods is doing a couple of special sales through tomorrow, Christmas Eve. Tamales, a wonderful Christmas tradition involving vast amounts of work if you make them yourself, can be had ready-made for $2 each, and some Christmas candy is already half off. Also, Nordman fir trees are $39.99, if you are running late on that tree.

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Happy first full day of winter, with a trace of fresh snow to celebrate it. Heading into the holiday home stretch, we have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores. Something is surely also happening at Vitamin Cottage, but when I stopped by there yesterday to pick up a sales flyer, there wasn't a parking spot to be had all the way up to Mapleton. So here's what's looking good to me now.

With everybody pretty much done with their shopping frenzy, Sprouts is taking an abbreviated approach this week, doing just a two page ad instead of their usual four (and I'm glad to see they'll be closed for Christmas Day, also closing at 7 p.m. for Christmas Eve). So in this short list of sales lasting through January 1 (!), I'm liking value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts at $1.69 a pound, baby back pork ribs $2.79 a pound, their Presidential Cut standing rib roast $7.99 a pound, chicken Italian sausage (pork also) $3.99 a pound, and their own stuffed chicken breasts or ground chicken $2.99 a pound. In fish, previously frozen wild Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets are $6.99 a pound, previously frozen wild king crab legs are $12.99 a pound, and previously frozen wild caught five ounce lobster tails are $6.99 each, although you could have done better than that putting still frozen ones in the freezer in the past couple of weeks.

With this abbreviated ad, there's not much to report for organic produce, just broccoli at $1.48 a pound. In conventional produce, Hass avocados are 48 cents each, and two pound bags of Cuties Mandarins are $1.98 each. Elsewhere in the store, I'm thrilled to see my new favorite, Home Run Inn frozen pizzas, at $5.99 each (for a frozen pizza, they are surprisingly good, and everybody deserves a break from real cooking every once and a while). Muir Glen organic pasta sauces are $2.79 a jar, a whole bunch of snacks are 25% off (like you need to eat more stuff right now), and they have ten fresh catering trays at 25% off.

Whole Foods is also doing a quickie, with a sale only lasting through December 29th, instead of their usual two or three weeks. I'm liking satsumas at $1.68 a pound, and their availability is very brief, pineapples $2.50 each (Sprouts has them for the same price, but these come with the Whole Trade pedigree), eight ounces of Belgioioso burrata $4.99 each, king salmon (not specified in the ad but has to be previously frozen)$19.99 a pound for fillets, four-packs of Izze's sparkling drinks $3.99 each, and 365 brand organic canned chili three for $5, for when you are feeling overwhelmed. Plus you can treat yourself with four-packs of Rubicon chocolate peppermint cream cupcakes for $3.49 each, less than $1 per cupcake.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Beware The Imagine Broth Ring Up

The Whole Foods store on Pearl Street has a huge display (maybe five or six feet wide and several feet high) of my beloved Imagine organic broths, proclaiming them to be on sale for $2.50 each (two for $5). However, today, taken from that big display, they rang up at $3 each, also noted as a sale price. A kind person ran back to that display (facing the meat counter) and returned to confirm the two for $5 price, which was quickly adjusted on my bill. But I also want to double check the price I was charged for Blue Moose roasted red pepper hummus, which I grabbed because it was marked at a particularly good sale price that I didn't pay much attention to, yet rang up at basically $6, yikes.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Christmas Is Almost Upon Us

With Christmas at the end of this week, it's time to get serious about planning some food. Here are a few guides to help you out: Best Christmas Ever from Epicurious, Holiday Headquarters from Whole Foods, and Ultimate Holiday Cookbook from Cooking Light.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Weekend Sales At Alfalfa's

Alfalfa's is doing some great specials through tomorrow, including prime rib roast for $10.99 a pound, and they have very good beef indeed. Also, the olive bar is 20% off, sustainable cooked shrimp are $10.99 a pound (the size isn't specified), and wild caught lobster tails are $5 each. Plus, if you look around, there are various places to find a coupon for $20 off a $100 purchase, including yesterday's print Daily Camera, and often on Facebook, if you "like" them.

More Whole Foods Sales

Tis the season to be too busy to write blog posts, and since I just do this for fun, I'm not going to angst about it. In any case, Whole Foods has introduced a few new sales through the 22nd, in addition to the parm and Rao's mentioned below. Select 365 brand frozen appetizers are a whopping 40% off, some DeCecco's pastas are $2 a box (too bad they don't carry the whole wheat fettuccine anymore), and Whole Foods' own French milled soaps are $4.99 for a 4.4 ounce bar that comes in a giftable tin.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Slew Of Sales At Whole Foods

Not sure if I even have time to cover all of these, and they have different time periods, so pay attention!

One week sale through the 22nd:

Parmigiano Reggiano $15.99 a pound, and select Rao's pasta sauces to go with it for $5.99 a jar.

"Happy hour" cheese sale for tomorrow, 4 to 7 p.m. only, Borough Market Stilton half price.

All weekend, tomorrow through Sunday:

Two brands of toys and stuffed animals 30% off, golden king crab $16.99 a pound, and four sales on the various grades and darkness of maple syrup by Crown Maple. Panettone also on sale, I suppose really good for French toast, but that's not my thing.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Tree Sale At Whole Foods

Through Christmas Eve, Whole Foods has now marked their Nordman fir trees at $39.99 each, and I believe for each tree you buy, they pay to plant another (am sure I read that, but no time to double check right now).

This Weeks's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Good snowy, beautiful morning, Boulder. I think they were expecting only about half the amount of snow we got yesterday. In any case, we have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while there also should be something new at Vitamin Cottage, must check that out. Here's what's looking good to me now.

In Sprouts' new sale through December 24th (yikes, one week away!), I'm liking value packs of chicken breast tenders (thighs also, and it's possible those might be the only ones requiring the value pack, unclear from the ad) for $1.69 a pound, their "Presidential Cut" standing rib roast $7.99 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork also) $3.99 a pound, and bone-in pork shoulder roast $2.49 a pound. In fish, fresh farmed Atlantic salmon fillets are $5.99 a pound, previously frozen wild Alaskan cod fillets are $7.99 a pound, and previously frozen "chem-free" cooked 31/40 count farmed peeled and deveined shrimp are $8.99 a pound, easy shrimp cocktail.

In organic produce at Sprouts, the stunner is Valencia oranges at 48 cents a pound. Organic table carrots or russet potatoes are both $2.98 for a five pound bag, Braeburn or red delicious apples are $1.50 a pound, and 5.6 ounce containers of blackberries are $2.50 each. I don't ususually bother with conventional produce, but this week I'm interested in asparagus at $1.98 a pound and pineapples just 98 cents each. Elsewhere in the store, I'm liking all Spice Hunter items at 50% off, bulk coffee $6.99 a pound, 750 ml bottles of San Pellegrino 99 cents each, some Voskos Greek yogurts for just 88 cents, some Lundberg rice packages 35% off (really interested in that one), and lots of Sprouts' own brand products on sale.

At Whole Foods through December 29th (takes us just about to New Year's!), I'm liking their Whole Trade pineapples for $2.50 (98 cents this week at Sprouts, but without that assurance re fair deal for the farmer), satsumas $1.68 a pound (and their season is short, so enjoy while you can), and eight ounces of Belgioioso burrata $4.99 each. It doesn't specify, but I'd assume previously frozen, king salmon fillets, the best in my opinion, can be enjoyed at $19.99 a pound. Some Udi's gluten-free frozen pizzas are $5.99 each, four-packs of Rubicon chocolate peppermint cream cupcakes are $3.49 each, and when you're really tired of all the shopping, decorating, cooking and partying bustle, you can open a can of Whole Foods' 15 ounce organic chili at three for $5.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Sprouts Essential Oils Webinar

Major apologies, as this webinar occurs today, but it has been exceedingly busy around here right now. In any case, Sprouts is offering a really good-sounding webinar this evening on last minute DIY gifts using essential oils. Registration details can be found here.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Superior Supports My Favorites

Every year, Superior Liquor (in Superior, obviously) does a wonderful campaign in which you can donate your customer points to a great cause, which they then brilliantly leverage through additional corporate sponsorship. This year, customer club members have the splendid choice of donating to Community Food Share or the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, two of my favorite organizations ever. And thanks to the corporate support they've arranged, every $1 you give in accumulated points becomes $3 to the organization of your choice. You have until December 31st to donate, so consider doing it if you are a member!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Prices On Wreaths

I took a look at wreaths while I was at the Pearl Street store a bit ago, and they have 20 inch wreaths on sale for $12.99 each. I didn't notice a sale end date, but last year it went all season. The kicker however is that the wreaths I saw are completely devoid of decoration, fine if you happen to like doing it all yourself. By contrast, the wreaths I previously mentioned from the Trader Joe's flyer are 22 inch ones accented with juniper and pine cones for $9.99 each. So you get a bigger wreath already sporting some decoration for a lower price.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Alfalfa's Tasting Fair Tomorrow

The Alfalfa's store in Boulder will hold a holiday tasting fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, the 12th. (Their Louisville store got its chance last weekend.) If it's anything like the one I enjoyed while doing Thanksgiving shopping, it will be fabulous.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Weekend Sales At Whole Foods

Our local Whole Foods stores will offer us a bunch of special sales to celebrate the weekend. First of all, for tomorrow, from 4 to 7 p.m. only, the "happy hour" cheese special will be my favorite applewood smoked gouda half price, yum. For tomorrow through Sunday, there will be a quartet of sales, with all items by Earth Therapeutics 30% off, Uniekaas Robusto cheese $13.99 a pound, the 32 ounce size of RW Knudsen apple cider $2.50 each, or triple your size while just doubling the price by buying the big 96 ounce size for $4.99 a jug (the jug is cider & spice only, while the smaller one also comes in apple ginger).

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Prime Rib Sale At Alfalfa's

For today through this Sunday, the 13th, prime rib roast at Alfalfa's is on sale for $9.99 a pound. Alfalfa's has very fine beef, with no hormones or antibiotics ever.

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have a new sale starting today at our Boulder Sprouts stores while the current one continues through the 15th at Whole Foods, and just through this Saturday, the 12th, at Vitamin Cottage (heads up on that one). Here's what's looking good to me now.

For this weekend, Friday through Sunday, Sprouts will do yet another 72 hour sale. Items appealing to me include boneless pork loin chops (roast also) just $1.79 a pound, previously frozen raw 26/30 count shrimp $4.99 a pound, 1.25 liters of Crystal Geyser sparking water 79 cents each, 24-packs of Arrowhead water $2.99 each, and Hass avocados two for $1 (although those are better when they're three for that price).

In Sprouts' regular sale through December 16th, I'm liking fresh chicken breast tenders $1.88 a pound, "Presidential Cut" standing rib roast $7.99 a pound, whole or split chickens $1.69 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork also) $3.99 a pound, fresh ground chicken (breast or thigh) or pork $2.99 a pound, and previously frozen Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets $7.99 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, tomatoes are great at $1.98 a pound, Braeburn or red delicious apples are $1.50 a pound, four pound bags of Valencia oranges or grapefruit are $2.98 each, and black seedless grapes are just $1.98 a pound. Elsewhere in the store, I'm liking a line drive on all Barbara's products a whopping 50% off, some Odwalla juices $1.99 each, my favorite Blue Diamond Artisan Nut-Thins $2.50 a box (that's quite good for the Artisan ones), and the entire bulk department (the bins, spices and coffee) is 25% off, so I know where I'll be getting my bulk coffee beans this week.

One-Day Sale At Whole Foods Today

For today only, the 9th, our local Whole Foods stores will have top sirloin and petite sirloin steaks for $7.99 a pound.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Great Wreath Price At Trader Joe's

The new "Fearless Flyer" from Trader Joe's has a particularly good price for a 22 inch wreath at just $9.99 each (often to be found more like $25), accented with juniper and pine cones. Add your own bow if you wish.

Last year, Whole Foods was doing a similar size for about $12.99 as a special. I haven't yet had a chance to check on that this year. I'm still planning on paying full price for my wreath at the lovely local farm where every year we offer to buy an armload of trimmings from the bottoms of their sold Christmas trees to use as loose evergreen decorations, and every year they tell use we're welcome to just take them. Not going to reveal that family secret location.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Colorado Gives Day Tomorrow

Not particularly food-related (although you can find some great opportunities to support those in need of that), tomorrow is Colorado Gives Day, a day in which you can focus on donating to those non-profits of your choice that make this such a great community. Details and donating can be found on their website.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Last Day For The Winter Market

It's your last chance to get to the final fling of the Boulder Farmers' Market this year, their Winter Market out at the fairgrounds in Longmont. In addition of lots of gift-buying opportunities from wonderful local crafts people, you can stock up on winter produce from those farmers you love. On that front, here's what the Market says to expect:

In Season Now


arugula, bell peppers, beets, cabbage, cardoons, carrots, celeriac, chevril, escarole, frisee, garlic, horseradish, kale, leeks, lettuce, mache, minutina, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, pac choi, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, tatsoi, tomatoes, turnips, winter squash 

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Alfalfa's Loves Beef Lovers

Since a fabulous holiday tasting fair was happening, I did my shopping today at the Alfalfa's in Louisville, not terribly far from me. I was so impressed, I'm planning on ordering my standing rib roast for Christmas from them instead of Whole Foods this year. While I don't yet have info from Whole Foods to compare it with, Alfalfa's price of $13.99 a pound for a bone-in rib roast, plain or seasoned with rosemary and garlic or smoked salt and pepper, seems very reasonable for the very good beef they carry. Speaking of which, Alfalfa's is also courting beef lovers with an excellent price on organic ribeyes and NY strip steaks and roasts, $12.99 a pound, half off, in their regular sale through December 15th. That's from the flyer, and it may have been a fluke, but today the strip steaks were marked at just $9.99 a pound instead.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Alfalfa's Louisville Tasting Fair Tomorrow

Tomorrow, the 5th, the Alfalfa's store in Louisville will offer a holiday tasting fair from 4 to 6 p.m. If it's anything like the one I went to at the Boulder store for Thanksgiving, it will be fabulous. By the way, they also have wild caught king crab for $16.99 a pound through Sunday.

Hanukkah Celebration Guides

Despite the lovely warm weather, Hanukkah is just around the corner this weekend. If you are looking for some culinary inspiration for your Festival of Lights, here are a few guides to help you out: Our Best Hanukkah Recipes from the New York Times' Cooking collection, Hanukkah from Epicurious, and Hanukkah Recipes from Cooking Light magazine.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Winter Farmers' Market This Weekend

With its regular season now ended, the Boulder Farmers' Market will host a special Winter Market out at the Boulder Fairgrounds in Longmont this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. A good chance to check out both local food and gift possibilities from local crafts people. Here are the details from the Market (but oh no! this is one of those things that will cut off on the right when I paste it in - think you can get all the info you need, though):
9th Annual Winter Market
December 5 and 6
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building
9595 Nelson Rd., Longmont

In Season at Winter Market




Fresh produce
arugula, bell peppers, beets (gold, red, chiogga), cabbage, cardoons, carrots (yellow, purple, orange), celeriac, chevril, escarole, frisee, garlic, horseradish, kale, leeks, lettuce, mache, minutina, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, pac choi, parsley, potatoes (yukon gold, sweet, fingerling, red), radishes (cherriette, watermelon, daikon, black), rutabaga, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, tatsoi, tomatoes, turnips, winter squash (spaghetti, acorn, butternut, pumpkin)

Other farm products
beef, cornmeal, dried beans (anasazi, hidasta red, scarlet runner, purple crescent, tiger eye, black), lamb, pig leather, popcorn (red, purple, yellow), pork, seeds, sheep pelts, wool

Winter Market Weekend Schedule  

 

Saturday, December 5
Live music from Heartwood Duo and The Heartstring Hunters
Gift-wrapping by Firehouse Art Center, sponsored by Two Hands Paperie
10-11am: The Roost Chef Demo
11-11:25am: Silver Canyon Coffee Demo
11:35am-12pm: Colorado Aromatics Demo

Sunday, December 6

Live music from Defunkt Railroad and Flynn & Co.
11-11:25am: Homemade European Foods Demo
11:35am-12pm: Daybreak Criations Alpacas Demo

Join our Facebook event to stay updated on Winter Market vendors and events

Weekend Sales At Whole Foods

After our recent feeding frenzy, Whole Foods is laying back by offering us just a duo of special sales this weekend. Tomorrow's cheese happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. only Mountain time will be Uniekaas duo cow-goat cheese 50% off. For the whole weekend, tomorrow through Sunday, some scarves and accessories will be 30% off.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Cookie Love From Whole Foods

A while ago it was 25 cent coffee, then 25 cent oatmeal. Now Whole Foods is celebrating National Cookie Day by giving us their own baked chocolate chip cookies for a mere quarter, not just for a day, but for a week, running through December 8th. Caveats being while they last, limit three per customer. Like I need this temptation right after Thanksgiving...

One Week Sale At Whole Foods

From today through December 8th, peeled and deveined raw shrimp are $9.99 a pound. The online listing doesn't specify size or fresh/frozen, so it's hard to compare with Sprouts' shrimp sale this week at $6.99 a pound (look one post below for that one).

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Back to a more normal Wednesday after last week's holiday rush and sale hiatus, we have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while the current one continues at Vitamin Cottage through December 12th (use the list of posts at the lower left to find that one). Here's what's looking good to me now.

Sprouts' new sale lasts through December 9th, and it's interesting that after their taking last week off from new sales, this week their flyer is only two pages instead of four, so half as many items to peruse. In any case, I'm liking value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts (thighs also) for just #1.77 a pound, if I'm ready for more poultry, all chicken sausage $3.99 a pound, and their very good stuffed chicken breasts $2.99 a pound (guess I'd better be ready for chicken). In fish, previously frozen wild Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets are $9.99 a pound, and previously frozen 31/40 count peeled and deveined wild shrimp are $6.99 a pound (not very big, but all the work is done for you).

Not much to report regarding organic produce at Sprouts, as the only item listed in this abreviated flyer is organic mini seedless watermelon at $2.50 each. If you're willing to go conventional, five pound boxes of Cuties mandarins are $3.88 each. Elsewhere in the store, I'm liking some Earth Balance buttery spreads (sticks also) at just $2.99 each (timely, as Thanksgiving nearly wiped out my supply), 40% off the entire line of very good Back to Nature products, Organic Vally salted or unsalted butter $3.99 a one pound package, Tillamook Greek yogurts 77 cents each, some Delallo pastas $1.50 a one pound package, and to go with it, Rao's pasta sauce $4.99 a jar.

In the new sale at Whole Foods through December 15th, I'm liking organic Pink Lady apples at just $1.68 a pound, domestic sockeye salmon fillet $12.99 a pound (although you'll find that cheaper at Sprouts this week, but Whole Foods always has such glorious fish), 12 ounce Isigny St. Mere brie for $5.99 each, my favorite Imagine organic broths $2.50 a box, and their own organic cranberry baguettes sound intriguing at $2.49 each (just how would you enjoy a cranberry baguette?).

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Holiday Recovery Foods

If like me, you've spent too much time finishing off those rich Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge, you might be interested in the post holiday detox suggestions from Food and Wine magazine. Quinoa and veggies do sound good about now. Just in time to start thinking about Christmas and all those holiday foods yet to come, since it's happy December 1st.