Thursday, March 31, 2016

Paleo Cooking Class

The Whole Foods on Pearl Street will host a Paleo cooking class this Sunday, the 3rd, from 10 to 11 a.m., taught by Michele Spring of Thrivingonpaleo. Meet near the food bars in the store.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while the current long one at Vitamin Cottage continues through April 2nd, just to this Saturday at this point. Here's what's looking good to me now.

At Sprouts through April 6th, value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts are just $1.69 a pound, pork baby back ribs are $2.99 a pound (and once we get past these couple of days with light snow, it's looking like great grilling weather), all chicken sausage are $3.99 a pound, whole or split fresh chickens are $1.69 a pound, and boneless New York steaks are $9.99 a pound. In fish, previously frozen wild Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets are $7.99 a pound, but that's last year's fish when we're nearly on to this year's fresh wild season, and none of the other fish specials are catching my eye.

Since this week's Sprouts feature is an Organic Sale, it's an even better than usual week for organic produce. One pound containers of organic strawberries are $2.50 each, cluster tomatoes are just $1.48 a pound, Pink Lady apples or Bartlett pears are also $1.48 a pound, one pound bags of baby carrots are $1.50 each, red or gold bunched beets are also $1.50 each, and four pound bags of Valencia oranges or grapefruit are $2.50 each. In conventional produce, avocado fans will enjoy them for 50 cents each.

Elsewhere in the store, the news is also the Organic Sale, and since I buy so many things in organic, that makes for a pretty appealing week to me. I'm liking some bulk organic coffee at $7.99 a pound, the entire line of Nature's Path products 40% off, Horizon Organic milk fabulous at $2.99 for 64 ounces, some Simply Organic spices 40% off, Horizon mac and cheese $1 a box, some R.W. Knudsen juices $2.50 a 32 ounce bottle, and there's lots more.

At Whole Foods through April 5th, I'm liking 26/30 count raw peeled and deveined shrimp for $9.99 a pound ($6 off), and their own big organic sourdough boules for $4.49 each. Organic Bartlett pears are good for them at $1.69 a pound, but you'll find them for less this week at Sprouts, above. Organic navel oranges are $3.99 for a three pound bag, and navels are prized at this time of year, but if organic Valencias are okay with you, Sprouts has a bag that's a pound larger for just $2.50. There are some 365 product specials looking good, like an organic frozen lasagna or a frozen vegan pizza, either for $2.50.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Amazing Heritage Apple Class

Wow, this puts the two humble apple trees I have in my yard almost to shame. The Whole Foods on Pearl Street will host a two-part class on heritage apples with the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project this Saturday, the 2nd. The first part, from 10 to 11 am, is a free brief history of apples in Colorado. The second part, from 11 to noon, is where it gets really interesting: a grafting workshop. It's free to observe, $40 donation to MORP to participate (20 spots max). Paying participants will receive four rootstock per person and a bunch of other things, leaving them ready to take their four heritage trees home with knowledge of whip and tongue grafting, and how to care for and manage the trees. Email RM.NORCO.COMMUNITY@wholefoods.com to reserve a spot as a participant (no sign-up needed to observe).

And I take back my snark about my own apple trees - they've been there since the dawn of time as far as I know, so perhaps they are in fact heritage!

Paleo Store Tour

The Whole Foods on Pearl Street will offer a Paleo Store Tour this Thursday, the 31st, from 7 to 8 pm. They say on Facebook to meet in the cafe before the start of the tour.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Dine Out For Wildlife

As if an excuse is needed, dining out can also do good. Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center does remarkable work saving injured or orphaned wildlife here. There are several upcoming opportunities to dine out in support of their work. Here's what Greenwood says:

DINING OUT FOR WILDLIFE - UPCOMING EVENTS

On Friday, April 1, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., treat yourself to a gourmet vegan buffet at Jill's Restaurant
in the St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder. All proceeds from this culinary fest go toward helping the wildlife at Greenwood.  Vegan Fridays feature an ever-changing array of dishes made only using the freshest ingredients. 
On Saturday, April 9, from 1 - 4:30 p.m., savor a toasted s'more with homemade grahams, marshmallows and dark chocolate (made to order!) at Robin Chocolates in Longmont. Robin won't charge for these delicious treats, she just requests a donation to help the animals at Greenwood. And you can pick up some mouth-watering, heavenly chocolates while you're there. 

 
On Monday, April 11, enjoy delicious Italian food at Parma Trattoria and Mozzarella Bar in Louisville for lunch or dinner - or both! A big percentage of the profits that day will help care for the animals at Greenwood. Parma offers authentic and fresh cuisine as well as an extensive wine list to indulge your senses. Dinner reservations are recommended.  

Did you ever think you could make a big difference for Colorado wildlife just by eating?  That's a no-brainer, right? 

Saturday, March 26, 2016

One Week To Farmers' Market

Enjoy a bit of typical Boulder spring slush while contemplating that the Boulder Farmers' Market opens for the season one week from today. Spring crops are probably loving this.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Weekend Whole Foods Sales

So I'm on another computer now, but this is definitely not a long term solution. Here are the weekend sales at our local Whole Foods stores, where I somehow hit the wrong key to get my own computer really mad at me.

GALAXY DESSERTS
Mini Mousse Cakes
(4 oz) Select varieties. Valid 3/25-3/27/2016.
$4 ea
Regular $5 each
YOU SAVE $1
Valid 3/25 - 3/27
$1 OFF
SEAFOOD
Alaskan King Crab Legs
(Per lb) Valid 3/25-3/27/2016.
$21.99 / lb
Regular $27.99 / lb
YOU SAVE $6
Valid 3/25 - 3/27
$6 OFF
HERVE MONS
St. Nuage Cheese
(180 grams) Valid 3/25-3/27/2016.
$9.99 ea
Regular $13.99 each
YOU SAVE $4
Valid 3/25 - 3/27
$4 OFF
AMPELOS
Pinot Noir
(750 ml) Where wine is sold. Valid 3/25-3/27/2016.
$17.99 ea
Regular $26.99 each
YOU SAVE $9
Valid 3/25 - 3/27
$9 OFF
FRESH, WILD CAUGHT
Halibut Steaks
(Per lb) MSC Certified. Valid 3/25-3/27/2016. Limited supply! Please contact store for details.
$19.99 / lb
Regular $21.99 / lb
YOU SAVE $2

Ooops

Whole Foods has in fact posted some new sales for the weekend, but I hit something wrong and now can't get anything to display correctly. This is going to take some work. Going dark for a while, sorry.

Taste Of Pearl Coming Up

It's not until April 17th, but the annual Taste of Pearl tends to sell out, so check it out soon if interested. You can read all the details and purchase tickets here.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

No Weekend Sale?

I'm not seeing anything special in Whole Foods' sale listing where they usually include one-day or weekend sales. Maybe we should all just stay hunkered down for a bit longer and let the snow melt.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Good cold and snowy Wednesday morning, Boulder. We have new sales starting today at our local Sprouts and Whole Foods stores (although many at Whole Foods look like they are carrying over from last week), while the current one continues at Vitamin Cottage through April 2nd (look a ways below for that one). Here's what's looking good to me now.

Sprouts will kick off Easter weekend with another 72-hour sale, from Friday through Sunday. Boneless country style ribs are fabulous at $1.29 a pound, but lacking appeal if I'm doing a ham on Sunday. Big five pound boxes of Cuties mandarins are just $3 each, really big 13/15 count previously frozen ez peel shrimp are $7.99 a pound, some 59 ounce bottles of Simply Juice are $2.50, and mild bulk cheddar is just $1.99 a pound, among other sales.

In Sprouts' regular sale from today through March 30th, I'm liking boneless pork loin chops (roast also) for just $1.99 a pound, their "Presidential Cut" standing rib roast $7.99 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork also) $3.99 a pound, and fresh ground chicken, chicken breast or pork $2.99 a pound (think Asian wraps as an Easter antidote). I don't usually cook dark chicken meat, although it is favored by chefs for flavor and juiciness, so I'll mention that value packs of chicken thighs or drumsticks are just 79 cents a pound. In fish, fresh farmed salmon fillets have been lower, but not bad at $7.99 a pound this week, and previously frozen Alaskan cod fillets are really good at $5.99 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, some of their own 10 ounce salads are $2.98 a container, on-the-vine tomatoes are great at $1.98 a pound, five pound bags of table carrots or russet potatoes are $2.98 each, and strawberries are $2.98 for a one pound container. Conventional asparagus remains $1.98 a pound, but I haven't been too thrilled with where they have been getting theirs this season, as it has been consistently skinny and kind of reedy.

Elsewhere in the store at Sprouts, the primary news is a big sale on Sprouts' own brand, with specials all across the store. Also, they have ten fresh catering trays at 25% off.

At Whole Foods through March 29th, I'm pleased to see conventional asparagus remain really good at $1.99 a pound, as I much prefer theirs to Sprouts' right now, and I need some for this Easter week. New York strip steaks are $12.99 a pound, $7 off, and very fine American Homestead boneless pork loin chops are $6.99 a pound, highlighting the usual dilemma since Sprouts has chops at $1.99 a pound. Uniekaas Parrano gouda cheese is $9.99 a pound, $7 off, shrimp platters (one pound of shrimp, plus cocktail sauce) are $14.99 each, Extra dark Allegro French roast coffee is $7.99 a pound in bulk (also $7.99 a pound for 12 ounce bags of it, but why not get the larger quantity for the same price in bulk), and their own large prepared quiche are $2 off (price of them varies). Produce listed as organic sweet potatoes are $1.49 a pound, but it says garnet or jewel, which to my mind means they are yams (picky, picky). It also looks like there are good prices on their 365 brand of organic canned tomatoes and organic rice pilaf.

Stay safe in the snow, which is technically a blizzard because of the winds right now.

Alfalfa's Specials

Alfalfa's is getting in the mood for Easter with a quartet of specials, one just for today, others today through Sunday. The $20 off $100 has a plu of 8141, but it's not clear what its timeframe is (if you like them on Facebook, you'll see that special appear frequently). Here's what they say (sorry I can't copy the cute egg pictures):

Egg #1 gives you $20 off your purchase of $100 or more. Use this to help you provide your family and guests with a meal from the most trusted grocery store in town. 
Egg #2 invites you to take 20% off our entire Delicatessen! Learn from our expert mongers about our selection of over 300 cheeses while you save big. Stock up the fridge with charcuterie and lunch meats. Build a cheese platter, and indulge in our acclaimed olive bar. (Wednesday Only!)
Egg #3 Lamb is a center piece of a traditional Easter meal. Impress your guests withColorado Local Boneless Lamb Leg at only $9.99/lb, antibiotic and hormone free. (Wednesdsay - Sunday)
Egg #4 Mary’s trusted family owned, free-ranged Whole Turkeys for only $1.99/lb. It simply does not get any better than this. You can rest assured we never offer meat that has added hormones or antibiotics. (Wednesday - Sunday)

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Wellness Webinar At Sprouts

Sprouts will be doing another wellness webinar, a week from today on the 29th, this time on Plant-Based Nutrition for Energy, Endurance and Recovery. You can get all the details from them and register here.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Easter Next Weekend

It seems so soon, coming in March, but Easter is this coming Sunday. For a few menu/recipe guides, try checking these out:  Easter 2016 from Epicurious, Celebrate Easter from Cooking Light, and Easter Recipes from Food and Wine magazine.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Boulder Farmers' Market Starting Soon

Happy first partial day of spring, since it arrives late this evening. A pleasant thought, with a bit of snow still coming down after the more than a foot we got by yesterday. So that means to mark your calendar for the upcoming start of this year's Boulder Farmers' Market two weeks from today on April 2nd. Both downtown Boulder and the Longmont markets will start their Saturdays then, with the downtown Wednesdays to follow on May 4th. And there will even be a regular outpost of the market at Union Station in Denver starting June 4th. What a way to celebrate the Boulder Farmers' Markets' 30th year!

Friday, March 18, 2016

Weekend Sales At Whole Foods

I'm finding via a couple of sources that there indeed will be some special sales at our local Whole Foods stores for today through Sunday. Icelandic cod fillets, breaded or unbreaded are $14.99 a pound, $2 off, and all facial care products are 25% off.

25% Off All Facial Care

Whole Foods Has An App

Whole Foods has introduced an app with special deals that you can only get through it, like a recent $3 off an avocado cucumber sushi roll. You evidently display the deal at checkout to get it.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

A Great List Of CSAs

If you haven't yet chosen a CSA for this rapidly approaching season (or maybe just enjoy the flexibility of the Boulder Farmers' Market instead), you might want to peruse the Daily Camera's list of this year's CSA offerings. Note that the Camera has good advice to do your research regarding details before choosing what's right for you.

And happy Saint Paddy's Day! (And by the way, if you call it Saint Patty's, as often mistakenly happens, you are talking about a girl.)

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Frasca A James Beard Finalist

Eater Denver is reporting that this morning, Boulder's own Frasca Food and Wine was named one of the five finalists for the James Beard Foundation's award for Outstanding Restaurant. With other contenders being luminaries from New York, Chicago and the like, Frasca is certainly putting Boulder on a prestigious map. Master sommelier Bobby Stuckey has already won a Beard award for Frasca for Outstanding Wine Program in 2013. Winners for this year will be announced at a gala on May 2nd.

One-Day Sale At Whole Foods Today

For today only, the 16th, our local Whole Foods stores are offering whiskey wrapped salami (the whiskey part I guess as a nod to St. Paddy's day tomorrow), for $9.99 each, $5 off. How does one wrap a salami in whiskey? Anyway, here's what Whole Foods says:

CREMINELLI
Italian Whiskey Wrapped Salami
(6 oz) One Day Sale: Valid 3/16/2016
$9.99 ea
Regular $14.99 each
you save $5
Valid 3/16 - 3/16

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have a new sale starting today at our Boulder Sprouts stores. Whole Foods has also posted a new sale flyer, although some appear to be continuing from last week. And the long-lasting sale at Vitamin Cottage continues through April 2nd, so look at the post just below this for that. Here's what's looking good to me now.

At Sprouts through March 23rd, balue packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts (thighs also) are just $1.77 a pound, fresh whole or split chickens are $1.69 a pound (a little more for fully cut up), their very good stuffed chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork also) are $3.99 a pound, and stew beef is finally a decent price at $3.99 a pound. In fish, fresh farmed Atlantic salmon fillets or tilapia are both $6.99 a pound, and previously frozen Alaskan snow crab clusters are $7.99 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, four pound bags of grapefruit or Valencia oranges are just $1.98 each, cauliflower or broccoli are decent at $1.50 a pound, unless you can catch either today on the last day of the fabulous 98 cents a pound sale (although the broccoli was out of stock yesterday), and one pound clamshells of strawberries are $3.98 each ($1.50 for conventional, but I always go organic for berries). One thing I do buy in conventional is asparagus, which remains great at $1.88 a pound (although Whole Foods continues to nearly match that this week).

Elsewhere in the store at Sprouts, there's a big Frozen Frenzy, with 20% off the current price of everything frozen. This makes lots more sense when they do that at this time of year, rather than in the midst of summer, with beautiful fresh, local food everywhere. I'm also enthused about bulk coffee $7.99 a pound, some Fage Greek yogurts just 79 cents each, 50% off all Spice Hunter items (stock up!), my favorite Imagic organic broths are fantastic at $2 a box, and Annie's mac and cheese is even better that at Vitamin Cottage at just $1 a box. For some spring cleaning, some Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products (Sprouts' own brand also) are 25% off, Seventh Generation dish or hand soaps are great at $2.50 each, and the big size of Seventh Generation laundry detergents are $9.99 each.

Instead of doing their prior two- or three-week sale flyer, Whole Foods continues to confound me by now posting a sale flyer weekly, but where some things repeat more along the old pattern. This week's flyer includes items I remember from last week, like the pork chops, but also has some that look new to me (I just don't have time to look back to last week's post for details). Of particular interest to me in the new flyer through March 22nd are Allegro extra dark French roast coffee at $7.99 a pound, if you particularly seek Allegro rather than the Sprouts coffee sale, 365 organic butter extraordinary at $2.50 a pound (more than half off), 365 Spanish olive oil $6.99 for the big 33.8 ounce bottle, organic beefsteak tomatoes $1.99 a pound, and seven ounce Kerrygold Dubliner cheddar $3 each, just in time for Saint Patrick's Day tomorrow. Some Fage Greek yogurt cups are $1 each, but you'll do better at Sprouts for that. To brighten your house, you can get two 10 stem bunches of daffodils for a mere $3 altogether, if you are lucky enough to have a home where they wouldn't immediately be devoured by pets.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

New Sale At Vitamin Cottage

There's a new sale at Vitamin Cottage lasting through April 2nd, but I had to park waaaay behind the back of the building to get the current Health Hotline flyer. In any case, in this sale that takes us through Easter, I'm liking pints of organic mini peppers for $2.50 (great on the grill, and that's getting easier with daylight savings), and 4.4 pound bags of organic red potatoes are $3.99 each, although Sprouts frequently sells five pound bags of organic russets, which can also serve as baking potatoes, for less. For snacks, my favorite Blue Diamond Nut Thins are $2.29 a box, and Barbara's cheese puffs are $1 off at $1.99 a bag, while big 13 ounce bags of Kettle potato chips are $3.49 each. Some Annie's mac and cheese boxes are $1.69 each (great to keep on hand for when dinner inspiration is lacking or you simply get home late), Cucina Antica pasta sauces are $4.59 for a 25 ounce jar (they're good), some Amy's soups are $2.19 a 14 ounce can, $1 off, Spectrum organic Mediterranean olive oil and refined canola oils are at steep discounts, sone Lundberg organic rice mix boxes are $2.35 each (so convenient when you don't want to take the cheaper from scratch route), Back to Nature cereals (including a gluten-free) are $3.95 a box, various Clif bars are 99 cents each, Justin's peanut butters are $3.79 for a 16 ounce jar, and all R.W. Knudsen juices are 25% off. There are decadent discounts on Horizon Organic half & half or heavy whipping cream, my favorite Kerrygold Irish butter is $3.35 for eight ounces (enjoy it with some toasted brown bread and a couple of rashers), their Dubliner cheese block is $3.99 for seven ounces, and moving on to dessert, my favorite Pamela's gluten free cookies are $2.79 a box, plus they have a cool-looking new mini cookie option for $2.59.

Plus, being Vitamin Cottage, there are plenty of specials on supplements. Wow, that's a lot of stuff catching my eye this time.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Corned Beef At Whole Foods And Alfalfa's

It fortunately has been years since I've bought a prepackaged corned beef filled with nitrates, nitrites, phosphates and other nasties for my Saint Patrick's Day feast. I've opted instead for the marvelous in-house brined brisket that Whole Foods always offers, and have always loved it. This year is an experiment; having been at Alfalfa's yesterday for their St. Paddy's Day preview celebration, I decided to pick up their own in-house brined brisket for a change (it's $8.99 a pound at both Whole Foods and Alfalfa's). Interestingly, while the ingredient lists from both stores contain only things that might come from your own garden (with the exception of the brisket, unless you happen to be a rancher), the list on the Whole Foods corned beef is much longer, with items like clove and mustard seed not mentioned in the Alfalfa's list. Thinking I might be disappointed in my new purchase, I took a peek under the wrapper, and while not as heavily coated with seasonings as the Whole Foods ones are, it definitely looks to have everything I want.

By the way, the Saint Patrick's Day celebration at the Boulder Alfalfa's was a bit of a bust yesterday, at least while I was there. They were certainly selling tons of the Odell's beer bangers at $1 each, but there were no Irish dancers (possibly a schedule conflict as they were dancing at the Shortest Parade a few blocks away, and maybe turned up later), and Irish samples promised throughout the store were nonexistent, unless chips with salsa and caramel popcorn are somehow Irish. But I did hear from a friend that the Louisville Alfalfa's did somewhat better with their Saturday celebration, and that the Irish dancers were great there.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Whole Foods Celebrates Pi Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is your second chance of the year to celebrate pie, the food, the first having been in January with National Pie Day (pie with an "e"). But tomorrow being March 14th, 3/14, it is Pi Day, for folks with a mathematical sense of humor (is that an oxymoron?), Pi being about 3.14159. It therefore is another day to celebrate with pie, and Whole Foods is offering three great options. Their six inch pies at better than half off are a real winner, plus pizza pie also comes into play. Here's what they say:

WHOLE FOODS MARKET®
9-Inch Apple or Cherry Pie
(36 oz)
$9.85 ea
Regular $12.99 each
you save $3.14
Valid 3/14 - 3/14
$3.14 OFF
WHOLE FOODS MARKET®
Select 6-Inch Fruit Pies
(13 oz) Celebrate Pi Day with a pie that costs just $3.14!
$3.14 ea
Regular $6.99 each
you save $3.85
Valid 3/14 - 3/14
$3.85 OFF
WHOLE FOODS MARKET®
Take & Bake Pizzas
(Select 16-inch pizzas) Celebrate National Pi Day!
$10.99-$12.99 ea
Regular $12.99-$14.99 each
You save $2.00 ea
Valid 3/14 - 3/14

CSA Fair Tomorrow

If you haven't yet picked your CSA for this year (I went with Red Wagon Organic Farm the moment they announced their season), there will be a CSA happy hour in Niwot tomorrow, where you can discuss details with some farms. Here's the news from the Boulder Farmers' Market, and sorry it has cut off on the right. You can always check with the Farmers' Market or Powder Keg Brewing for details, but it's from 5 to 8:

CSA Happy Hour This Monday in Niwot
 


What's a better pairing than local beer and local food? We're hosting an informational CSA Happy Hour this Monday, March 14 with seven of our vendors. This year, make a commitment to eat fresh, local food at a great value, and in turn, support your farmers as they invest in preparation and planting for the coming season.

Powder Keg Brewing Co. in Niwot is opening just for us on their day off. Local farms will join us from 5 to 8pm to talk to you about their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, representing everything from vegetables and meat to flowers and eggs.

A huge thank you to Powder Keg Brewing for their support of this event. Powder Keg is located at 101 2nd Avenue in Niwot. Join the event's Facebook page for updates leading up to the CSA Happy Hour. 

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Daylight Savings Tonight

And I indeed have a culinary connection for this one. Don't forget to spring any remaining non-auto-setting clocks ahead an hour by tomorrow morning. With daylight savings, you'll have one extra hour to get grilling outside before it gets dark. Sunset will still be a tad early for dinner in my book, but it's at least getting better.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Alfalfa's Previews St. Paddy's Day

Alfalfa's is celebrating St. Patrick's Day early with Irish dancers, $1 Odell beer bangers, and free samples this weekend. The Louisville store will go at it tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m., while the Boulder store will do Sunday, noon to 2. If Thanksgiving and Christmas were any indication, Alfalfa's does the finest holiday tastings in town. They will also start offering their house-brined corned beef starting Sunday (the 13th), and I'd bet its ingredient list will be as pure as Whole Foods. Will definitely look into it, since I'll be there for those $9.99 a pound grassfed ribeyes (and maybe a tasting or two).

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Alfalfa's Is Doing Steaks Again

Alfalfa's has no respect for my cholesterol-watching attempts. Once again they are doing their great grassfed ribeye steaks for $9.99 a pound through the weekend, and it should be a good one for grilling, with temperatures around 70. Plus there will be an extra hour of evening light with Daylight Savings Sunday. Sorry this will cut off on the right.

Weekend Sales At Whole Foods

Our local Whole Foods stores will offer us a quartet of special sales for tomorrow through Sunday, although the two fish specials are closely related, and look like nice options as Lent winds down. The KMF sunscreens are 30% off (that little banner always cuts off on the last item copied). Here's what they say:

FLORAL
Tulip Bunches
(10 stem bunches) Give yourself a hint of spring!
3 for $12
Regular $9.99 each
you save $17.97
Valid 3/11 - 3/13
$17.97 OFF
SEAFOOD
Breaded Walleye Pike Fillet
(Per lb)
$14.99 / lb
Regular $18.99 / lb
you save $4
Valid 3/11 - 3/13
$4 OFF
SEAFOOD
Walleye Pike Fillet
(Per lb)
$14.99 / lb
Regular $17.99 / lb
you save $3
Valid 3/11 - 3/13
$3 OFF
KISS MY FACE
Sunscreens
(.15-14 oz) Select Varieties
Sale price $2.39-$13.99 ea
Regular price $3.49-$19.99 ea each
You save 30%
Valid 3/11 - 3/13

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Back to usual after a busy day, here's what looking good to me in some new Boulder natural grocery sales.

Before getting to its new weekly sale, Sprouts will be doing another 72 hour sale this weekend, Friday through Sunday, during which organic blueberries will be beautiful at $1.25 for a six ounce carton, pork loin baby back ribs will be $2.79 a pound, and garlic & herb turkey breast will be $4.99 a pound, among other items.

In Sprouts' regular sale from today through March 16th, boneless pork loin chops (roast also) look great at $1.99 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork also) are $3.99 a pound, and a very lean 93% lean ground sirloin is $4.99 a pound. With St. Patrick's Day coming up, corned beef is of course also on sale, but that's something I always splurge on at Whole Foods for the house-corned beef with its remarkably simple ingredient list. In fish at Sprouts, previously frozen wild Alaskan cod fillets are $7.99 a pound, but this late since it has been frozen, I'm not sure about the idea of wild Alaskan sockeye salmon also $7.99 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, I'm enthused about broccoli or cauliflower both 98 cents a pound (a particularly great deal for cauliflower, when a head can easily weigh a couple of pounds or more). Also, red or gold beets or celery are all just 98 cents a bunch, and jumbo pineapples are $3.98 each. Elsewhere in the store, I'm liking conventional asparagus at $1.98 a pound, some Rudi's gluten-free breads $3.99 a loaf for my gluten-free friends, some Near East rice or couscous boxes $1.50 each (such an easy cheat for a side or to mix with chicken or shrimp for a main), very big 16 ounce bags of Garden of Eatin' tortilla chips $2.99 each, bulk domestic Swiss cheese $3.99 a pound (for those leftover corned beef sandwiches), and some Celtic Gold Irish cheddar cheeses $3.99 each, although I'm not familiar with that brand and usually look for Kerrygold.

In what looks to be a new sale at Whole Foods, currently listed through March 15th (although they've taken to doing repeats for a week or so), I'm liking their fine American Homestead boneless pork loin chops at $5.99 a pound, but then there's the usual dilemma of pedigree vs. price when you consider the chops at Sprouts this week for $1.99 a pound. Conventional asparagus is $1.99 a pound, effectively a tie with Sprouts, and I generally like the asparagus at Whole Foods better. Uniekaas Parrano gouda is a steal at $9.99 a pound, $7 off, and it's also a great week for the Spanish version of the 365 Everyday Value brand of olive oil, $6.99 for a 33.8 ounce bottle, $3 off.

Something new also should be happening at Vitamin Cottage, as the long sale there concluded last Saturday. Will eventually check that out too.

Not Yet This Week's Deals

Many thanks to those folks who've told me they've come to enjoy my Wednesday morning posts on new natural grocery sales in Boulder, but sometimes a busy day like today just interferes. Until I can get to it, here are some links if you'd like to check out the sales:

Sprouts store on Arapahoe (generally indicative of Baseline too)

Vitamin Cottage (aka Natural Grocers)

Whole Foods at Pearl (generally indicative of all their local stores)

Hope to be looking at them myself shortly!

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Saint Patrick's Day Ideas

It's not too soon to start thinking about what you might want besides/instead of corned beef and cabbage next week. I think I've also posted previously about how the Irish themselves couldn't afford corned beef in this country for many years, thinking themselves lucky to have a bit of salt pork to flavor that cabbage. And in Ireland prior to the famine, most people really lived on potatoes. In any case, if you are looking for more celebratory fare for Saint Paddy's day, check out Let's Have the Best St. Patrick's Day Ever! from Bon Appetit, or St. Patrick's Day Recipes from Food and Wine magazine. And by the way, it's supposed to be Paddy, not Patty for the day.

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Geographic Tackles Food Waste

The new March issue of National Geographic takes on a favorite topic of mine, our horrible food waste, in its cover story, "How 'Ugly' Fruits and Vegetables Can Help Solve World Hunger." It is staggering how much food is wasted worldwide and how many hungry people it could feed. There are interesting related articles on the right, too.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Beekeeping Classes Starting Soon

Growing Gardens will offer a series of beekeeping classes to start next Saturday the 12th, and taking you with monthly classes through your journey into the fall. Costs and details found here.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Vitamin Cottage Heads Up

Last call for the current sale at Vitamin Cottage (aka Natural Grocers), which ends tomorrow, the 5th. My faves listed in my prior report here, although keep in mind stocks on the best sale items do tend to run out at the end.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Alfalfa's Talk On Natural Sleep Solutions

The Boulder area may have a laid back image, but the truth is many of us are as stressed out and sleepless as anywhere else. The Alfalfa's store in Louisville will be offering a talk this Saturday afternoon on Natural Solutions for Sleep Issues. Here's what they say:

Natural Solutions for Sleep Issues

Louisville: Saturday 5th 4 - 5:30pm

Karen Cino, PhD, MH
Salveo Holistic Wellness
Not sleeping enough and not sleeping well is not ok. The effects of sleep deprivation go well beyond a groggy morning.  In fact, the Center for Disease Control describes insufficient sleep as a public health epidemic.  Lack of sleep can lead to wide ranging health problems including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.  Discover common sleep issues and what you can do to sleep better.
- See more at: https://www.alfalfas.com/events/#sthash.hl34d7w8.dpuf

Weekend Sales At Whole Foods

For tomorrow through Sunday, our local Whole Foods stores will offer us a duo of special sales. Addicts of fine lip balms, rejoice. As for the barramundi fish, I've found it to be great in a fish chowder, but haven't tried any other methods. Here's what they say:

RESPONSIBLY FARMED
Barramundi Fillet
(Per lb) Whitefish highest in omega-3s
$8.99 / lb
Regular $10.99 / lb
you save $2
Valid 3/4 - 3/6
$2 OFF
BURT'S BEES
Select Lip Balms
(0.15-0.30 oz)
2 for $5
Regular $3.27-3.99 ea each
YOU SAVE $.77-1.49 ea
Valid 3/4 - 3/6

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Cine Chef At BIFF Friday

As part of the Boulder International Film Festival, there will be a rather pricey event for foodies this Friday, the 4th at the Rembrandt Yard Gallery. Local chefs featured include Bradford Heap, Mark Monette and Hosea Rosenberg, and there is also a screening of City of Gold. Lots involved, so you can read all the details here, and possibly try the passcode "Insider" for a $20 discount if registering.

One-Day Sale At Whole Foods Today

For today only, a windy March 2nd, a Kikka sushi salmon avocado roll is half off at $3.99 each, as Whole Foods reports:

KIKKA SUSHI
Salmon Avocado Roll
(1 roll)
$3.99 ea
Regular $7.99 each
you save $4
Valid 3/2 - 3/2

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Good Wednesday morning, or maybe not so good, given the chaos that occurred yesterday evening at Boulder's overloaded caucuses. In any case, we have a new sale starting today at our Boulder Sprouts stores, while Whole Foods is looking largely like what I reported last week. And Vitamin Cottage's long-lasting sale ends this Saturday, the 5th, so heads up on that one. Here's what's looking good to me now.

Sprouts has a new sale starting today that runs through March 9th, but with their double ad Wednesdays, I'd say the primary thing would be to grab anything further you want today from the big BOGO sale they've been doing for the past three weeks. That has been a great opportunity, and it looks like today's the last day. Today's flyer that comes in the paper also has a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $30 or more. Past experience has been the flyers in the store don't have such coupon.

In that new sale through the 9th, I'm liking value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts (thighs also) at $1.77 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork also) $3.99 a pound, pork spare ribs $1.99 a pound (great to bbq if the wind dies down), fresh whole or split chickens $1.29 a pound, and fresh ground chicken, chicken breast or pork for $2.99 a pound, so useful in Asian dishes. In fish, their surprisingly good fresh farmed Atlantic salmon is $6.99 a pound and fresh farmed tilapia fillets are also $6.99 a pound, but none of the other specials really catch my eye.

In organic produce at Sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower are both $1.50 a pound, six-ish ounce containers of blueberries or blackberries are $2.98 each, and four pound bags of Valencia oranges or grapefruit are $2.50 each. Elsewhere in the store, there's a plant-based sale, with all Silk, So Delicious, Earthbound Farm and Vega products all 35% off regular price. Some of my favorite Earth Balance buttery spreads (sticks also, and no cholesterol in either) are excellent at $2.99 each, some 15 ounce Odwalla juices are BOGO, Food Should Taste Good tortilla chips $2 a bag, the 15-ish ounce size of Muir Glen organic tomatoes $1.25 a can, Alexia frozen potato fries BOGO, and for a super easy dinner combined with some of that sale chicken breast, 6-ish ounce boxes of Lundberg rice or risotto mixes are $2 each (certainly cheaper if you do it all yourself, but the box is set with the right rice mix and herbs).

Whole Foods this week looks largely as I reported last week (look several posts down for that). The crostata with blackberries and blueberries is still calling to me at $7.99 each, even though that is only $1 off.