This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Good morning, Boulder friends.  What is this liquid that is falling so beautifully from the sky?  I vaguely remember seeing it a long time ago.  But it's also Wednesday, so time for the new specials, at both Sprouts (including the former Sunflower) and Whole Foods.

At Sprouts through September 19th, bone-in New York steaks or 26/30 count peeled and deveined shrimp can both be had for $5.99 a pound.  Boneless country style pork ribs, wickedly good done in a smoker, are just $1.99 a pound (same for the pork shoulder cut).  Fresh wild coho salmon fillets and previously frozen swordfish steaks are both $8.99 a pound (I don't usually like previously frozen swordfish, but one time got an excellent piece at Sprouts, followed by one that didn't live up to the prior one).  It's not a great week for a chicken sale here, with tenders advertised at a probable high of $3.99 a pound (hope this isn't a merger effect).

In organic produce, I'm pleased to see one pound bags of baby carrots remaining at $1.25 a bag, as I go through a lot of them, and $1.99 is the usual price elsewhere.  Red or green (and black this time) grapes are inching up to $2.49 a pound, while a one pound clamshell of strawberries can still be had for $2.99.  Broccoli is $1.49 a pound, red or green leaf lettuce is $1.29 a head, grape tomatoes are $1.99 a pint, and five pound bags of russet potatoes are stil $3.99 each.

Sprouts is also offering a bunch of BOGOs (shades of last week), including five ounce Earthbound Farm organic salads, Oikos Greek yogurts, Lundberg rice chips (my downfall, but their rice cakes are BOGO too), Cascadian Farm ten ounce organic frozen veggies, Cascadian Farm organic cereals, the 14.5 ounce size of Muir Glen organic fire-roasted tomatoes, and Westbrae organic beans in the 15 ounce can.

Whole Foods is being a bit mysterious in the midst of change.  I have to check their new specials online, since I can't get my hands on their hardcopy sale flyer until I get to the store, and they appear to be changing their web design once again.  The Pearl Street store now has a mini set of boxes showing specials effective from today through September 25th, while the downloadable pdf is still the flyer that expired yesterday as of this writing.  So looking at just the nine specials in the boxes, I'm pleased to see organic heirloom tomatoes continue at $3.99 a pound, and organic gala apples are $1.99 a pound.  Whole Foods tends to have excellent chicken, so a two pound bag of Nature's Rancher boneless skinless chicken breasts for $6.99 each sounds pretty good, especially considering Sprouts has upped mere chicken tenders to $3.99 a pound this week (i.e., $7.98 for two pounds).  Also, Muir Glen canned tomatoes are $2 each, but the size isn't specified; that's good if it's the large can, but bear in mind that Sprouts has the small can of the fire roasted ones on BOGO this week.

Sunflower Now Sprouts

The "merger" has been official for quite some time, but now it's visual too - the store that was our Boulder Sunflower is now signed everywhere, inside and out, as Sprouts.  And you can use that $5 Sprouts coupon that was in last week's sale flyer there, too.  The bad news is that, as I feared, they're closing out my favorite Luigi Vitelli whole wheat dried pasta in the store that was Sunflower.  It will be hard to find a quality replacement anywhere near the $1.49 it was selling for, but in the meantime, I picked up all I could handle at the $1 a package closeout price.

This Week's Hot New Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Sunflower (both logos still coexisting on the new sale flyer), while the current sale continues at Whole Foods (click for prior report).  Here's what's looking good to me in the new sales.

At Sprouts and probably Sunflower (there's still that fine print about the merger in progress and price differential possibilities) through September 12th, surf & turf is featured, with porterhouse steak $6.99 a pound, and very big 16/20 count shrimp $5.99 a pound.  Value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound, not the lowest we've ever seen, while chicken (also pork) sausage are $2.99 a pound as well.  Rosie's organic whole fryers or grill packs are $2.79 a pound, previously frozen Alaskan cod fillets are $7.99 a pound, fresh (farmed) Atlantic salmon is just $4.99 a pound, and there's a big "buffalo stampede," with many types of bison on sale.

In organic produce, baby carrots remain nicely low at $1.25 for a one pound bag, red or green grapes are $1.99 a pound, one pound clamshells of strawberries are $2.99, celery is $1.29 a bunch, five pound bags of russets are $3.99 each, grape tomatoes are back down to $2 a pint, and the march towards prepackaged produce unfortunately continues.  There's a lot of BOGO action, including Earthbound Farm organic salads, my favorite Cascade fresh yogurts (good thing, considering they've bumped up the regular price), Cascadian Farm cereal, Westbrae organic canned beans, Oikos Greek yogurts, and Near East pilafs and couscous (select varieties for all).  Last but not least, conventional avocados are 50 cents each, not as good as last week's three for $1, but still pretty good.

Weekday Dinner Ideas, Starting With Labor Day

So what to do for Labor Day tomorrow?  It obviously has to include something on the grill, which I'm thinking will be the St. Louis ribs from American Homestead Pork that Whole Foods has for $3.99 a pound.  Potato salad would be classic on the side, and I like the very light, veggie-filled version from Cooking Light, light and fresh potato salad, with its vinaigrette dressing.  And of course, some ears of fresh Munson's corn on the cob.

Tuesday is our usual reheat of something big made over the weekend, which this week is the corn and green chile chowder from the Food Network.  Much as I'm enjoying these soups and chowders, I'm secretly starting to look forward to returning to some comforting casseroles when the days start cooling off in the fall.

For Wednesday, we'll finally give the corn a break, using the raw shrimp that are $3.99 a pound at Sprouts and Sunflower through that day to do spicy shrimp and fettuccine from Cooking Light, since the runners in the family will be clamoring for pasta by then.

I'll also grab some of the top sirloin that's $3.99 a pound through Wednesday at Sprouts and Sunflower to do a longtime favorite for Thursday, sirloin steak with tomato and cilantro sauce from Bon Appetit.  The steak mixture is great either on its own, or wrapped in warm tortillas.

Which quickly gets us heading well into September, as I'm seeing more and more yellow leaves around my yard.

Weekend Dinner Ideas

With a busy Labor Day weekend ahead, this will be quick, but at the height of our summer produce, also seasonal!  I'm inclined towards incorporating Munson's corn into just about every meal while we have it, so with raw shrimp $3.99 a pound at Sprouts and Sunflower, tonight will be shrimp and corn pilaf from Bon Appetit.  I'll up the basil, considering how well my basil plants are doing.

Tomorrow we'll head out to the grill, and with boneless top sirloin just $3.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower, a good option is ginger-soy grilled steak, also from Bon Appetit.  Ears of fresh Munson corn to go with that, too.

With roasted Hatch chiles already available at Whole Foods, I'll try a recipe new to me on Sunday, corn and green chile chowder from the Food Network.  Doesn't get more seasonal than that.

Which quickly gets us through most of a long weekend, during which I'll practically be camping out at Munson's stand at 75th and Valmont.

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting this week at our Boulder Sprouts, Sunflower, and Whole Foods.  This may be the last week I get to say Sprouts and Sunflower, as this week's combined ad notes that "This week, your Sunflower Farmers Market is becoming Sprouts Farmers Market."  The ad also contains a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $30 or more, good through September 23rd, in celebration of the merger.  It further contains some mysterious fine print about how the advertised prices are only for Sprouts, although I've found them at Sunflower.  Here's what's looking best to me in the sales.

At Sprouts and hopefully Sunflower through September 5th, boneless top sirloin is low at $3.99 a pound, all chicken sausage (pork, too) are $2.99 a pound, fresh wild coho salmon fillets are $8.99 a pound, and pretty small 41/50 count raw shrimp are $3.99 a pound.  In organic produce, green or red grapes are $1.99 a pound, one pound bags of baby carrots remain low at $1.25 each, six count packages of romas are $2.50, Italian (think zucchini) or yellow squash three count packages are also $2.50 (this prepackaging is driving me nuts - I wanted one squash a couple of days ago and had to buy three), broccoli isn't the lowest we've ever seen at $1.49 a pound, grape tomatoes have bumped up to $2.50 a pint, and celery is $1.29 a bunch.  Avocado fans will enjoy conventional ones at three for $1.  I'm glad to see my favorite Cascade Fresh yogurts on sale for 69 cents, which used to be their usual price at Sunflower, until the merger bumped them to a whopping 99 cents each.  Pamela's gluten-free cookies are tempting at $3 a box, and unspecified fresh mozzarella cups are $3.99 for eight ounces.

At Whole Foods through September 11th, the big news to me is 20% off the entire bulk department, excluding the prepackaged items.  Think strategically, my friends.  How about the super-pricey pine nuts for that pesto you'll be preparing and freezing shortly from your flourishing basil plants?  Grab them now at 20% off.  In meat, I'm a fan of their American Homestead pork, and their St. Louis ribs look good at $3.99 a pound, especially with Labor Day on the horizon.  Organic heirloom tomatoes also look good at $3.99 a pound.  Their own smoked salmon spread is $12.99 a pound, only $1 off, but oh so good.  For us non-bakers who like smaller dessert options, half summer pies (still a big 18 ounces) are $6, and to make your Labor Day table festive, you can get a five stem bunch of sunflowers for $5.

Weekday Dinner Ideas

With a busy weekend as we look towards the end of summer, this will be super quick.  Tomorrow will be a simple chicken stir-fry over brown rice.  I've posted plenty of recipe possibilities in the past, but really, all you need is the chicken ($2.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower for boneless skinless breasts), a base of fresh ginger, garlic, and red chiles, and a whole bunch of organic veggies on top (organic broccoli $1.29 a pound at Sprouts and Sunflower), seasoned with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, or whatever.

Tuesday is our usual reheat of something big made over the weekend, which this week is our chile corn chowder.  I opted to do the one from my ancient recipe from the original Alfalfa's, but I'm also interested in the green chile corn chowder Mark Bittman featured on the Today Show this week.

We'll want pasta by Wednesday, and sticking with the summer bounty theme, it will be pasta with corn, zucchini, and tomatoes from the New York Times, with more corn from local Munson Farm.  Since our prior chowder was vegetarian, I'll add a bit of chicken or turkey sausage to this dish for the meat fans of the family.

Thursday will be a classic simple midweek meal, sauteed pork chops, using the center-cut ones on sale at Sprouts and Sunflower for $2.99 through Wednesday.  Some microwaved "baked" potatoes from the organic russets both stores have at $3.99 for a five pound bag would make a great side.  And maybe even more fresh corn on the cob from Munson Farm.

Weekend Dinner Ideas

With Labor Day nearly upon us and the unofficial end of summer looming quickly, this weekend just has to be about grilling and summer produce.  Tonight will be fresh salmon on the grill.  Mine will be from the one-day sale just past at Whole Foods, but Sprouts and Sunflower have fresh wild caught coho for $7.99 a pound.  A favorite way to do it right now is grilled salmon with roasted corn relish from Cooking Light, which gets in that fresh local corn from Munson Farm, and also the freshly roasted chiles newly available at the Pearl Street Whole Foods.

We'll return to the grill for Saturday, this time for country style pork ribs.  They're $2.49 a pound at Sprouts and Sunflower, but I'll probably spring for a little more to get the American Homestead ones that are $3.99 a pound at Whole Foods.  Something terrifically seasonal will go on the side, probably tomato and corn salad with marjoram from Bon Appetit if I'm feeling refined, or straight ears of Munson's corn if in more of a picnic mode.  A caprese salad using our local tomatoes and the one pound logs of Crave Brothers fresh mozzarella that are just $5.99 each at Whole Foods right now would also be good, topped with fresh basil from my burgeoning herb pots.

We'll need a big pot of seasonal soup by Sunday, and it will be a chile corn chowder:  either one in my files dating back to the original Alfalfa's (dating myself there, too) or the one from Mark Bittman featured just this week on the Today Show, corn and green chile soup (that link actually has all four corn recipes shown in Bittman's spot, all of which sound great).

Which gets us through another beautiful Boulder weekend, complete with the USA Pro Challenge bike race!

This Week's Hot New Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have a new sale starting today at our combined Boulder Sprouts and Sunflower, while the current one continues at Whole Foods (click for prior report).  Here's what's looking good to me in the new sale.

As reported last week, Sprouts and Sunflower now share one set of weekly specials as they continue their merger, the current one lasting through August 29th (eek, almost Labor Day!).  I'm liking a fish-centric Wild Caught Seafood Spectacular, with several types of fish all $7.99 a pound.  The fresh ones are coho salmon fillets and albacore tuna steaks, while previously frozen options include swordfish, cod, and very big 16/20 count shrimp.  Boneless skinless chicken breasts in the value pack and center-cut pork loin chops are both $2.99 a pound, not the lowest price ever, but Sprouts' own stuffed chicken breasts are good at that same $2.99 a pound.  Whole or cut-up chickens are $1.49 a pound, and country style pork ribs are $2.49 a pound.

In organic produce through the 29th, Sprouts and Sunflower have broccoli for $1.29 a pound, baby carrots $1.25 for a one pound bag, red or green seedless grapes for a particularly good $1.50 a pound, leaf or romaine lettuce just 99 cents a head, russet potatoes $3.99 for a five pound bag, grape tomatoes $1.99 a pint, plums just 99 cents a pound, cantaloupe 69 cents a pound, and here comes that butternut squash, very good at 99 cents a pound, but I refuse to go there in the midst of our summer produce bonanza.

Elsewhere in the stores, I'm enthused about bulk coffee at $7.99 a pound.  I've always liked Sprouts for carrying a Fair Trade organic decaf, which is a steal at this price, and I haven't noticed that Sunflower has adopted that product yet in the merger.  Chobani Greek yogurts are $1 each, some Evol burritos are $2 each, and select half gallons of Horizon Organic milk are very low at $2.99 each, although Whole Foods' everyday price on its own line of organic milk is even lower than that.

Cheese Sampling At Sunflower

Our Boulder Sunflower plans a Cheese Sampling this Wednesday, the 22nd, from noon to 2 pm.  They invite you to "stop by our Cheese Department to try a tasty sample!"

Weekend Dinner Ideas

With about zero time on a busy Friday, here's a quick rundown of dinner plans.  Tonight, some wild salmon is going out on the grill.  I'm pulling the coho from my freezer that I got for a steal at the Whole Foods one-day sale a couple of weeks ago, but Sprouts and Sunflower have fresh wild sockeye for $9.99 a pound, and Whole Foods has fresh coho for $14.99 a pound.  With the heirloom tomatoes $3.99 a pound and a big one pound log of Crave Brothers fresh mozzarella $5.99 a pound at Whole Foods, a simple caprese salad will go alongside, plus maybe some Munson's corn on the cob.

Speaking of corn, tomorrow will be some version of corn and cod chowder from Food and Wine magazine.  Instead of the cod, I might use the haddock fillets that Sprouts and Sunflower have for $5.99 a pound, although I'm also toying with the idea of using salmon fillet instead.  Organic romaine is just 99 cents a head at both Sprouts and Sunflower for the side salad.

We'll be back out on the grill Sunday, doing the boneless ribeye steaks that are $6.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower.  A seasonal summer celebration will go on the side, and I've been wanting to try eggplant and zucchini in tomato-garlic sauce, a new one from Bon Appetit.

Which quickly gets us through one of the last weekends in August, sniff.

This Week's Hot New Grocery Deals

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts, Sunflower, and Whole Foods.  Here's what's looking best to me, IMHO as always.

Sprouts and Sunflower have been slowly marching towards being one store as they merge, and this week they've taken the big step of issuing just one joint ad of specials.  The Sunflower logo still appears below the Sprouts one, but I imagine that will disappear soon.  Less comparison for me to have to do on prices, but that means less competition and variety as well.
At both Sprouts and Sunflower through the 22nd, boneless ribeye steaks and super big 16/20 count raw shrimp both look good at $6.99 a pound, fresh wild caught Alaskan sockeye fillets are $9.99 a pound, and ground pork and all chicken sausage are $2.99 a pound.  My favorite Ezekiel breads are $3.99 a loaf, and double cream brie is $7.99 a pound.

In organic produce at both stores through the 22nd, one pound bags of carrots are $1.25, red or green grapes are $1.99 a pound (same for the green at Whole Foods), five pound bags of russets are $3.99 each, romaine lettuce is just 99 cents a head, six packs of romas are $2.50 (much as I dislike prepackaged produce, I'm learning to live with some of it, heading to Whole Foods for the rest), grape tomato pints are $1.99 each, one pound clamshells of green beans are $2.50, and celery is $1.29 a bunch.

Whole Foods is giving me more food for thought, so to speak, than usual through August 28th.  I'm liking boneless country style pork ribs for $3.99 a pound.  You'll find them for less elsewhere, but I think the American Homestead pork is worth a little extra.  My favorite Market Made Hatch green chile burgers, in both beef or turkey (yay!) are $4.99 a pound (and with fresh roasted Hatch chiles now available, at least at the Pearl Street store, you can also consider making your own, which couldn't be easier).  In organic produce, green grapes, plums, and Bartlett pears are all $1.99 a pound (same for the grapes at Sprouts).  Organic figs are just $3.99 a pound, and I hope their being advertised means they'll be in stock for the next two weeks.  I've been in fig withdrawal all summer, having great difficulty getting my hands on organic figs.  Organic heirloom tomatoes are $3.99 a pound, and consider pairing them with a particularly good deal, my favorite Crave Brothers fresh mozzarella at $5.99 for a big one pound log.  Scatter some ribbons of basil from your garden over them and you have an instant caprese salad.

Sunflower's Night On The Patio

Our Boulder Sunflower will host another of its Nights on the Patio this Thursday, the 16th, from 5 to 7 pm.  They promise "Free live music.  Burgers from the grill are just $3.  Fun for all ages!"

Weekend Dinner Ideas

Oh my, Friday already, so it's time for a quick rundown of the weekend dinner plans.  For tonight, some sort of fish will go on the grill.  It might be the fresh wild caught albacore tuna steak on sale at both Sprouts and Sunflower for $9.99 a pound, but halibut-lover that I am, I'm also considering the fresh halibut fillets that King Soopers has for $16.99 a pound (also fresh coho salmon (the "meh" salmon?)fillets for $9.99 a pound, both with card).  Some organic yams will also go on the grill, either as spears or diced in foil packages, and for the side veggie, we'll try a new one from Bon Appetit, tomato salad with shallot vinaigrette, capers, and basil.  Since it's gloriously tomato time, the toms could come from your own garden (with the deer in our neighborhood, we gave up on that long ago), a Farmers' Market purchase (Wednesday or tomorrow), heirlooms available at Whole Foods and sometimes elsewhere, or the organic beefsteak tomatoes Sprouts has at $2.50 for a three-count package this week (six romas for the same price at Sunflower, if you want the smaller shape).

We'll be back out on the grill tomorrow, and with boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower, it will be some version of chicken.  Being at the apex of summer produce, eggplant seems to be the darling of the moment, so I'm thinking grilled chicken and ratatouille from Bon Appetit, possibly using globe rather than Japanese eggplant.  Although eggplant's something I'd always seek out in organic (probably at Whole Foods or tomorrow's Farmers' Market), and there aren't any advertised specials in front of me for it, I'll bend my principles to mention that conventional is cheap at both Sprouts (88 cents a pound) and Sunflower (99 cents a pound).

We'll still need something big to make by Sunday to serve as an easy midweek reheat as well, so with corn fever firmly entrenched, it will be corn and fingerling chowder with applewood-smoked bacon from Cooking Light.  Other organic potatoes do fine if you're not inclined to locate the fingerlings, and Sprouts has five pound bags of organic russets for $3.99 each, probably the amount you'd pay for one pound of organic fingerlings.

Which gets us through the weekend's plans.

Pancake Sampling At Sunflower

Pancakes aren't my thing, but this Saturday, the 11th, our Boulder Sunflower will be doing a Pancake Sampling from 10 am to noon.  They say, "We're serving pancakes.  Stop by for a treat!"

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Sunflower, while the current sale continues at Whole Foods through August 14th (click for prior report).  Here's what's especially appealing to me in the new sales.

Sprouts and Sunflower have been sharing meat and fish specials for several weeks as their merger progresses, and this week, that sharing has extended to all advertised specials except produce, which remains ornery with some differences.  In their shared meat and fish specials through August 15th, I'm particularly liking boneless center cut pork loin chops or boneless skinless chicken breasts (value pack) at $1.99 a pound.  Boneless New York steaks are $7.99 a pound, and whole or cut up chickens are $1.49 a pound.  In fish, Atlantic (read: farmed) salmon is $7.99 a pound, and I'm curious to check out the fresh, wild caught Hawaiian albacore tuna steaks for $9.99 a pound.  In dairy, both stores have my favorite Cascade Fresh yogurts at a very good 69 cents each.

In organic produce at Sprouts through the 15th, differences between the two stores can be noted with the broccoli, which is on sale for $1.49 a pound at Sprouts, but just 99 cents at Sunflower.  Organic produce looking good at Sprouts includes baby carrots at $1.25 a one pound bag, russet potatoes $3.99 for a five pound bag, celery 99 cents a bunch, one pound of strawberries for $2.50 (same at Sunflower), six ounces of blueberries also $2.50, red or green grapes $1.99 a pound, and red or black plums $1.29 a pound.  And Sprouts continues to offer their prepackaged organic specials, which I don't particularly favor, although a package of three organic beefsteak tomatoes for $2.50 sounds pretty good.

In organic produce at Sunflower through the 15th, broccoli is great at 99 cents a pound, leaf lettuce is $1.50 a head, green onions are just 50 cents a bunch, one pound of strawberries is just $2.50 (same at Sprouts), and six ounces of either blackberries or raspberries are also $2.50.  We're continuing to see the unwelcome march towards prepackaged organic produce, but I have to admit the a package of six organic romas is a pretty good deal at $2.50, since all the packages I've weighed so far have been about a pound and a half.

Those heading farther afield might be interested in fresh wild coho salmon for $9.99 a pound and large avocados $1 each with card at King Soopers through the 14th.

Supper Sampling At Sunflower

This Wednesday, the 8th, our Boulder Sunflower will be doing a Simple Supper Recipe Sampling from 4 to 6 pm, when they invite you to "stop by to try a new Sunflower dinner recipe!"

Weekday Dinner Ideas

Sunday already, time to get going on weekday dinner plans.  The asparagus that's $1.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower through Wednesday seems to be heavily influencing my thinking (maybe because I need a bit of a break from my Munson's corn fetish).  Tomorrow will be asparagus and leek risotto with prosciutto from Bon Appetit.  Whole Foods usually has chunks of prosciutto that are good for cooking, at a considerably lower price than they charge for the freshly sliced product.

Tuesday is our usual repeat of something big made over the weekend, which this week is the cod adaptation of smoky shrimp and halibut stew from Bon Appetit.  With a quick salad on the side and maybe some bread from the Whole Foods bakehouse, that's dinner in a flash.

We'll turn back to that sale asparagus for both Wednesday and Thursday, buying it by the end of the sale on Wednesday.  Since we'll be looking for a pasta dish by Wednesday, it will be penne with asparagus, spinach, and bacon from Cooking Light.  Another side salad, and we're done.

Something Asian-inspired will be needed by Thursday, so we'll finish off that sale asparagus with chicken, asparagus, and broccoli stir-fry from Bon Appetit, using the chicken breast tenders that are $1.99 a pound through Wednesday at both Sprouts and Sunflower.  Served over brown rice, with some steamed edamame on the side, it's an easy dinner.

Which gets us through to Friday's planning.

Weekend Dinner Ideas

This week's natural grocery sales are definitely putting me in a grilling mood, which is a good thing for the first weekend of August.  Some fish will go on the grill tonight.  It could be the fresh wild sockeye that's $9.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower, but first I'm going to check out the previously frozen swordfish steaks that both have for $8.99 a pound.  I don't usually go for previously frozen fish when there's a fresh option, but I was pleasantly surprised by the swordfish I had from Sprouts a little while ago.  Some steamed asparagus (conventional is $1.99 a pound at both Sprouts and Sunflower) will have to go along with that fish.  Or the asparagus might also go on the grill, if I can ever locate my grilling basket for such things.

We'll be back out on the grill tomorrow, trying out the filet mignon that both Sprouts and Sunflower have for $9.99 a pound.  With steaks, some Munson's corn fresh from the field will have to figure in, either as straight ears, or perhaps dressed up in something like corn and summer vegetable saute from Cooking Light.  Sunflower also has organic yams at $1.50 a pound to also go on the grill in spears.

Sunday will be time for a big chowder, and with super big shrimp $6.99 a pound and cod $7.99 a pound, it will be my cod variation on smoky shrimp and halibut stew from Bon Appetit.  Sprouts has organic leaf lettuce or romaine at $1.29 a head for the side salad.

Which quickly gets us through the weekend.

This Week's Hot New Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our local Sprouts, Sunflower, and Whole Foods.  With time extremely tight, here's a quick rundown of what's appealing to me.

Sales that Sprouts and Sunflower have in common through August 8th:  chicken breast tenders $1.99 a pound, filet mignon $9.99 a pound, fresh wild sockeye salmon $9.99 a pound, chicken sausage $2.99 a pound, huge 16/20 count raw shrimp $6.99 a pound, ground pork $2.99 a pound, and conventional asparagus $1.99 a pound.  Also, previously frozen center cut swordfish is $8.99 a pound.  While I'm not a big fan of previously frozen fish, I did have quite good luck with this swordfish at Sprouts a bit ago, and Sunflower is now using the same fish supplier as Sprouts, so I'm thinking I'll give it another try from either store.

In differing sales, organic baby carrots are quite good at $1.25 for a one pound bag at Sprouts, but stunning at Sunflower at 99 cents for the same.  Sprouts also has pints of organic grape tomatoes for $2 and organic leaf lettuce or romaine at $1.29 a head, organic romas $2.50 for a six pack, and organic russet potatoes $3.99 for a five pound bag.  At Sunflower, the standout is really those organic baby carrots, along with organic hothouse tomatoes just 99 cents a pound (although it's time for non-hothouse locals), and red or green organic grapes $1.99 a pound.  Sunflower also has the 15-ish ounce size of Muir Glen organic tomatoes for $1.25 each.

At the new sale at Whole Foods through August 14th, I'm liking Stonyfield Farms organic fat-free yogurts at 5 for $3, New York strip steaks for a surprisingly good $12.99 a pound, Laughing Cow Babybels half price at $2.50 a package, and the big Seventh Generation laundry detergent for $12.99.