Shop Cheap

It's State Fair time and a little lull in the grocery action as summer winds down and back-to-school heats up. Here's what's hot at area supermarkets this week:

If you like grapes, you're in luck. They are available everywhere.

Kellogg's cereals are a real deal.

It's tomato time with vine ripened and heirloom varities.

And, lastly, ribs are reasonable. You've go to check out The Bee's Gwen Schoen demonstrating the proper way to trim and season ribs on videos.sacbee.com.

Here are the highlights:

Raley's/Belair has the deal on seedless grapes at 99-cents a pound. They also have melon on sale for 37-cents a pound. Once you see Gwen's video you won't be able to resist the ribs, which are $1.99 lb. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.69 lb. Go back and get the recipe for Lemon Basil Chicken that was in the Thursday blog. I tried it on Saturday and it was excellent. Also at Raley's/Belair, tri-tip for $3.97lb. To compliment your meal, grab a fresh baguette from the bakery for 99-cents. On the cereal front, Kellogg's varities are $4 off when you buy four boxes. That's $1.50 each. Michelina's frozen meals are 79-cents each and Barilla Pasta is $1 a bpx. Try the new mini pasta varities. They work in pasta salads. In produce, you'll find heirloom tomatoes for $2.97lb; limes at 5/$1 and zucchini for 99-cents a pound. And if you're shopping Raley's/BelAir, be sure to check out the milk prices. Last Saturday, I got 2 gallons of Bayview Fat Free for $4.29, a dollar cheaper than the previous week.

SaveMart has back-to-school lunch in mind with Chicken of the Sea tuna for $1 a can and red seedless grapes, also 99-cents a pound. Sunnyside farms bread is 3/$5 and Sunny Select bottled water is $3.50 a case. Quaker granola bars are buy 2, get 2 free. Whole watermelon is $3.99; jumbo cantaloupe 2/$3 and berries are still plentiful. Raspberries are $3.99 for 12 oz; blueberries are $3.99 for 18oz. Tomatoes ont he vine ar $1.69 and the radish/green onion/cilantro trio is 49-cents each.Savenart also has ribs on sale for $1.99lb and those Michelina's frozen meals for 79-cents.

Safeway is the only supermarket that continues to BOGO (buy one, get one free). You can find BOGO savings on Foster Farms chicken breasts or chicken tenders; Farmland hickory smoked bacon; Tropicana juices; Ritz crackers or Chips Ahoy!; Trans Ocean imitation crab; Lucerne large eggs (18-count); Safeway Select ice cream and Hefty one zip storage bags. In regular grocery stuff, Safeway has blueberries $5.99 for 2.5lbs; tomatoes on the vine $1.77lb; green beans for 99-cents a pound and red bell pepper 2lbs/$3. Seedless grapes are $1.99 for a 2lb bag and Kellogg's cereals for $1.50 each with coupon. Depending on your choice of sandwich bread, there's Safeway wheat breads for 99-cents a loaf or whole wheat sliced bread for $1.99. Dasani water is $3.99 a case and Refershe water (the Safeway brand) is $1 a gallon. This week's Friday special is Homestyle Meatloaf. I'm still undecided on this one. But for $5, it's still a bargain and it means no cooking on Friday!

If you shop the independents, check out Foods Co. where you can get Mountain Dairy large eggs (18 count)  2/$4; nectarines at 2lbs/98-cents; 2lbs. of straberries for $2.98 and large avocados for 98-cents each. They also have mini seedless watermelon for $1.98 each and fresh oranges 2lbs/98-cents. Foster Farms drumsticks or thighs are $1.18lb; and the store brand whole chickens are 98-cents a pound. Van de Kamp's premium bread is 98-cents a loaf and hot dog or hamburger buns are 98-cents each. If you have a craving for Red Vines, a 4lb tub is $5.98.

Vic's on Fulton Ave. has Foster Farms boneless chicken breasts for $2.29lb. The Vic's on South Land Park and Folsom have New York steaks for $6.99 and $6.97 a pound. Remember, they are indepenently owned. That's why some prices are different.

Rainbow Foods on Florin Road has fresh pork steaks for $1.59lb and fresh shrimp meat for $4.29lb. They also have the seedless grapes for 99-cents a pound; Icebert lettuce for 79-cents a head and zucchini for 79-cents a pound. Prego pasta sauce is 2/$3 and Gallo sliced salame is $4.99 for a 16oz. package. Bisquick shake'n'pour pancake mix is $1.19 for a container. Sure sounds easier than messing with the eggs and the milk! LU cookies (shortbread or tea biscuits) are 2/$4 and Hillshire Farm deli select lunchmeat is 3/$5.

Come back on Thursday for tomato, blueberry and green bean recipes to go along with the sale items.