Shop Cheap

Wow! Tuesday was one busy night at The Bee. We all witnessed history together in the newsroom and shared the news with our readers.

Now, how about the items to buy at the grocery store this week. When you  look at the Wednesday inserts, you will notice that Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and the stores will make sure that we are prepared. For Shop Cheap, though, it's still too early to think about Thanksgiving so we are going to focus on the best buys. Maybe next week we will be ready to talk Turkey.

Let's start with Safeway because that's where we are finding some great items. Fresh boneless pork chops are $1.99 a pound; avocados are 99-cents each and raspberries are BOGO. Navel oranges are 69-cents a pound and two varities of orange juice are 2/$4 (Saturday and Sunday only.) Jimmy Dean sliced bacon is BOGO. If you like Hormel marinated pork tenderloins, they are BOGO, too. Other BOGO items include: Safeway butter top breads; Orville Redenbacher's popcorn; Tropicana premium orange juice and Progresso natural broth. The Saturday/Sunday 48-hour sale includes Quaker instant oatmeal for $1.67 and Safeway Select ice cream for $2.49. 2-liter Coca-Cola products are buy 3; get 3 free. And Lucerne milk remains 2 gallons for $5.19. If you like to buy Fresh Express complete salads, beware. The price of a bag is now $3.49. The $5 Friday Meal is Homestyle Meatloaf - not a favorite around my house.

Over at Raley's/BelAir, you'll want to stock up on boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $1.88 a pound (if you didn't buy them last week). Bakery Dutch crust or San Francisco sourdough breads are 99-cents a loaf and 2 pounds of Russet potatoes are only $1. Rice-A-Roni or Pasta Roni is 88-cents a box and Minute Maid orange juice is $2.50 a carton. Raley's has a nice assortment of organic products, including kidney beans and refried beans at $1 a can. If you like Kozy Shack pudding, it's on sale for $2.50 a carton. Buitoni Fresh Pasta is $2 for a 9-oz package. In produce, Fuji apples are $1.19 a pound; tomatoes on the vine are $1.99 a pound and Texas grapefruit is 79-cents each. At Raley's, Fresh Express salad blends are 2/$4. And if you like the smell of Lavender, a 6-inch potted plant is $8.99.

SaveMart has a great deal on New York steak and baked potatoes. The steak value pack is $2.99 a pound and a 5-pound bag of Russet or Sierra gold potatoes is only $1.99. Sunnyside Farms boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $2.99 in the value pack. Lean ground beef (85%) is $2.99 a pound. If you like Weight Watchers "Smart Ones," 2/$4 is a good price. Sunnyside Farms large eggs in the 18-count carton are $2.50. Good buys on soups: Campbell's cream soup and Swanson broth is $1 a can. A case of Crystal Geyser Spring water is $3.98. In produce, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries are 2/$5. Grape tomatoes are $2.99 for a 2-pound carton. And to complete the salad, leaf lettuce is 69-cents a bunch.

Vic's in Folsom has a trio of coupons: Dubuque Ham for $7.99 (a 5-pound can); a dozen IGA large eggs at 2 cartons for $3 and Crystal butter at 2 pounds for $5. Also in Folsom, navel oranges for 79-cents a pound; avocados for 89-cents each and Italian squash at 99-cents a pound. And lastly, Best Yet drinking water is $2.99 for a case.

Vic's on Fulton Avenue has boneless beef roast for $2.99 a pound and a 3-pound bag of yellow onions for $1.50. At Vic's, a 10-pound bag of Russet potatoes is $3.99. Fresh apples are $1.19 a pound and jumbo Mandarins are $1.49 a pound. Fresh Express salads are 2/$5.

Foods Co. has the best price on Gala apples - 57-cents a pound. Navel oranges are 2 pounds for 98-cents; pears are 78-cents a pound; fresh green beans are $1.48 a pound and cilantro is 3 bunches for 99-cents. Family size boxes of Kellogg's cereals are 2/$3. A case of Spring water is $3.50.

We have a Rainbow Foods ad this week. Whole Foster Farms Chickens are 99-cents a pound and boneless Cross Rib Roast is $2.59 a pound. Salad shrimp meat is $4.29 a pound and boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.69 a pound. Stouffer's frozen mac&heese is $1 for a 12-ounce serving and Prego spaghetti sauce is $1.69 a jar.In produce, red delicious apples are 89-cents a pound; whole pineapple is $1.99 each; fresh green beans are $1.29 a pound; Zucchini squash is 79-cents a pound and yellow onions are 4 pounds for $1. Crystal Geyser spring water is $3.99 a case and martinelli's sparkling cider is 2/$4.

Come back tomorrow for some tasty recipes.