If you are pressed for time but still want to treat Mom right, just head to your local supermarket. Seriously. Everything you'll need is available at the grocery story. (Note to Moms: If you need to drop a few hints, just share Shop Cheap with the kids or the husband. We'll take care of the rest!)
Back in the day, you could only get groceries at the grocery store. In 2009, the supermarket - especially around any holiday - is the place to go. Flowers? Check. Gift cards? Check. Yummy desserts? Check. An entire brunch? You got it.
If Save Mart is your neighborhood market, you're in luck. There's fresh strawberries for $2.97 for a 2-pound container. A beautiful Mother's Day bouquet for $12.99 and Martinelli's Sparkling Cider is $2 a bottle. (Save Mart is the only chain advertising Martinelli's for Mother's Day. Obviously, they know that the Grannies just love the sparkling cider.) If you're looking for breakfast treats, Save Mart has 18 large eggs for $2.99 and bacon 2/$5; Dannon yogurt 10/$6; Tropicana OJ 2/$5; Sara Lee sliced breads $1.99 a loaf; iced cinnamon rolls $2.99; and a mixed fruit bowl for $7.99.
If you'd rather treat Mom to a dinner fit for a Queen, try the London broil at $1.99lb; premium romaine hearts (BOGO) and Iceberg lettuce at 99-cents a head. Hothouse tomatoes on the vine are $1.49lb and garlic bread in the bakery is $2.29 a loaf. For dessert, try the decorated cakes at $6.99; Angel food cake at $3.29 or Ben & Jerry's ice cream cups for $1 each.
In the "other stuff" category, there's General Mills cereals for $1.88 a box; Butcher's block boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $2.99lb; BOGO Sara Lee desserts and Michelina's budget meals for $1 each. If you need soda, check out the $2 off coupon (when you buy 2-24 packs) or six packs of Pepsi or Dew for $3.99.
If you want to treat Mom to brunch but need help with the menu, Raley's is your new best friend. They are offering brunch for eight for $49.99 ($5 off if you order online). It includes, ham omelets with asparagus; breakfast potatoes; mini croissants; berry bowls; OJ and Lemon Bar Cake. You probably need to order this pronto and be able to do a little cooking.
If you'd rather cook on your own, a dozen large eggs is 99-cents; Yoplait yogurt is 10/$6 and a fruit wheel in produce is $7.99.
While at the store, you can pick up a lovely bouquet of roses for $9.99 or a gift card to Mom's favorite shop or restaurant or a delicious fresh fruit tart for $14.99.
If you'd rather do dinner for Mom, boneless/skinless chicken breasts are $1.97 a pound in the club pack; strawberries are BOGO; sweet white corn on the cob is 3/99-cents; Strawberry Shortcake in the bakery is $8.99 and Sara Lee desserts are BOGO here, too. Fresh cooked shrimp meat is $4.99lb and bagged salads are 2/$5.
Michelina's frozen dinners are $1 each and if Mom's a baseball fan, Ballpark franks are $2 a package; buns are $2.50; olives are 99-cents a can; pickles are $2.99 a jar and Ruffles chips are $2.99.
Safeway has Mom covered - especially in the cookie category - with Milano's on sale for $1.77 a package. If you don't think a couple of packs of Milano's won't make Mom happy, think again. You can always add fresh-cut tulips at $6.99, a dozen roses or a special Mother's Day bouquet for $9.99. Safeway also has a fantastic selection of gift cards.
If you're shopping Safeway for brunch, be sure to clip the coupon for large eggs - $1.99 for 18. To complete the meal, there Johnsonville sausage links 2/$6 or Aidells sausages for $4.99; OJ 2/$6; blackberries 99-cents a basket; breakfast breads 2/$4 or a carton of mini-croissants for $5.49.
Safeway knows that Moms like coupons, especially for Cascade detergent $3.99; Listerine $2.99; disinfecting wipes $1.79 and Kleenex $1 each. There's a coupon for batteries, too. But that's really a guy thing.
If Mom's a burger gal, lean ground beef is $3.99lb; Lay's chips are $3 a bag; and Ore-Ida potatoes are $3.50 a bag. If you've promised to bake Mom a cake, Duncan Hines mixes are buy 2, get 3 free. With a deal like that, you can make her two!
BOGOs are big this week at Safeway. Here's what we spotted: Margaritaville Shrimp; Foster Farms ground turkey breast; Hormel fully cooked entrees; Lucerne whipped cream topping; and grape tomatoes.
The best deal in produce is fresh asparagus for 99-cents a pound.
And if you're hungry for the All-American sub sandwich, you're in luck because it's the Friday only $5 special.
Come back tomorrow because the Shop Cheap kitchen is busy preparing Mother's Day Brunch. We promise to share all the recipes.
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