Shop Cheap

It's summertime in Sacramento and the fresh fruit is abundant. Everything from berries to grapes to nectarines and cantaloupe. Yep, it's summertime in Sacramento and for the first time ever we have the State Fair to keep us busy during the breezy, hot days of July.

Unfortunately, we can's survive on corn dogs, BBQ and funnel cakes, so when get back from the Fair, you're going to have to shop for groceries. Here's what we like this week:

First stop this week has to be Safeway. They definitely have the most items on sale at the best prices. (Save Mart - see below - is a close second.) Let's start in produce. Berries are BOGO; green seedless grapes are 87-cents a pound; nectarines are 99-cents a pound and celery and bell peppers are 2/$1. How's that for healthy?

Plan to shop on Saturday or Sunday? Here's what you can look forward to: Signature Cafe pizza for $3.99; Chips Ahoy or Honey Maid graham crackers for $1.88 and Waterfront Bistro frozen shrimp for $3.99 a pound (sold in a 2-pound bag).

For 99-cents or less you can get liters of 7-UP, Coke and A&W Root Beer; Sobe, Vitamin water or Gatorade.

In the meat dept., London broil is $1.99lb; lean ground turkey is BOGO. Hillshire Farm sausage or brats and Ballpark Franks are BOGO, too. Safeway buns are 89-cents.

If you have ice cream lovers in the house, Breyer's, Klondike or Popsicles are $1.99 each when you buy 4.

If you're clipping, check out the coupons for a dozen eggs (99-cents); Lucerne cheese slices ($1.49); DiGiorno frozen pizza ($3.99) and Arm & Hammer laundry detergent for $7.99.

Safeway Select sliced breads are $1.99 a loaf; Aquafina water is $3.99 a case and 6 packs of Coke in the bottle are 4/$10. S & W Beans and Del Monte tomatoes are $1 a can. Doritos chips are BOGO.

The $5 Friday Special is Signature Cafe 8-piece chicken.

In this week's supermarket shopping sweepstakes, Save Mart is a close second because of the produce offerings. A 2-pound carton of blueberries is $3.67; seedless grapes are 77-cents a pound; Bing cherries are $1.97lb; and peaches are 97-cents a pound. Tomatoes are 67-cents a pound and bell pepper is 2/$1.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.88 in the Max Pak. Be sure to clip the recipe for Citrus Grilled Chicken. Grab a big jug of Minute Maid OJ (recipe calls for one cup) for $4.99.

Save Mart cover coupons include Foster Farms chicken or turkey franks for 79-cents; Skippy peanut butter for 99-cents and Healthy Balance juices for 99-cents. On the inside of the ad, you'll find a coupon for Ore-Ida potatoes: buy 2, get one free. Works out to 3/$5

Salad shrimp is $3.99lb; Sunnyside Farms sliced or shredded cheese is $1.99 and oroweat breads are $2.50 a loaf.

General Mills cereals are $1.59 when you buy 4; and General Mills or Nature Valley granola bars are also $1.59 when you buy 4. A case of Crystal Geyser spring water is $3.33.

Too tired to cook? In the deli, a rotisserie chicken and a jug of Pepsi is $6.99. Virginia or honey ham is $5.99lb.

Raley's is the last stop on the shopping train this week. They have BOGO London broil and pork spareribs. Already cooked rotisserie turkey breast is $6.99. It's great for sandwiches and salads. Lean cuisine meals are 5/$10 and Lundberg risottor or rice chips are 2/$3.

Crystal Geyser is $3.33 a case and a dozen eggs are $1.29. 12-packs of Coke are $2.50 when you buy 3. Need tissue or paper towels? Angel Soft tissue and Sparkle towels are $5.49 each.

Now, for the produce. Corn on the cob is 4/$1; cantaloupe is 97-cents each and mini peeled carrots are 2 bags for $3. Boxes of Kellogg's cereal are $1.99 each. .

Come back on Thursday for summertime recipes from the Shop Cheap Kitchen..

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