News-Record.com

A reader sent me an e-mail praising the low prices on groceries at Super G Mart in Greensboro, so I decided to check them out for myself.

I liked what I saw.

Examples: Ribeye steaks for $3.99 a pound, boneless chicken breasts for $2.49 a pound, Granny Smith apples for $1.29 a pound, bananas for 59 cents a pound, cucumbers for 49 cents a pound and tomatoes for 79 cents a pound.

Other prices included 80 percent lean ground beef for $1.49 a pound, tuna for $7.99 a pound,
and Mexican mangos for $6.99 (10-count).

Super G Mart is at 4927 W. Market St. in Greensboro.

The News & Record wrote about the international grocer when they were getting ready to open last summer.

Some good deals at the grocery store this week. Deals end Tuesday except for Aldi, which end Monday.

* Buy one London broil or top round roast, get one free at Harris Teeter, which is tripling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Today's Lowes Foods' insert features coupons including boneless chicken breasts for 1.49 a pound. Lowes Foods also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Aldi has Del Monte pineapples, 4-packs of corn and strawberries for $1.49.

* Boneless top sirloin steak is $2.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy one pound of smoked or honey smoked turkey breast, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy two Reddi Wip toppings, get one Lowes Foods ice cream for free.

* Whole seedless watermelons are $3.99 at Aldi.

* Cluster tomatoes are $1.29 a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy one 12-pack of Pepsi, get one free at Harris Teeter.

Some good deals on grilling essentials this Memorial Day weekend at stores in the Triad.

Deals end Tuesday except for Aldi, which end Sunday.

* Value packs of ground chuck are $1.69 a pound at Food Lion.

* Split chicken breasts are 99 cents a pound at Harris Teeter, which is doubling manufacturers’ coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Boneless top sirloin steak is $3.99 a pound at Lowes Foods, which also doubles manufacturers’ coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Aldi has three pounds of Kirkwood chicken breasts for $5.49.

* Heavy pork spareribs are 78 cents a pound at Compare Foods.

* For beer lovers, Food Lion has 24-packs of Bud Light and Coors Light for $11.44 (limit two).

* In the soda department, Harris Teeter has a buy one, get one free deal on Coke brands.

Deals at Triad area grocery stores this week (sales good through Tuesday except for Aldi, which are good through Sunday):

* Buy two 12-packs of Pepsi, get three 12-packs for free at Harris Teeter, which is doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Grab a Lowes Foods insert (available in some of today's News & Record newspapers, depending on where you live, or just get it at the store) to use a $5 off coupon if you spend at least $50, $10 if you spend at least $100 or $15 if you spend at least $150.

Lowes also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy one Edy's ice cream, get one free at Food Lion and Lowes Foods.

* Roseland boneless center cut pork chops are $2.99 a pound at Aldi.

* Mix or match five for $5 deal at Compare Foods on items including pasta sauce, ketchup, bleach, Hamburger Helper.

* Buy two 18-ounce Kraft BBQ sauce, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Boneless beef top round London broil is $2.48 a pound at Compare Foods.

* T-bone and porterhouse steaks are $5.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy two Kraft shredded or chunk cheese, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one package of Dietz & Watson pre-sliced meats and cheeses, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Boston butt pork roast is 99 cents a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Blue Bunny ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Gallon of Friendly Farms milk is $1.99 at Aldi.

* Cases of Bud Light and Miller Lite are $12.99 at Food Lion.

* Buy one Smithfield center cut ham slices, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one 2.5-pound package of frozen Food Lion chicken breasts, get one free.

* One pound of fresh premium ground beef is $1.99 at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one pound of Smithfield Canadian maple ham or black forest ham, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one case of Aquarius Spring! water, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* 10-pound box of pork chops for $9.80 at Compare Foods.

* 3-pound Hormel canned ham for $4.99 at Lowes Foods.

Deals at Triad area grocery stores this week including some Mother's Day-related specials (deals good through Tuesday except for Aldi, which are good through Sunday):

* Gardenline jumbo #1 rose bush is $4.49 at Aldi.

* Strawberries are $1.79 a pound at Compare Foods.

* 8-inch single layer cakes are $5.99 each at Food Lion.

* Dozen rose bouquet is $11.99 at Lowes Foods, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* 4.2-ounce wild caught lobster tails are $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter, which is also doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Large rotisserie chicken, 1 pound of creamy coleslaw and one pound of red skin potato salad for $9.99 at Lowes Foods.

* Packages of five New York strip steaks are $5.99 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Porterhouse and T-bone steaks are $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Ribeye steaks are $5.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* Whole fresh picnic ham is 88 cents a pound at Compare Foods.

* Asparagus is $1.49 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Milk is $1.99 a gallon at Aldi.

* Grape tomatoes are 69 cents a pint at Aldi.

Roundup of deals found at grocery stores in the Triad. Sales good through Tuesday except for Aldi, where deals end Saturday.

* Buy one, 2.5-pound bag of frozen boneless chicken breasts, get two free at Harris Teeter, which is doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Family packs of chicken breasts are 98 cents at pound at Compare Foods.

* Two, 12-inch DiGiorno or Freschetta frozen pizzas for $10 at Food Lion.

* You can also get Freschetta for the same sale price at Lowes Foods, which is also doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents.

* 3-pound bags of Fuji and Gala apples are $1.49 at Aldi.

* T-bone steaks are $4.98 a pound at Compare Foods.

* 8.5-9-pound bags of Kingsford mesquite or regular charcoal is $4.99 at Compare Foods.

* Buy one, 2-pound bag of EZ Peel white shrimp, get two free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Jose Ole taquitos, get two free at Harris Teeter.

* Gallon of milk is $1.99 at Aldi.

* Boneless chicken breast fillets or tenders are $1.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* 18-packs of Coors are $9.88 at Food Lion (limit four).

* Buy one Edy's ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter and Food Lion (limit two).

* Hand-cut tuna steaks are $5.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* 12-ounces' worth of cherry tomatoes on the vine are $2 each at Lowes Foods.

* Frozen, 2.5-pound bags of boneless chicken breasts or tenders for $5 at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one Breyers ice cream, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one London Broil or top round roast, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one pork baby back ribs, get one free at Harris Teeter.

Roundup of grocery deals this week (prices good through Tuesday except for Aldi, where prices are good through Saturday):

* One gallon of Friendly Farms milk is $1.99 at Aldi.

* Boneless skinless chicken breasts are $1.78 a pound at Compare Foods.

* Buy 10 select items including Crest toothpaste, Marie Callender's pot pies, Kellogg's Special K cereal and Bounty paper towels, get $5 off at Lowes Foods, which is doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Whole boneless beef sirloin tip is $1.87 a pound at Food Lion.

* N.Y. Strip steak or steakhouse roast is $5.99 a pound at Harris Teeter, which is also doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Southern-style bone-in pork ribs are $1.99 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* 18-packs of Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light are $9.97 at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 48-ounce container of Mayfield ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 48-ounce container of Breyers ice cream, get one free at Food Lion (limit 2).

* 33.9-ounce containers of Folgers coffee are $5.99 at Compare Foods.

* 31.5-34.5-ounce containers of Maxwell House coffee are $5.97 at Food Lion.

Roundup of grocery deals this week with an eye toward Easter (prices good through Tuesday except for Aldi, where prices are good through Saturday):

* Appleton half spiral sliced ham is $1.49 a pound at Aldi.

* Tyson premium spiral ham is $1.47 per pound at Food Lion.

* Gwaltney premium spiral sliced smoked ham is $1.49 a pound at Lowes Foods, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Spiral sliced half bone-in ham is $1.49 a pound at Harris Teeter, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Smoked shank portions or smoked ham butt portions are 98 cents a pound at Compare Foods.

* Butterball premium turkey is 99 cents a pound at Aldi.

* Asparagus is $1.29 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Cases of Budweiser, Miller Lite or Coors are $11.77 at Harris Teeter and $11.99 at Food Lion (limit 2).

* Buy two 12-packs of Pepsi, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy two 64-ounce Northland cranberry juice, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one pound of sliced Virginia ham, get two free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Breyers ice cream, get one free at Food Lion.

Check out more deals in today's News & Record newspaper.

The findings of a Consumer Reports survey comparing 59 supermarkets regarding service, perishables, prices and cleanliness is featured in the magazine's May issue (online link to survey available to subscribers only).

Below is a graphic I created comparing the results concerning stores you'll find in the Triad. Regarding the reader score, a 100, for example, would mean all survey respondents were completely satisfied.

Highlights of deals found at some Triad area grocery stores (deals expire Tuesday):

* Buy one pound of boneless beef eye or rib roast, get one free at Lowes Foods, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents.

* 31.5-34.5-ounce containers of Maxwell House coffee (one of our favorite brands) is $5.97 at Food Lion.

* Buy one pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Split chicken breasts are half-off at Food Lion.

* Buy one, get one free regarding Mott's apple juice or Ocean Spray cranberry juice at Harris Teeter, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents.

* Five-pound bags of Granny Smith or Washington State red apples are $3.99 at Compare Foods.

* Buy two Florida red grapefruits, get three free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy two PictSweet steamers or seasoned vegetables, get three at Lowes Foods.

As my wife an attest, I am absolutely clueless when it comes to when stuff goes bad.

But times are tough, so the last thing you want to do is prematurely toss that food out of the fridge because you don't know if it's still edible, even if its passed its expiration date.

A friend passed along a Web site called StillTasty that takes the guesswork out of it.

You can search by category or enter a keyword. Charts show how long it should stay in the fridge or stay frozen. There's also tips on keeping food fresh, the truth behind expiration dates, properly defrosting food and making it safe to eat.

I was stunned, for example, to find out eggs that are still in the shell can be kept in your fridge for a whopping three to five weeks.

Cooked chicken breasts? Three to four days in the fridge; two months in the freezer.

Tuna? Two to three days in the fridge; two to three months in the freezer.

The good, the bland and the ugly: Savvy readers sacrificed their taste buds to find the best deal on frozen pizza.

Guess what? Turns out the best-tasting frozen pizza isn't necessarily the most expensive. (Read the idea behind the taste test here.)

So which frozen pizza gets top honors? Find out in my Savvy Shopper column, which runs Sunday.

Results:

Many bargain hunters these days are trading supermarket aisles for the auction circuit in search of deep discounts on everything from cereal to spare ribs, according to an AP article:

"As consumers seek relief from the recession and spiraling food prices, grocery auctions are gaining in popularity as an easy way to cut costs. The sales operate like regular auctions, but with bidders vying for dry goods and frozen foods instead of antiques and collectibles. Some auctioneers even accept food stamps."

Grocery auctions can be found in at least nine states from Oklahoma to New York.

That follows the worst food inflation in nearly 20 years, causing a "seismic shift" in consumer behavior, Brian Todd, president of The Food Institute, told the AP.

"Food is one area where they can save," he said.

Anyone know of any planned grocery auctions in North Carolina?

Highlights of this week's grocery deals (deals expire Tuesday except for Aldi sales, which expire Sunday):

* Buy one Perdue fresh boneless chicken breast, get two free at Harris Teeter, which is also tripling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents, limit 20.

* Boneless chicken breast fillets and tenders are $1.79 at Food Lion.

* Bone-in split chicken breast is $1.29 a pound at Lowes Foods, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents, limit 20.

* Buy one London broil or top round roast, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one pre-sliced packages of meats or cheese, get two free at Harris Teeter.

* Ground chuck is $1.68 a pound at Compare Foods.

* 10-pound bag of russet potatoes is $2.99 at Aldi.

* Buy five select items, get the sixth free at Lowes Foods. Examples include chips, canned pineapple, Campell's soup, mustard, ketchup and paper towels.

* Buy two Ken's salad dressing, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* One-pound packages of Deutsche Kuche smoked bratwurst and knackwurst are $2.29 each at Aldi.

* Jumbo chicken drumsticks and thighs are 98 cents a pound at Compare Foods.

* A gallon of milk is $2.47 at Food Lion.

* Buy one Fresh Express salad, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 6-pack of Coke, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 24-pack of Deer Park water, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* 20-packs of Budweiser bottles are $10.99 at Food Lion.

A sampling of deals at grocery stores this week. Deals expire Tuesday except Aldi's sales, which expire Sunday.

* Boneless New York strips are $4.98 a pound at Compare Foods.

* Lowes Foods milk is $2.48 a gallon (limit 4). Lowes Foods also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Fresh split chicken breasts are 99 cents a pound at Harris Teeter, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy one pound of turkey breast, get two free at Harris Teeter.

* White seedless grapes are 99 cents a pound at Compare Foods while red or green seedless grapes are 99 cents a pound at Aldi.

* Buy one Blue Bunny ice cream, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Large rotisserie chickens are $5.99 at Lowes Foods.

* Cases of Budweiser, Bud Light and Bud Select are $12.44 at Food Lion (limit 2).

* Buy one box of Triscuits, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 2-pound bag of EZ Peel white shrimp, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy two 48-ounce Harris Teeter ice cream, get three free.

* Buy one 12-pack of Pepsi, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Bone-in assorted pork chops are $1.79 a pound at Food Lion.

* 8-pack of Scott paper towels are $4.99 at Compare Foods (limit 2).

* Buy one, 2.5-pound bag of frozen Food Lion chicken wings, get one free.

* Baby carrots are 69 cents per bag at Aldi.

* 13-ounce bag of white corn tortilla chips are 99 cents each at Aldi.

Blurb in today's Savor section of the News & Record describes Aldi's new single-bean varieties of Kona and Costa Rican coffees in its Beaumont line as having "bold yet smooth flavor."

But it's the price that really caught my eye: $4 for a 12-ounce bag of ground coffee at Aldi locations (there are five stores in the Triad area including Greensboro, High Point, Kernersville and Burlington).

Curious how it compares to Eight O'Clock Coffee, which Consumer Reports picked as the best, costing $6.28 a pound ($4.18 for 12 ounces). Runners-up were Caribou Coffee ($11.76 a pound) and Kickapoo Coffee ($14.33 a pound).

"Lots of aroma and flavor, some floral notes and fruitiness, a touch of bitterness, and enough body to provide a feeling of fullness in the mouth," is how Consumer Reports described Eight O'Clock Coffee.

Both match up well price-wise. But how do they compare taste-wise? Anyone tried both?

A sampling of this week's grocery store deals (expire Tuesday unless otherwise noted):

* Boneless skinless chicken breasts are $1.78 a pound at Compare Foods.

* Boneless beef top round London broil is $2.49 a pound at Lowes Foods, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

On Friday from 11 a.m. until midnight, you can use a Lowes $13 off coupon if you spend at least $100 in one transaction that day.

The coupons are found in Lowes' advertising inserts, which are included in some of today's News & Record newspapers. But they can also be found at store entrances.

* Buy one 12-ounce package of Eight O'Clock Coffee, get one free at Harris Teeter, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

Coffee lovers take note on this deal: Eight O'Clock was ranked as the best coffee by Consumer Reports.

* 5 bottles of 8-ounce Wishbone salad dressings for $5 at Compare Foods.

* 12 rolls of Charmin bath tissue or 8 rolls of Charmin paper towels for $5.99 at Compare Foods.

* Del Monte pineapples are $1.69 each at Aldi (prices good through Saturday).

* Asian style frozen dinner entrees are $1.99 each at Aldi.

* By one Breyers ice cream, get one free at Food Lion and Lowes Foods.

* Cases of Miller Lite and Coors Light are $12.44 at Food Lion (limit 2).

Continuing with my frozen pizza theme of late, Men's Health magazine today came out with its latest "Eat this, Not that" list of worst and best food.

This time around, the list focused on the worst restaurant and frozen pizza from a health standpoint.

Weighing in at 1,560 calories and 80 grams of fat per pie, the worst frozen pizza, according to the magazine, is Tombstone Original Pepperoni.

"The thick layer of cheese and pepperoni shoots their slices up to nearly 20 percent of your daily calories per serving," according to Men's Health.

The magazine recommends eating Palermo’s Primo Thin Margherita, which has 780 calories per pie and 36 grams of fat.

It just so happens I tried Palermo's for the first time yesterday and had the margherita pie. I got it not because I wanted the healthiest frozen pizza, but to take advantage of a buy two pizzas, get three free deal at Harris Teeter this week (expires Tuesday).

Verdict? It may be the healthiest frozen pizza out there, but not the tastiest.

Not that it was the worst thing I've ever tasted, but I know we'll probably not be buying Palmero's again - certainly not for the regular price of $7.19 each. That seems pretty steep as far as frozen pizzas go.

Ever had Palmero's, and, if so, do you agree? Disagree?

Also a reminder we're planning a taste test regarding frozen pizza, so stay tuned.

We'll also be looking for frozen pizza taste test volunteers, so let me know if you're up to the challenge. We'll also be weighing how much they cost because I'm curious whether the most expensive frozen pizza is really the best tasting.

I had recently served up an idea to co-workers about doing a frozen pizza taste test we could produce for News-Record.com.

Folks are probably reaching for the frozen pizza aisle more often versus eating out, hoping to save a buck or two during the recession. But is the costliest frozen pizza really the best tasting? That's what I want to find out.

So this morning I'm watching the Today Show and they did a segment on, you guessed it, the best tasting frozen pizza.

Digiorno self-rising four cheese pizza was ranked as the best overall tasting frozen pizza (they had different categories including gourmet, topping), according to Today Show guest Katie Brown, who has a show on PBS.

But the Today Show segment focused more on comparing tastes, not value - prices weren't even mentioned. (By the way, Digiorno is on sale this week at Lowes Foods: two for $10.)

That means we're still moving forward on our own taste test because it will be different. My hunch, if Consumer Reports' coffee comparison is any indication, is that the best tasting frozen pizza isn't necessarily the most expensive.

So do you agree about Digiorno having the best taste overall? Disagree? Anything better out there that's cheaper? We'll also be looking for frozen pizza taste test volunteers, so let me know if you're interested.

A sampling of deals at some Triad area grocery stores. Deals expire Tuesday.

Buy two Palmero's pizzas, get three free at Harris Teeter, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

Buy two Kraft macaroni & cheese, get three free at Harris Teeter.

Seedless white grapes are 99 cents a pound at Lowes Foods, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

Buy one Breyers ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter and Food Lion.

Buy one Edy's ice cream, get one free at Lowes Foods.

Buy two Birds Eye frozen vegetables, get three free at Harris Teeter.

Cases of Bud Light are $11.99 at Food Lion (limit 2).

Cases of Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light are $12.88 at Harris Teeter.

Buy one 12-pack of Pepsi, get one free at Harris Teeter.

Buy one case of Spring! water, get one free at Harris Teeter.

Buy one Nabisco cookies, get one free at Food Lion.

Buy one 2.5-pound bag of frozen Food Lion brand chicken breasts, get one free.

Maxwell House coffee (33-39 oz.), which is one of our favorites, is $5.99 at Lowes Foods.

Buy one Smart Ones frozen dinners, get one free at Lowes Foods.

Buy one Kellogg's cereal, get one free at Lowes Foods.

Buy one bag of Doritos, get one free at Lowes Foods.

A sampling of deals at the grocery store this week:

* Buy two cans of Starkist tuna, get three free at Harris Teeter, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Porterhouse and T-Bone steak are $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Buy two Gordons 10 frozen battered fish fillets, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Harris Teeter value packs of boneless chicken breast are $2.77 a pound.

* Buy one pound of Canadian Maple ham, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one six-pack of .5-liter bottle Coke, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 48-ounce Edy's ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Lowes Foods brand ice cream, get one free. Lowes also doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy one Progresso soup, get one free at Lowes.

* Buy one Pillsbury pizza crust, breadsticks or French loaf, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one Kellogg's cereal, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one General Mills cereal, get one free at Food Lion.

* By one Hamburger Helper, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy three On The Go bistro sides, get a free rotisserie-style chicken or 8-piece fried chicken for free at Food Lion.

* Snow crab clusters are $4.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy one Lowes Foods laundry detergent, get one free.

Roundup of grocery deals this week. Deals expire Tuesday.

* Buy one package of Ball Park meat franks, get two free at Harris Teeter, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy two packages of EZ Peel white shrimp, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy two 64-ounce Old Orchard apple blends drink, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy two, 2-liter Pepsi, get three free at Harris Teeter. Also buy one 12-pack of Pepsi, get one free.

* Buy one London Broil or top roast, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Marie Callender's or Healthy Choice frozen dinners, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one package of Harris Teeter sliced meats and cheese, get one free.

* Buy one can of Progresso soups, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Palmero's thin crust pizza, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one 56-ounce Blue Bunny ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 48-ounce Edy's ice cream, get one free at Lowes Foods, which doubles manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy one box of Cheerios, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one box of Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops or Mini Wheats cereal, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one Lowes Foods frozen potatoes, get one free.

* Buy a box of Nabisco premium saltines, get a can of Lowes Foods soup free.

* Buy one Kahiki egg rolls, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one pound of Boar's Head roast breast of turkey, get a 1/2-pound of Boar's Head American cheese for free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 56-ounce Pet ice cream, get one free at Food Lion.

Sampling of deals at the grocery store including Valentine's Day flowers, candy and dessert. Deals good through Tuesday:

* Dozen long-stem roses for $19.95 at Food Lion.

* Dozen rose bouquets (include baby's breath and wrapped in a sleeve) at Lowes Foods for $17.99. Also be sure grab a Lowes Foods insert because it includes a $5 off coupon when you spend $50 or more Friday from 11 a.m. until closing. If you didn't get one in today's News & Record, you can pick one up at Lowes' front entrance.

* 18-stem rose bouquet for $19.99 at Harris Teeter.

* 8-inch heart-shaped cake for $4.99 at Harris Teeter.

* 14.78-ounce Whitman's valentine sampler heart is $6.99 at Lowes Foods.

* 7-ounce Russell Stover red-foil hearts for $3.99 at Food Lion.

* Buy one Valentine's cupcake, get one free at Food Lion.

* Boneless ribeye steaks or boneless N.Y. strip steaks are $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* 5-piece packages of boneless, skinless chicken breast are $1.99 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Asparagus is $1.59 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 48-ounce Breyers ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Two, 13.2-14.7-ounce Newman's Own frozen pizzas for $10 at Harris Teeter.

* Two, 12.6-18.01-ounce Freschetta frozen pizzas for $10 at Lowes Foods.

* Cases of Miller Lite are $12.99 at Food Lion (limit 2).

Deals at the grocery store good through Tuesday:

* Buy one 12-16-ounce package of Smithfield bacon, get one free at Harris Teeter, which is also tripling manufacturers' coupons (limit 20) Thursday through Sunday.

* Buy one small package of Harris Teeter fresh boneless chicken breast, get one free.

* Boneless chicken breast fillets or tenders are $1.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy one 5-6-ounce Ledbetter beef tenderloin or chuck filet, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one 12-pack of Pepsi, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Six-packs of 16-ounce bottles of Pepsi are $1.57 at Lowes Foods, which also doubles manufacturers' coupons (limit 20).

* Oven roasted turkey breast is $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 56-ounce container of Mayfield ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one 56-ounce container of Pet ice cream, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 48-ounce container of Edy's ice cream, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one 64-ounce container of Welch's grape juice, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one package of Thomas' English muffins, get one free at Lowes Foods.

It might be worth an extra trip to your local farmer's market each week to lower your grocery bill because the savings can add up.

In the Triad, I visited eight stores Wednesday and randomly picked seven produce items to compare prices: Granny Smith apples, bananas, lemons, pineapples, baking potatoes, slicing tomatoes and avocados.

What I discovered was a weekly trip to the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market off Interstate 40 in western Guilford County could save you about $240 a year if those items are on your grocery list.

The stores I used to compare prices are: the Farmers Market, Compare Foods, Earth Fare, Food Lion, Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and Super Walmart.

The Farmers Market had the best price on five of those items: Granny Smith apples (99 cents a pound), lemons (four for a $1), pineapples ($2.99 each), baking potatoes (59 cents a pound) and slicing tomatoes (89 cents a pound).

Of the remaining two items, the Super Walmart had the best deal (avocados for 68 cents each and bananas for 62 cents a pound).

But as I pointed out in my Savvy Shopper column today, this is hardly an exact science. That's because it's based on comparing the average amount the grocery stores charge for those items, so you'd save more or less depending on where you regularly shop because prices vary.

And of course those prices will fluctuate throughout the year.

A lot of must-have party favorites are on sale at the grocery stores this week including brews, chicken wings, chips and franks.

You have the Super Bowl to thank.

Highlights of deals this week that are good through Tuesday (Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter double manufacturer's coupons up to 99 cents, limit 20):

* Value packs of ground chuck are $1.89 a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy one 2.5-pound bag of frozen, Food Lion brand chicken wings, get one free.

* Buy one package of Ball Park meat or beef franks, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one package of Hebrew National beef franks, get one free at Food Lion.

* All Food Lion deli platters are $5 off.

* 34.5-39-ounce containers of Maxwell House coffee are $5.99 at Food Lion.

* Buy one bag of Frito Lay chips, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy one Breyers ice cream, get one free at Food Lion and Lowes Foods.

* Buy one box of Nabisco snack crackers (Triscuit, etc.) get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Two 12-inch DiGiorno frozen pizzas for $10 at Harris Teeter and Food Lion.

* Buy one Palermo's frozen pizza, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 9.25-11.5-ounce can of Planters nuts, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one case of Deer Park water, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Cases of Budweiser (limit 2) are $10.88 at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one bag of Contessa raw or cooked shrimp, get one free at Lowes Foods.

Deals at the grocery store this week (Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter also double manufacturer's coupons up to 99 cents, limit 20):

* Buy two 12-packs of Pepsi, get three free at Harris Teeter.

* Prego pasta sauce is $1.79 at Compare Foods.

* Five, 10.75-ounce cans of Campbell's tomato or chicken noodle soup for $3 at Compare Foods.

* Boneless chicken breast fillets or tenders are $1.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* Skinless, boneless chicken breasts are $2 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one, get one free deal on 2.5-3-pound bags of Food Lion brand frozen chicken breast halves or tenders.

* Michelina's and Lean Gourmet frozen dinners are $1 each at Food Lion.

* Buy one Red Baron frozen pizza, get one free at Food Lion and Harris Teeter.

* 10 for $10 deal on Healthy Choice soups at Food Lion.

* Bone-in pork chops are $2 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one, get one free deal on Breyers ice cream at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one, get one free deal on Edy's ice cream at Lowes foods.

* Rotisserie chickens are $5.99 each a Lowes Foods.

* Cases of Deer Park bottled water are $3.99 at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one, get one free deal on 64-ounce Ocean Spray at Harris Teeter.

Deals at the grocery store (prices good through Tuesday):

* Buy one, 2.5-pound bag of frozen boneless chicken breast, get one free at Harris Teeter.

Harris Teeter is also doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy one 2.5-3 pound bag of frozen chicken breast halves or tenders, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy three On the Go Bistro sides at $2.99 each, get a rotisserie or 8-piece fried chicken for free at Food Lion.

* 5-piece packages of Sanderson Farms boneless chicken breast are $1.99 a pound at Lowes Foods, which is also doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Buy one frozen Tombstone pizza, get one free at Food Lion.

* Oven roasted, sliced turkey breast is $3.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Ocean Spray Cranberry or Cranenergy juice, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 15-pack of Spring! bottled water, get two free at Harris Teeter.

* White grapes are 99 cents a pound at Food Lion.

* Snow crab clusters are $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Edy's ice cream, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Buy one Lowes Foods brand ice cream, get one free.

* Buy one Doritos, get one free at Harris Teeter and Food Lion.

* Cases of Miller Lite are $12.77 at Food Lion.

* Buy one General Mills cereal, get one free at Food Lion.

* Buy four boxes of Kellogg's cereal, get a free gallon of Lowes Food brand brand milk.

* Buy one Colgate toothpaste, get one free at Lowes Foods.

Deals good through tomorrow:

* 27.8-34.5 ounces of Folgers or Dunkin' Donuts coffee at Lowes Foods for $5.99.

* Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound at Lowes foods.

* 2-for-1 deal on Betty Crocker cake mix at Lowes Foods and Food Lion.

* 2-for-1 deal on Campbell's cream-style soups at Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on Xtra 2X laundry detergent at Lowes Foods.

* 2-for-1 deal on Smithfield bacon at Food Lion.

* 2-for-1 deal on Edy's ice cream at Food Lion.

* Cases of Miller Lite are $12.99 at Food Lion.

* Made in store platters more than $15 are $5 off at Food Lion.

* Whole, semi-boneless leg of lamb is $4.99 at Food Lion.

* 2-for-1 deal on Mama Lucia meatballs at Food Lion.

* Fresh deli Virginia or honey ham is $3.99 a pound at Food Lion.

* 5 for $4 on Del Monte cut beans at Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on Kraft salad dressing at Harris Teeter.

* Bone-in rib roast is $5.97 at Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on Purex detergent at Harris Teeter.

* Snow crab clusters are $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* Cherries are $3.99 a pound at Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on Ocean Spray cranberry juice at Harris Teeter.

* Buy 1, get 2 free deal on fresh Perdue boneless chicken breasts at Harris Teeter.

* Buy 1, get 2 free deal on salad mix at Harris Teeter.

* Buy 2, get 3 free deal on Palermo's frozen pizza at Harris Teeter.

* Buy 2, get 3 free deal on Progresso soup at Harris Teeter.

* Buy 1, get one free deal on Pepsi 12-packs at Harris Teeter.

Deals end Sunday. Harris Teeter is also doubling manufacturers' coupons (up to 99 cents, limit 20).

* Buy 1, get 1 free deal on bone-in split chicken breast at Lowes Foods.

* Buy 1, get 1 free deal on Edy's ice cream at Lowes Foods.

Lowes deals good through Tuesday.

* Gala apples are 99 cents a pound at Food Lion.

* Buy 1 bag of frozen chicken breast halves or breast tenders, get 1 free at Food Lion (bags are 2.5 to 3 pounds).

Food Lion deals are good through Tuesday.

Following Food Lion Deals are two days only beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday:

* 3-for-1 deal on Campbell's chicken noodle or tomato soup.

* 50-ounce Tide liquid 2X detergent is $4.99.

* 5 for $5 on Kellogg's Grab 'N Go Frosted Flakes.

* 2-for-1 deal on 12-packs of Pepsi at Harris Teeter, which is also doubling manufacturers' coupons (up to 99 cents):

* 5-packs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.99 a pound at Lowes Foods

* 2-for-1 deal on Edy's ice cream at Food Lion

* 2-for-1 deal on 9-inch Sara Lee pies at Harris Teeter

* 2 for $10 deal on Freschetta pizza at Lowes Foods

* 2-for-1 deal on Hebrew National beef franks at Harris Teeter

* 2-for-1 deal on Honey Nut Cheerios at Lowes Foods

* 2-for-1 deal on Campbell's Select Harvest soups at Food Lion (limit 2)

* Boneless chicken breast fillets or tenders for $1.99 a pound at Food Lion

A sampling of deals at grocery stores this week:

* Porterhouse or T-bone steak on sale for $5.99 at Harris Teeter (regular $8.99).

* 2-for-1 deal on Campbell's cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup at Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on Edy's Grand ice cream at Lowes Foods (regular $5.59 each).

* Live lobster (1.25 pounds and under) for $6.99 a pound at Lowes Foods (regular $11.99 pound).

* 2-for-1 deal on frozen Tyson boneless chicken breasts (2.5-pound bags, regular $13.99 each) at Food Lion.

* 2-for-1 deal on Marie Callender's frozen dinners (regular $3.99 each) at Food Lion.

Highlights of this week's grocery deals:

* Brewskies (Bud Light, Yuengling, Miller Lite) on sale at Food Lion for $12.44 a case.

* Folgers coffee on sale at Lowes Foods for $3.99 (limit 2) Thursday from 4 until closing.

* 2-for-1 deal on Progresso soup at Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on Pepsi 12-packs at Harris Teeter.

* 2-for-1 deal on marinated turkey tenderloins at Lowes Foods.

Deals expire Tuesday.

Buy two 48-ounce jars of Prego pasta sauce and get three free this week at Harris Teeter.

Ditto regarding 16-ounce packages of Mueller's elbow macaroni or spaghetti.

Buy a 57-ounce package of Stouffer's frozen lasagna for $8.99 at Lowes Foods and get a 2-liter soft drink, 10-ounce Dole salad mix and an 8-ounce loaf of garlic bread for free. (Regular price is $15.50).

Deal ends Tuesday.

Beer lovers on a budget take note: Budweiser is $11.99 a case at Food Lion this week.

This comes as Anheuser-Busch keeps making more expensive brands of beer.

But we'll see if the shaky economy means consumers' beer selection will be more on the frugal side.

And we'll also need to keep an eye on the prices after the Anheuser-Busch sale to InBev. Will they go up, down or stay the same?

It's surely a sad day for couponers in California, as with two competing grocery store chains altering their double coupon promotions.

Granted, as stated by TheGroceryGame.com founder in the article, Ralphs former policy to double all coupons regardless of the face value was an anomaly in the industry. In the Triad, two major chains -- Harris Teeter and Lowes foods -- offer double coupons everyday, but the offer is only good on coupons with a face value of 99 cents or less.

But shoppers in sunny Cali shouldn't despair too much. While it may alter shopping as they have know it, double coupon promotions in any form -- and if they're lucky, occassional triple coupon events -- are a great way to stretch the grocery budget further.

And any doubling is better than none in my book.

There's nothing unusual about sales galore on brews as we approach the Labor Day weekend. But how about cases of Budweiser, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, Coors and Yuengling being cheaper than Natural Light?

Food Lion has Coors Light, Bud Light and Miller Lite on sale for $11.44 (limit 2). Harris Teeter has Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Yuengling for $11.87. And Lowes Foods has Coors Light, Bud Light and Miller Lite on sale for $11.99.

Natural Light, meanwhile, is listed under the banner "beer and wine savings" in a Kmart ad for $12.99.

Natural Light is more expensive than Yuengling? Not that I'm complaining about Bud being cheaper than Natural Light, but what alternate beer universe did I step into this morning? Never thought I'd see the day where folks may opt for Bud or Michelob instead of Natural Light to save money on beer.

Harris Teeter has sashimi grade tuna medallions for $4.99 a pound. Regular $8.99 a pound. Deal ends Tuesday.

Something in today's Food Lion insert caught my eye. Regarding the part where a 2 for $5 sale on Edy's ice cream is mentioned, it reads "Better than BOGO."

The first thing I thought was this is a competing brand of ice cream. I was surprised I had never heard of it. But here's the scoop: a quick search in Google revealed it is an acronym used in retail industry circles that refers to buy one, get one (free).

Regarding the sale, it does read below the BOGO part that Edy's is regularly 2 for $10.58, so you might have gathered what it meant by doing the math.

But I wondered how many others out there were also scratching their heads, so I did an informal poll in the office, for what it's worth. The first co-worker I asked didn't know either. But three others knew. Go figure.

"Bart, a woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one!" — Homer Simpson

Bucking the trend regarding rising prices on just about everything these days is beer. Two words: high fives.

This week, Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite are on sale for a price that makes me want to raise a glass of the foamy amber goodness and celebrate: $11.88 a case at Harris Teeter (limit two).

And just in time for your July 4 fireworks/"staycation" extravaganza.

Cheers.

Update: Harris Teeter has cases of Yuengling for the same price.

...But Wal-Mart is hoping to lure the masses with another entry into the super value wine category. The world's largest retailer has introduced a private label of California wines named Oak Leaf. The price? Less than $3 a bottle.

Even if the taste isn't, the price is right.

A sampling of 2-for-1 deals at some Triad grocery stores this week that might help you stretch your food budget in tight economic times:
Food Lion: Large cooked shrimp, Carolina fried turkey breast, cantaloupes, Doritos, Alpo.
Harris Teeter: Klondike ice cream bars, Sargento shredded cheese, Harris Teeter brand meats and cheeses, Dog Chow, Sabra hummus, boneless center cut pork chops.
Lowes Foods: Lowes brand charcoal, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, Blue Bunny ice cream.
Kmart is also having a 50 percent off sale on items including: Prego pasta sauce, Post cereal, Snyders pretzels, green deli salads, Keebler cookies.

Buy any 12-ounce bag of Starbucks coffee at Lowes Foods by May 18 and get a $5 Starbucks gift card by mail.

Here's the deal: when you buy the coffee, you get a voucher that includes a code that you enter at the Starbucks Web site. The card is then mailed. Must be redeemed online by May 31.

By the way, Lowes also has Starbucks on sale for $7.49 a bag (regular $9.99).

Walgreens is running a great sale on Domino sugar this week: $1.99 for five pounds. Limit two with the coupon in this week's sales paper.

The deal is even better if you have the coupons from Sunday's paper. In the Redplum insert, there's a coupon for 30 cents off any Domino sugar product. That'll make a five lb. bag just $1.69, which is cheaper than most store brands.

Highlights of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Harris Teeter has buy 2, get 3 free deals on Pepsi and Nabisco snacks. Food Lion has New York strip steak for $5.99 a pound.

Coupon in today's News & Record that doubles Lowes Foods' greenpoints when you spend at least $75 or triples it if you spend at least $100. You also get five times the value of greenpoints if you spend at least $150. (Coupon expires Tuesday.)

Kmart has a buy 10, get 10 free deal on Gatorade, including the new G2 and Gatorade Tiger brands.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: 10 for 10 deals on stuff including: Michelina's frozen dinners, pasta or Rice A Roni sides, Chef Boyardee canned pasta and microwave bowls, 32-ounce Gatorade, Zone Perfect or Power Bar, Kellogg's cereal in a cup.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: London broil or top round roast, boneless chicken breast, 8-pack Scott paper towels, 6-packs of Coke, 2-pound packages of EZ peel white or HT Traders tail-in shrimp, sliced, smoked or honey-smoked turkey breast, Purina Dog Chow.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Hams:

Compare Foods: Frozen whole smoked hams for $1.18 a pound.

Food Lion: Regular or brown sugar Smithfield spiral sliced hams for $1.49 a pound.

Harris Teeter: Smoked, honey glazed or brown sugar spiral sliced bone-in half ham for $1.59 a pound.

Lowes Foods: Gwaltney whole or half honey glazed or brown sugar halves of premium spiral sliced ham for $1.39 a pound (limit two with additional purchase).

Kmart: Smithfield spiral-sliced ham (limit two with additional $20 purchase).

Two-for-one deals:

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 2.5-pound bags of Food Lion frozen boneless chicken breasts, 1-pound bags of Food Lion medium cooked shrimp, Frosted Flakes, Nabisco single serve snacks, Ritz crackers, Campbell's dinner kits,

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Progresso soup, 2.5-pound bags of boneless chicken breasts, 16-ounce Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Northland cranberry juice.

You see a lot of coupons for 35 cents off, 50 cents off and 75 cents off when you flip through the Sunday coupons. But I had to pause -- and clip -- when I got to the FREE coupon for Frank's Red Hot hot sauce in this week's Smart Source insert.

You can't beat free.

A glance at a grocery store dairy case recently may have sent you on a search for Tums instead. Those prices are enough to give you heartburn.

But Compare Foods has a good deal on Pet milk this week. Starting Wednesday, you can get a gallon for $2.99.

Greensboro's Compare Foods is in the Northeast Shopping Center on Summit Avenue. If that's not close to you, clip the ad out of Tuesday's News & Record and take it to Wal-Mart to get the price match. The Compare Foods ad is on the back page of the A section of the March 4th paper and is good Wednesday through March 11.

Who am I kidding? With the price of everything going up, even life isn't giving out free lemons anymore.

But you can still get lemons for a steal. This Sunday's paper includes a coupon for 50 cents off of three or more Sunkist lemons. It's not often that you'll see a coupon for loose produce (the coupon can also be used off of 2 lb. or larger bag of Sunkist lemons). The lemon coupon is in the RedPlum coupon insert.

If you use that coupon at either Lowes Foods or Harris Teeter -- both stores double coupons up to 99 cents -- you could end up with a deal that's really sweet.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 1-pound bags of Food Lion raw, large shrimp (limit two), cataloupes, Canadian maple ham (per pound), Kellog's cereal, Birds Eye Voila!.

Also, you can get 10 Michelina's frozen dinners for $10.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Strawberries, blueberries, Palmolive dish liquid, Eight O'Clock Coffee.

Also some 10 for $10 deals on stuff including Peter Pan penaut butter, cans of Valley Fresh white chicken, Starkist solid white tuna, Wish bone salad dressing.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 2.5-pound bags of Food Lion frozen boneless chicken breasts, Nabisco Chips Ahoy! cookies, Doritos, Keebler crackers, 1-pound bags of Food Lion raw, large shrimp.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Harris Teeter fresh, boneless chicken breast, London broil, cantaloupes or brunch brocoli, Progresso soup, New England Coffee, Harris teeter bacon, Sparkle paper towels, Purex detergent.

There's also some buy one, get two free deals on stuff including Dietz & Watson black forest ham or oven roasted turkey, EZ peel white shrimp, Harris Teeter ice cream, Green Giant vegetables.

Lowes Foods: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Boneless center cut pork chops, bone-in split chicken breasts, Gwaltney big 8's franks, Idaho russet potatoes, 2-liter Pepsi, Lowes bath tissue, Dole salads.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Food Lion extra jumbo raw shrimp, 4-pound bags of navel oranges, Nabisco crackers, Carolina fried turkey breast, Kraft cheese, Aunt Jemima pancakes and French toast, Post cereals.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Breyers ice cream, Sea Pak seafood, Mott's apple juice and Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Food Lion chicken wings, large cooked shrimp, Canadian maple ham, Cheeze-It crackers, Ritz crackers, Ball Park hot dogs, eggs, Lay's chips, Healthy Choice frozen dinners, crab rangoons.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Red Baron pizza, Mayfield ice cream, Chex Mix, sliced cheese, 12-packs of Coke.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Breyers ice cream, 16-oz. bags of Food Lion brand raw shrimp, Food Lion bags of frozen boneless chicken breasts, Healthy Choice frozen dinners. Also featuring 10 for $10 deals on stuff including 32-oz. Gatorade, 2-liter Coke and Michelina's frozen dinners.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 2-pound packages of ground chuck, Campbell's soup, and 2.5-pound packages of boneless chicken breast.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Carolina fried turkey breasts, peel and eat shrimp, Tombstone frozen pizza, Doritos, Mrs. Smith's cobblers and Pepperidge Farm cakes.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: T-bone or porterhouse steak, Breyers ice cream, and frozen and fresh organic foods by Amy's and other brands.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: one pound of Hormel cooked ham, Food Lion bags of frozen split chicken breasts or chicken tenders, Keebler cookies, Lucky Charms cereal, Eggo waffles, 16-ounce bags of Food Lion medium cooked shrimp.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: boneless roast, boneless pork tenderloin, 4.4-ounce packages of blueberries, blackberries and strawberries, 10-pack of Capri Sun drinks, 6-packs of Coke, Arm & Hammer detergent, Healthy Choice frozen dinners, Purina Dog Chow, Marie Callender's frozen dinners.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Dole salads, 16-ounce bags of raw, large shrimp, Food Lion bags of frozen split chicken breasts, Honey Nut Cheerios, Texas Toast.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: fresh boneless chicken breasts, grape tomatoes, Kellogg's Special K cereal, cases of Spring! water, 32-ounce Gatorade.

Harris Teeter is also tripling manufacturers' coupons (up to 99 cents, limit 20 coupons) Thursday through Saturday.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: oranges, cooked shrimp, Mrs. Smith's fruit pies, Ritz crackers, Breyers Ice cream and Canadian maple ham.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Ocean spray cranberry juice, 12-packs of Coke, Cheez-it, Purina Dog Chow and 2-liter Canada Dry or 7UP.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion:Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 5-pound bags of white potatoes, 16-ounce bags of raw jumbo shrimp, Nabisco wafers, Zesta crackers, Pepperidge Farm toast, Smithfield bacon, 2.5-pound bags of Food Lion boneless chicken breasts.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 6-packs of Coke, 2-liter Canada Dry, Campbell's Chunky soup, boneless N.Y. strip steak, Tostitos, pork tenderloin, Mayfield ice cream.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Aldi: Butterball 12-14 pound turkeys at 89 cents a pound; fully cooked 10-12 pound smoked turkeys at $1.49 a pound, 5-pound bags of red grapefruit for $1.99.

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Canadian maple ham (per pound, regular $6.49), Frosted Flakes and Cap'n Crunch cereals, Food Lion bags of frozen split chicken breasts for breast tenders (regular $11.99 each), Nabisco crackers ($2.29 each).

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Red raspberries, blackberries or blueberries (4.4-6-ounce packages), Capri Sun drinks, 24-pack of Dannon spring water, Alpo dog food, Mayfield ice cream, Barber chicken strips or nuggets.

A sampling of deals at Triad area grocery stores this week:

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including 12-packs of Coke, Breyers ice cream, Sara Lee pies, Birds Eye veggies, Planters mixed nuts, Folgers coffee, Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

Wal-Mart: Butterball frozen turkey breast is $1.84 a pound, fresh turkey hen for .97 a pound, complete holiday dinner (serves 8 to 10 people) for $38.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one stuff including: Brawny paper towels, Edy's ice cream, Hormel bacon, Cap'n Crunch and Life cereals, Nestle cookies, 12-packs of Pepsi.

Food Lion: Two-for-one stuff including: Dole salad, navel oranges, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Birds Eye veggies, Chips Ahoy cookies.

Food Lion has two-for-one deals on items including: A pound of Deli Virginia or honey ham, Lay's chips, Ball Park meat franks, Food Lion split chicken breasts or chicken tenders (2.5-3 pound frozen bags).

Kmart Super Center has 10 for 10 deals on items including: Chef Boyardee canned foods, Bumble Bee solid white albacore, Lipton rice and pasta sides, Banquet breakfasts.

A sampling of deals at Triad area grocery stores this week:

Buy one, get one free deals:

* Food Lion: Cantaloupes, Smithfield center cut ham slices, Tombstone frozen pizza, Breyers ice cream, Doritos.

* Harris Teeter: Pork baby back ribs, Rancher beef ground chuck, Pepsi 12-packs, Alpo dog food, Kellog's raising bran crunch.

A sampling of deals on groceries that expire Tuesday:

Lowes Foods has buy one, get one free deals on naval oranges and Green Giant frozen veggies.

Food Lion has 10 for $10 deals on Pringles potato chips, Michelina's frozen dinners, Chef Boyardee pasta and microwave bowls.

Harris Teeter has buy one, get one free deals on boneless center cut pork roast, 3-pound bags of select apples.

Kmart Super Center has buy one, get one free deals on Post cereal, Red Baron frozen pizza and Hamburger Helper microwave singles.

Buy today's News & Record for 50 cents and make a $4.50 profit.

That's because there's a $5 off coupon on A5 toward purchases at a new grocery store in Greensboro called Aldi ($30 minimum purchase).

Coupon expires Oct. 20.

Sampling of 2-for-1 deals at some grocery stores in the Triad:

Food Lion: Ritz crackers, Keebler Chips Deluxe, Canadian maple ham (1 pound).

Harris Teeter : Porterhouse or T-bone steaks, boneless pork chops, 6-packs of Coke and Healthy Choice frozen dinners.

Lowes Foods: Keebler Town House crackers, Honey Comb cereal, Hormel meat entrees, Steak-umm sandwich steaks.

A select sampling of 2-for-1 deals among some grocery stores in the Triad:

Food Lion and Harris Teeter both have a buy one, get one free deal on Breyers ice cream.

Harris Teeter also has the same deal on Pepsi products and boneless chicken breasts. Food Lion has Fresh Express salads as one of its buy one, get one free deals.

Kmart Super Center has a 10 for $10 deal on Michelina's frozen dinners.

I like 'em. Some better than others. But in the interest of fairness because, let's face it, I'm a little biased (I think I have the best taste buds, although my wife may beg to differ), I came across a review, albeit a little dated, by Slate.com that mentions one Michelina's product in particular.

Let's just say I doubt Michelina's has it framed on a wall in the company's reception area: