Last week of February

I do hate blogging without pictures. Nevertheless, as we start our week, I wanted to look at some of the sales and recipes to go with the sales. Kroger has beef stew meat for $2.99 a pound and pork loins for $1.99 a pound. (Market Street has pork tenderloin, all natural, for $4.99/pound). Also, check on the good buys on raspberries 2/$5 at Kroger, Clemetines at $4.99 at Kroger, Strawberries at 2/$3 at Tom Thumb and oranges at $1/lb at TT.

If you did not buy a pork loin last week, you might want to grab the one for this week, together with that bottle of Stubb's Marinade. I also have a fabulous recipe for pork and sweet potato stew, but the weather needs to be cooler than 80 degrees to really enjoy it.

Meanwhile, here is a wonderful way to cook the stew meat called Sissy's Beef Tips:

1 1/2 to 2 pounds stew meat (I always trim it and cut it into smaller pieces)
3 slices bacon (optional, but very good)
2 cups sliced onions
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 bay leaf
1 can beer or 1 1/2 cups apple juice
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

Dredge the meat in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Brown in a skillet with the bacon. Add the onions. Remove the bacon. At this point I put all of the ingredients in a crock pot and head to work. Or you can continue on top of the stove - add all ingredients and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Serve the stew over:

Cooked egg noodles, topped with the crumbled bacon.

I tend to be a little lazy when it comes to vegetables - grab something out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave, and call it done. This week Libby's vegetables are on sale at Market Street for 69 cents a can. So let's get creative:

Sweet and Sour Green Beans
2 strips bacon, cut in to pieces (a good way to use the rest of that bacon from above)
1/3 cup diced onion
1 1-pound can French style green beans
3 tsp. sugar
dash pepper
2 Tablespoons vinegar (white)

Brown the bacon, then add the onions and saute. Add the liquid from the beans. Cook down to about 1/2 cup. Add the rest of the ingredients. Heat and serve. Serves 3 to 4.

And here is a good one from one of the famous chefs in Savannah, GA.:

Mixed Vegetable Casserole
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
4 cups mixed vegetables (various canned vegetables on sale)
1 7-ounce can water chestnuts (optional)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup cracker crumbs

Preheat oven to 350. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter and sate the onions and celery until tender. add the vegetables, water chestnuts if using, soup and mayo and mix well. Pour into a lightly greased 9 X 13 casserole. Melt the remaining butter and stir in the cracker crumbs, then sprinkle over the casserole. Bake for 30 minutes until brown and bubbly on top. Serves 8 - 10

Be sure and pick up a whole fryer at Albertsons for 88 cents/pound, Albertsons canned tomatoes for 88 cents each, a pint of Blue Bell for 88 cents, and fuji apples for 88 cents.

More meat recipes tomorrow, including grilled salmon and a wonderfully good roasted chicken.