Thursday, December 19, 2013

QFC Grocery Basket 12/18/13



The other night I got a call from my son.  He said that they had read on my blog that he was cooking rib roast for Christmas dinner.  It seems that they aren't!!  I guess after Thanksgiving they are ribbed out.  I'm hoping that he will grill some burgers.  His are the best.

I always cook rib roast for a small Christmas Eve dinner for a few friends but this year I told everybody that I was doing a beef curry recipe from a Japanese friend back in the 80s...and I'm sticking to it.  I remember this as being delicious and I'm sure it will be.  If not there will be plenty of Indian curry type condiments to cover it up.  Everything tastes wonderful with enough Major Grey's Chutney, in my opinion.  If it is a success I'll share the recipe with you guys.

Okay.  Even though I'm not doing the prime rib this year, I'm still going to pass along how to go about it.  I always wait until it goes on sale before I buy it because this is a spendy cut of meat.  Loosely figure two people per rib but don't go crazy and break the budget.  Say you have $50 to spend on your roast.  QFC is selling it for $7.99 a pound this week, so that will get you a generous six pound roast, which should feed six to eight people along with all the side dishes.

I have found that a bone-in roast makes for the tastiest meat.  Plus - when carving I hide the bones before anybody can get their hands on them because they make fabulous BBQ ribs around February when I hate the world.

So to cook your roast give it a good rub down with olive oil and Worcestershire Sauce.  Then give it a generous coating of Montreal Steak Seasoning.  Roast in a preheated 325 oven with the fat side up.  Your meat thermometer is your best friend here so keep it handy.  Rare is around 23 minutes per pound so keep your eye on it.  I try for medium rare in the middle because I like my meat less rare. Your oven and roast will vary but I know you can do this.  Leftover roast makes the best French Dip sandwiches the next day, if you are lucky to have any.

Let's look at the ad this week with an eye out for our holiday meals.  I mentioned the rib roast at $7.99 but QFC is also selling turkey for $ .59 a pound - if you spend a minimum of $30 - not counting the bird.

Here are the highlights this week:

C&H Sugar - $2.69/4lb (remember the hummers)
Starbucks Coffee - $6.99/12oz
Swanson Canned Broth - $1/14.5oz
Kroger Sour Cream - $1/16oz
QFC Butter - $2/lb
QFC Whipping Cream - $2/16oz
Tillamook Medium Cheddar - $4.99/2lb (good house cheese)
Certified Angus Beef Ribeye Roast  - $7.99lb
Fresh Whole Crab - $4.99/lb
Private Selection Turkey - $ .59/lb (see promo above)
Green Beans - $1.99/lb
Broccoli/Cauliflower - $ .99/lb
Colored Bell Peppers - $ .99/ea
Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith Apples - $1.68/lb

New hip update:

I'm a month out and no longer use my cane to get around.  I piled the walker, etc. into the back of my car and will drop it off, with a check, to those wonderful folks at ECHHO.  They provide all the equipment that you could possibly need for a donation, so if you have anything that you no longer need that you purchased just drop it off and it will get used.  Besides, none of us want an adult potty chair hanging around the house.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

QFC Grocery Basket 12/11



This picture doesn't do this wreath justice but I was freezing to death when I snapped it.  The bow is actually burgundy and works well with my front door.  This wreath came from the ladies at the Nordland Garden Club who have been putting out swags and wreaths for years.  I remember way back in the 80s when my favorite ex-husband always bought one for the business so they've been around for a long time.

Okay kids.  As you know I went in on the 18th of November for a new hip.  Well, everything went to hell and I ended up spending five days in the intensive care unit.  The thing that they put down your throat during surgery poked a hole in my trachea and collapsed my lung but they didn't know that.  They thought I was having an allergic reaction.  It wasn't until I ended up in the Harrison trauma unit 12 hours later that I was literally saved by a trauma surgeon back from the Mideast who realized what the problem was.

As my friend, Miss Judith, says - there is no such thing as a routine surgery.  And my new hip??  It's doing great!! and I'm getting around much better than before.

Anyway, now on to the QFC ad which is pretty lame this week.  There are a few things that you can stock up on for holiday cooking.  EEEK!!  Christmas is just two weeks away and I am totally not prepared.  I'm just happy that I can take a shower by myself but I am starting to float a few ideas around in my head but that is it.  I'm thinking that I will not be doing prime rib for my Christmas Eve party because the kids will be doing it for Christmas Day.  And they did it for Thanksgiving.  As you can tell our family loves prime rib!!

So here are the highlights from the ad:

C&H Sugar - $2.69/4lb (also good for the hummer feeders)
Starbucks Coffee - $6.99/12oz
Swanson Broth - $1/14oz
Coffee-Mate Creamer - $2.79/qt (I get mine at Costco)
Darigold Butter - $2.50/lb
QFC Whipping Cream - $2/16oz
Fresh Wild Dungeness Crab - $4.99/lb
California Cuties - $3.99/3lb
Colored Peppers - $1.50/ea
English Cucumbers - $1.50/ea
Honeycrisp Apples - $1.99/lb
Tomatoes on the Vine - $1.99/lb

I grew up on the southern Oregon coast and I ate a lot of seafood, including crab.  I can't believe that I am now allergic to shellfish!!  How unfair, because I love it.  When you buy your crab be sure and have them back and clean it for you.  You will have to pay for the whole crab but at least you won't have to deal with the cleaning.  If you decide to do it yourself, throw the shells and guck into your compost.