Trent's Bargains of the Week

Ledger resident foodie and restaurant reviewer Trent Rowe scours the food ads each week to find the best buys at each supermarket chain.

Publix: Barber Chicken Breasts, Buy-One-Get-One for $4.99 per box.

Winn-Dixie: Whole center cut boneless pork loins for $2.59 per pound.

The Barber chicken breasts at Publix are a super deal. It's BOGO at $4.99 and there are two in a box with flavors like asparagus and cheese, crème brie and apple and Chicken parmesan. That works out to $1.25 per serving. They take about 30 minutes to bake, not microwave, from frozen. You can't make them for this price.

And, if you start your meal with soup (Publix house brand condensed tomato or chicken noodle, 45 cents per can), add a salad (BOGO at $1.99) and a couple of vegetables (Eat Smart mixtures at $2 a bag) a couple can share one serving of chicken.

How about some sliced Florida avocado on the side at $1.25 each.

This is lasagna week at Publix. Everything except the lasagna noodles is on sale. But Ronzoni pasta is BOGO – except lasagna – so make the dish with another shape.

Classico sauces are BOGO ($2.69). Lean ground beef is $3.99 a pound so check the price on a different kind of ground beef and check the label on turkey sausage for a better deal. Sorrento ricotta cheese is $3 for 32-ounce tubs. Publix grated Parmesan and Romano go for $2 for eight ounces. Polly-O mozzarella is $3.69 a pound. You have to get out the old box grater and do some work.

Pass the White Mountain bread at $2.29 a 16-ounce loaf.

Dessert? California Bartlett pears are 69 cents a pound. Bosc pears (better for cooking) are 99 cents a pound. Three-pound bags of new apples – Red or Golden Delicious, Royal Gala – are $3. You can't beat $1 a pound for apples these days.

If you want to dress up a split pear, dollop on some Kozy Shack pudding (try chocolate) BOGO at two for $3.09.

You need some ice cream in the freezer. If your supply is low, head for half gallons of Blue Bell ice cream for $3.99.

The holidays are on the way and if you're still perfecting your sweet potato pie it's a good time to practice. Sweet potatoes are 79 cents a pound. Nothing says the filling has to be in a crust. Serve it in a dish like a pudding with a couple of cookies around the rim. You'll need eggs. They're $1.39 a dozen.

Stock up on New England coffee – BOGO at $5.79 a bag. Check the weight. There should still be a couple of coupons in the back of your coupon holder.

Winn-Dixie's center-cut pork loins are a good deal because you can fill them with bread stuffing or herbs and roast them. Cut chops off the roast. Chops are BOGO that works out to $2.70 per pound.

Split chicken breasts with the skin are BOGO and work out to $1.50 per pound. Skin-off you will pay $1.99 a pound.

American catfish fillets have little waste at $3.99 a pound.

If you're low on coffee, this is Maxwell House week at Winn-Dixie. Big cans are $6.99. Downsizing hasn't hit Maxwell House yet, as it has Folger's.

How's this for fun math?

1.75-liter bottles of Seagram's 7 Crown whiskey cost $18.99 on sale. That's 61.25 ounces at 31 cents per ounce.

Dawn dishwashing detergent costs 13 cents per ounce

Crest Whitening Rinse is 29.3 cents per ounce.

Tropicana Valencia orange juice costs 11.8 cents per ounce.

Welch's sparkling grape juice is 12 cents per ounce.

Filippo Berio organic extra virgin olive oil is 58.7 cents per ounce.

Which all goes to prove that it's cheaper to drink grape juice, dish detergent or mouthwash than rye whiskey.

Happy $hopping.