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It's definitely an in-between week at the supermarket. The stores know that we aren't ready to stock up for the holidays. It's basically a potluck at the offfice and cookies for the teachers week and that shows in what's on sale. What do they want us to buy this week? Beef, cross rib roast to be specific. Oh, there's broccoli and apples and Clementine tangerines, but  we are going to have to wait until next week for the good holiday stuff.

Here are the highlights:

RALEY'S/BELAIR has the beef (cross rib or chuck roast) for $2.47 a pound. They also have pork roast (97-cents a pound) and a recipe for spicy shredded pork. (In The Bee's Food&Wine section, you will find a story about the tamale tradition during the holiday season. Shredded pork is a key player in tamales). They also have fresh Dungeness crab ($3.77 a pound and subject to availability); cooked boneless chicken strips in the deli ($4.99 a pound) and take and bake pizza at 2/$10. The crab, chicken strips and pizza make handy quick meals during the busy school, shopping, holiday gathering season.

In produce, you will find broccoli crowns at 99-cents a pound; Clementine tangerines at $5.77 a box and potatoes to go with the roast at 59-cents a pound. 

You can stock up on drinks this week with Crystal Geyser spring water at 2 cases/$7 and 12-packs of 7-UP at buy two get three free. Keebler cookies and crackers are buy 4 save $4, which works out to $1.50 a package. Lipton/Knorr rice or pasta sides are $1 a bag.

Milk and eggs are a bright spot in dairy. Last week I bought two gallons of Bayview non-fat for $3.49. That's a dollar cheaper! Large eggs are $1.29 a dozen and Dannon yogurt is 50-cents a container.

If you are a buy-not-bake provider of school treats, holiday sugar cookies are $4.49 for two dozen and $3.59 for a dozen of the premium variety in the bakery. Holiday cupcakes are $5.99 for 12.

Knudsen sparkling juice is $2 a bottle and Crystal Geyser sparkling water is $1 a bottle.

Over at SAFEWAY, they are also pushing cross rib roast at $1.99 a pound. They also have BOGO Oscar Mayer bacon and Gallo salame at $5.99. Safeway has Dungeness crab but it's up to $5.99 a pound. Lucerne milk has dropped to $4.29 for two gallons.

In addition to the bacon BOGO, Safeway has its own brand of ice cream, Campbell's Select Harvest soup, canisters of Emerald nuts; Russell Stover or Whitman's boxed chocolates; large eggs (18 count); and Tropicana orange juice all buy one, get one free.

The Friday $5 feature is Country Fried Chicken (8 pieces). Grab a Lipton/Knorr side dish for $1 a bag and a loaf of Artisan garlic bread at $1.99 and you have dinner for $8.

Crystal Geyser water is $4.99 for a 35-pack; and 2-liter Safeway mixers are 99-cents a jug.

Safeway has a cereal promotion: Buy 5 items, save $5. The most you will pay for a box of cereal is $1.99 for Special K. If you buy 5, Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes are only $1.29 each. If you are a baker, cookie ingredients are on sale. Safeway chocolate (baking) chips are $2 a bag; brown or powdered sugar is $1.50; evaporated milk is $1 a can; marshmallows are $1 a bag and flour is $2 for a 5lb. bag.

SAVE MART has the beef, too, with a price that falls between Raley's and Safeway - $2.37 a pound. They are also the only store to advertise bread for less than $2. Bohemian Hearth is $1.99 a loaf. Whole Foster Farms chickens are 99-cents a pound and fresh crab is $3.99 a pound.

 In the holiday baking category, they have Betty Crocker cookie mixes at 2/$4. If you buy 5 Betty Crocker Mixes and Gold Medal flour ($1.99), you get a dozen eggs free.

A case of Arrowhead drinking water is $3.99 and Hansen's apple juice is $2 a jug.

In produce, apples are again 99-cents a pound; berries are 2 cartons for $5 and sweet Cherub tomatoes are $2.50.

But far and away, the best deals at Save Mart are in the smaller insert. The prices are available throughout December (Dec. 28) and they include Gallo salame for $4.99; Lipton/Knorr sides for $1; Ruffles, Tostitos and Sun Chips for $2.99 a bag and Betty Crocker cake mixes for $1 each. Pillsbury Grands! biscuits are 3/$5 and scones in the bakery are $3.79.

Vic's in Folsom is  into the holiday spirit with a sale on holiday ham at $1.99 a pound. Dungeness crab is $5.99 (same as Safeway). Fresh apples and Satsuma mandarins are 99-cents a pound and Brussels sprouts are also 99-cents a pound. Fresh Express salad mix is $1.69 a bag and Oregon russet potatoes are 69-cents a pound. Arrowhead spring water is $3.99 a case and the scones are $2.99 at Vic's.

Come back tomorrow for some tasty pre-holiday recipes.