A Frugal Indulgence for a Millennial Marie Antoinette - Aldi Spring Assortment Macarons

Aldi Spring Macarons

There is a clear difference between freshly-made bakery macarons and mass produced frozen ones BUT that doesn't mean frozen macarons are bad. They're just different. 

Pros of frozen macarons: more affordable, are readily available in stores like Aldi, Walmart, Lidl, etc., keep for a long time but are quick to thaw for snacking.

Cons of frozen macarons: Their stability means they aren't as decadent or delicate as freshly made, and they tend to come in boring flavors. If you'd seen one box of frozen macrons, you've  seen them all. 

Until now that is. Aldi is opening their frozen macaron section up to seasonal flavors, like this spring box. I hope this is the start of a trend and we see more, maybe even limited edition, flavors in the future. So, what's in this spring mix and how does it compare to the normal year-round one? 

Punch Line is a Welcome Break from the Hype Machine. -UPDATE

Ben & Jerry's X Netflix Punch Line - Shop Rite

Food and flavors are subjective. I know that, you know that, but we all love to hop online and compare tastebuds with strangers. (Hi!) Why do we do it?

Whether it's to find out if a product is worth your money (which is my main goal), or for validation in your opinions, or just to see how your taste-buds compare to others. We feel compelled to try new and potentially gross food, then turn to our friends and say, "You gotta' try this!" It's just human nature. But, in doing so, we fall victim to the hype of new-ness and extra-ness. 

I've been blogging for a long time, I think 7 years (I keep forgetting how long exactly) and from what I can tell, I'm an oddball.

A Space-al Pint that's Udderly Out of This World

Ben & Jerry's Boots on the Moooo'n - Wawa 

I know this is a tie-in with Netflix's Space Force, but I haven't watched it. Should I? (Let me know what you thought of it in the comments.) These days I've been watching The Boys, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Lovecraft Country, and New Girl, because I am dark and spooky, but also fighting off depression because... *motions vaguely at everything.* 

Originally I wasn't going to pick this up because I thought it sounded too sweet. I know, "ice cream? Too sweet?!" Hear me out, this is a milk chocolate ice cream, with fudge cows, toffee meteors and a sugar cookie dough core. Not a spot of dark chocolate or sea salt to contrast anything in sight.  

I thought I wouldn't want to finish the whole pint in one sitting. Turns out...I was wrong.

Kung Pao Chicken Mini Egg Rolls - Aldi

When I come home from work I'm HUNGRY, teetering on hangry. I normally start dinner the second I take off my coat, but thanks to being sick with the flu I'm completely out of my go-to quick-dinner staples, so it's time to see what's hiding out in the freezer!

Egg rolls sound good, and even though I feel like I should make something else to go along with them, I'm not. Let's hope they're good!

Maryland and Boardwalk Style Crab Cakes - Aldi $4.99 each

Maryland and Boardwalk Style Crab Cakes - Aldi $4.99 each

I never knew Boardwalk style crab cakes were a thing. For 29 years I have gone down to the Jersey shore and walked the boardwalk, and not once have I ever seen an ad for crab cakes. Live crabs? Sure! But boardwalk style crab cakes? Never. (Then again, Wildwood is a special, pizza-filled, Doo-Wop snowflake.) I mean, I knew Maryland style was a thing, so it makes sense that there are other varieties, but not once have I ever heard of board walk style crab cakes. Am I alone in my noob-ish-ness? (I get the feeling that I am.) Welp, time to get educated!

FYI: I think I just set a new record for most amount of musical reference links used in a single paragraph on this blog. Click them and enjoy some tunes!

Pistachio Gelato - Aldi

Pistachio Gelato - Aldi $3.99

Sorry I missed yesterday's post. I'm currently in shortsale-home-buyers-hell. (Which is a misnomer, since it's anything but short.) It's a process I started in early October, and we're nearing the (possible) end next month, so things are getting REALLY intense. I'll try to keep up with blog posts as best I can but, In the meantime, I could really use some ice cream. (And super comfy sweatpants.)

I'm fresh out of ice cream, and there's no way I'm putting real-people-pants back on to go out and buy some, so gelato will have to do.

Aldi's Version of Ben & Jerry's? - Possible Cherry Garcia Dupe

Thank You Cherry Much Ice Cream Pint - Aldi $1.99

A while ago, Aldi started offering three permanent flavors of "Super Premium Ice Cream" and it's pretty obvious that this is their attempt at a house-brand Ben and Jerry's. Just look at it!

Chocolate Filled Belgian Waffles - Aldi

Chocolate Filled Belgian Waffles - Aldi

Torn between breakfast and dessert? Why not both?

Even though I visit Aldi twice a week and thumb through their circulars like a budget-obsessed-food-junkie (which I am), I still find new and unknown products every grocery trip! Like these filled waffles.

I spotted these in the freezer section, and they came in two flavors: chocolate and cherry. I was most excited for the cherry, since I'm a fruit-topped-waffle fan, but if any of you are Aldi shoppers like me, you know that if you don't buy something when you first see it, you're going to miss out. (One of the few issues I have with Aldi is their limited specialty stock.) So, rather than have lingering foodie regret, I grabbed a box of each.

First up, we have the (possibly) fudge-filled chocolate version!

Make Fudge Not War Ice Cream - Aldi ($1.99)

Make Fudge Not War Ice Cream - Aldi ($1.99) 

Another long day at work deserves another pint of Aldi ice cream.

Last time I looked into Aldi's Brookie Dough, which seems like a dupe of Ben & Jerry's Half Baked, and this one looks suspiciously like Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie...but it's half the price!

Aldi's Version of Ben & Jerry's? - Brookie Dough Ice Cream Pint

Brookie Dough Ice Cream Pint - Aldi

Aldi started offering pints of ice cream that look suspiciously like Ben & Jerry's, and it comes in three flavors: Brookie Dough, Make Fudge Not War, and Thank You Cherry Much...and they were only $1.99 each!?! Naturally I bought all three. First up, Brookie Dough!

Fusia Spicy Crab Roll - Aldi

Fusia Spicy Crab Roll - Aldi ($4.99)

Pescatarian-Monday just doesn't have the same ring to it...

My #meatlessmonday post will just have to wait until I get home for dinner, because today I'm eating more frozen sushi from Aldi!

Caffé Bene Coffee Bingsu - H-Mart

Caffé Bene Coffee Bingsu - H-Mart

Even though I'm not a big coffee drinker, I do like a little coffee ice cream once and a while, so why not try it in Bingsu form?

This container is several months old. I intended to review it right away, but it got wedged behind a few other things in my freezer and I completely forgot about it until I bought that strawberry version in New York. Now that I'm home, busting through my stash like a food blogging pro, it's time to finally try this frozen treat!

Strawberry Rhubarb Fruit & Veggie Bars - Aldi

Strawberry Rhubarb Fruit & Veggie Bars - Aldi

Thursday was Bastille Day, and I originally wrote up a macaron review to celebrate, but after the tragedy that occurred in France I thought it was in poor taste to post it. I didn't want to be like, "Oh hey, look at my blog 'cause it's Bastille Day" considering how many people lost their lives, so I canceled the scheduled posting and it'll go live another day. My updating schedule was thrown off due to the sudden schedule change, but today it's back on track with some organic fruit bars!

Aldi released these fruit and veggie bars last summer, and even though I bought them, they never made it to the blog. Thankfully they returned this year!

Caffé Bene Strawberry Bingsu (I like Dalki Edition) - NYC H-Mart

Caffé Bene Strawberry Bingsu (I like Dalki Edition) - NYC H-Mart

New York was pretty hot and muggy, and my boyfriend and I had a normal sized Smeg refrigerator in our hotel room, so we took advantage of that and walked over to H-Mart to take the edge off with some frozen treats. He opted for a box of Melona honey dew bars, and I grabbed this Dalki version of Strawberry Bingsu.

I tried Bingsu for the first time about a year ago. There was a cookies and cream version at my local H-mart featuring K-drama actor, Kim Soo-hyun that I just couldn't resist. My H-Mart offered two other flavors, a coffee version and a green tea one, but never strawberry. I felt like I owed it to myself to check this flavor out, plus this package features Dalki! She's kind of like the Korean version of Strawberry Short Cake!

Thin and Crispy Spinach & Garlic Pizza - Aldi

Thin and Crispy Spinach & Garlic Pizza - Aldi

I just got back from an overnight trip to the Jersey shore. I had a lot of fun, and ate lots of junk food, but now I'm home and I'm tired, and lazy. What better time to cook up a freezer pizza? Plus it has spinach on it, so I can lie to myself and say it's healthier than all the junk food I ate the other day.

Asian Blend Couscous - Aldi

Asian Blend Couscous - Aldi

♪ ♫ It's just another meatless Monday. ♪ ♫  Well it's Tuesday now, but it was Monday when I ate this...so it still counts. 

I'm that person in the office that is always cold, and I can prove it with my icy death-like hands. All winter long I bundle up with scarves, hoodies and thick sweaters, and when summer finally rolls around...I'm still wearing hoodies and sweaters because the air conditioning vent goes right into my office. (Sadly no one wants to trade with me.) Even though we're having 80-90 degree weather and other people are eating cool refreshing salads for lunch, I am standing by the microwave heating up soup and other hot dishes to feed off their warmth like a heat-vampire. 

For todays' heat-stealing meatless Monday meal I have some microwavable couscous from Aldi!

Caramel Cookie Crunch Gelato - Aldi

Caramel Cookie Crunch Gelato - Aldi

Thank the merciful foodie gods, it's finally Friday! It's been an especially hard week but now I can put that all behind me! I can come home, change into my lazy pants, cuddle with my dog in bed and watch Bob's Burgers on Netflix (For the millionth time) while eating gelato right out of the container with a spoon. Life goals. Am I right?

Appetitos Avocado Fries - Aldi

Appetitos Avocado Fries - Aldi

Avocado slices. Covered in breading and served with ranch dipping sauce. You're not fooling anyone Appetitos. Just because it's avocado doesn't mean this is healthier than breaded anything else...but I am curious as to how this will work out.

Taking vegetables and turning them into "fries" isn't a new concept, companies and restaurant chains have been doing this with green beans for years, but avocado slices? They're so soft and creamy. Can they even hold their shape for dipping? Time to investigate!

Specially Selected Sicilian Pistachio Gelato - Aldi

Specially Selected Sicilian Pistachio Gelato - Aldi

Look at me getting all fancy with condensation in these photos! Sorry for the sporadic posting schedule, as of today things finally calmed down at my day job so we should be back on track.

A few days ago I was walking around Aldi grabbing my usual groceries when I noticed that there were three new fancy flavors of gelato in the freezer section. Each one is contained in a cute little plastic tub with a resealable lid. Is it just me, or do these tubs look familiar? Kind of Talenti-like, right? But with a silver lid. The flavor variety at Aldi was really reminiscent of Talenti too. I wanted to check this stuff out, so I grabbed one of each flavor and tossed them into my cart for further analysis. (Which is a fancy way of saying it's been a rough week and I needed an excuse to buy three tubs of ice cream.) 

Chicken Tikka Samosas - Aldi

Chicken Tikka Samosas - Aldi $3.99

Having a freezer meal on a work night is a necessity for my weekly survival. I always start out healthy with good food choices and making my own meals from scratch, but after a few days of getting slammed at my day-job and doing all this stuff online after-hours for my clients, various blogs and online shops...I'm on the brink of eating an entire box of banana Twinkies and telling myself it's healthy because bananas are a fruit.  

I do all of my weekly grocery shopping at Aldi, and they have a decent variety of unique frozen entrees that are always changing. Every week it's something new! (Which can be a good or a bad thing. Sometimes you find something you love, but it's only available for a few days, then it disappears forever.) Aldi usually has a theme to it's weekly circular and offerings. Sometimes it's an upcoming holiday, or sporting event, or specific flavor profile (like spicy foods), but they also have this "Around the World" series where it features a bunch of products from a particular location. They've done Italy, Mexico, Germany, and even India. In case you didn't know, Aldi is a European company (more specifically German), so this is a German company, making Indian food, and selling it in America. It sounds like a bad idea, right? Guess again!