More chips from Aldi! Admittedly they had even more flavors at the store last week. They had these two Mexican-themed flavors, and two "Brunch" kind of flavors which were Moscow Mule and Bloody Mary. Now Bloody Mary could work, but Moscow Mule? In Chip-form? They weren't really my taste, so I passed them up, but there two were way more my speed.
Check out the video review, or keep reading for the written post and close up photos!
Aldi likes to release a bunch of products all related to the traditional flavors of one area of the world. In the past we've seen them visit Greece, Italy, Mexico and Germany, but right now their latest collection is inspired by the flavors of India.
This isn't Aldi's first collection inspired by India, but it's the first time I've seen it show up with this much variety. They're currently offering curry-based soups, Tikka Masala meal kits, cooking sauces, and various freezer meals. It's been a very VERY long week for me, and even though I like to cook homemade meals on the weekends, I caved and bought a bunch of frozen meals from Aldi instead. (They're vegetarian friendly so I can share them with my boyfriend!)
For today's #MeatlessMonday post, I heated up one of Aldi's frozen vegetarian curry meals for my boyfriend and I. It has something called "vegetarian strips" in it, which look suspiciously like tofu, so we'll see how this one pans out.
BOO! I'm the ghost from Meatless Mondays past!
Well that was a weird opening. Blame it on my not getting much sleep. I'm writing all these reviews tonight (Friday) and scheduling them to post while I'm at the Summer Fancy Food Show in NY, so hellofrom the other sidethe past! I'm sleepy. Let's eat some fried green beans!
Two (somewhat) healthy Aldi reviews in a row?! Well, after Aldi's lack luster ranch flavored kale chips (more like kale croutons) I figured they deserved a chance to redeem themselves. Plus, my immune system failed me this week so I've got I the flu. Missing out on all that sunshine and nice weather while hiding under a pile of blankets and binge watching The X-Files has made me want to eat healthier in an effort to speed up my recovery. It's likely a dietary placebo to make me think I'll get better faster, but who know? Eating a little bit healthier couldn't hurt, right? Bring on the chips!
Aldi stepped up their pizza game in 2014! There's been a new flavor combination advertized in every circular! Sadly, I haven't tried every single one, but I have reviewed the Chicken Club, Gyro, BBQ Chicken, and Tandoori Pizzas. (Plus, they just showed a Cuban style pizza in this week's ad I'm really excited for.) Some were better than others, but I haven't regretted a purchase yet, and the prices can't be beat. (I still say Aldi's Gyro pizza was leaps and bounds better than Papa John's attempt at a Greek pizza.)
Compared to the other pizzas I've reviewed, veggie may seem a bit bland, but it's one of my favorites, so I had to give it a try.
We got a few more inches of snow, so I thought it was the perfect time to make some homemade soup.
I looked through my Pinterest recipe board, since I am still trying to make all of the recipes I've pinned, but I wanted to use ingredients I already had on hand. (Why go out and buy more food when I have a full pantry?) I had 2lbs of frozen broccoli and a full bag of shredded cheese (both from Sam's Club), so the most logical soup choice would be broccoli cheddar, and since I am a total Panera fangirl, I just had to try this copycat recipe.
They are super simple, yummy, and a great way to use up left over chicken and veggies. (It's a great way to use up little bits of leftover meats and veggies in the fridge. I made one last night using leftover turkey, corn, and other veggies from Thanksgiving.)
For the record, traditional quesadillas are made using one tortilla folded in half, similar to an omelet, but mine uses two whole tortillas to make one large round order that can be cut into fourths. I find this to be easier when serving this dish as an appetizer or a meal.
The other day my mother and sister went to the farm to take care of my sister’s horse, and they got me a salad from Panera on the way home.
I LOVE Panera. I actually worked for Panera for several years as an associate trainer, and I can honestly say it is a great place to work and eat. I don’t have any food horror stories from behind the scenes, and I still go back to visit my old bosses and grab a bite to eat. (Unlike my time working at Friendly’s, I haven’t eaten there since 2004.)
The packaging Panera uses for their to-go salad orders has really changed. When I worked there, the clear plastic containers used in restaurants were used for to-go orders. Now, the company uses this nifty, waxed, cardboard box with a clear window. It functions the same way, stacks in the fridge the same way, but it feels more recyclable now. I’ll have to look into it, but I am pretty sure this is more Eco-friendly. I like it.
Here are some photos of the pizzas I made for dinner tonight!
I used THIS pizza dough recipe, that I found on Pinterest.
The recipe was VERY easy to put together, and the finished crust was crispy and delicious. What I really liked was that the finished product was sturdy enough to hold all the toppings I added.
I signed up for BOTH BJ’s and Sam’s Club. Which sounds crazy… but I have a lot of get-togethers at my place so having both memberships has been great!
I had a coupon for these pot stickers, so I decided to grab a bag from BJ’s (the only wholesale club that accepts coupons). The bag is huge, and includes dumpling sauce. Personally, I prefer my potstickers with sweet chili sauce, but the included sauce is nice too.
I have been making this soup for several years. Although I love Ina Garten’s recipes, I always modify this specific recipe. The first time I made this Mexican chicken soup, it wasn’t very spicy, and it was very tomato heavy.
The changes I make:
- I add corn (usually half a bag of frozen corn)
- I add 4-6 jalapeno peppers (Not 2-4)
- I add almost double the veggies
- I use a little less than half of the required crushed tomatoes
- I add about 4 drops of hot sauce
- I add a teaspoon of chili powder
- I double the cumin to 2 teaspoons
- I add a teaspoon of onion powder
I am actually (mildly) allergic to tomatoes, too much tomato can make me physically sick. That is why I cut the amount of tomato in half. This is also why I eat my pasta with Alfredo, or blush sauce. I may be Italian, but tomatoes and I aren’t friends. (I say I am fail-talian.)
If you’re looking for a different take on chicken soup, give this recipe a try. It’s especially yummy with broken tortilla chips on top. (Which is a GREAT way to use up all the broken chips at the bottom of the bag.)
© Maria Smith http://poison-and-antidote.net
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