Saturday, April 21, 2012

ALDI ROCKS MY SOCKS!

If you aren't shopping at Aldi, you should start today! Not only is their produce fresh and abundant, the selection of basic pantry items has now expanded to include some really awesome finds! I had heard that Aldi was linked somehow with Trader Joe's stores from a friend of mine. I researched this gossip and found out that, in fact, the same parent company, Albrecht Discounts, based in Germany does own both Aldi and Trader Joe's grocery stores. Their "no frills" business model brings the lowest prices to the consumer by eliminating decorative displays and by carrying many store-brand items at a lower cost.




This is my new favorite find from Aldi, who seems to be trying to expand their product lines, including many upscale and natural options to the old standbys. This delicious frozen vegetarian pizza rings in at under $3.00!! The price is misleading, because the pizza is tasty as well as healthy and in my opinion worth more than 3 bucks! The combination of swiss and goat cheeses is a great low-fat option that still feels cheesy and gooey. The crust is light and not greasy. The spinach and cherry tomato toppings leave you full and guilt-free! I can't even find a pizza like this at our higher-priced, fancy grocery stores around town. Shopping on a budget no longer means that your fridge will be full of high calorie, processed foods! Now we can ALL afford the good stuff! 



I also really appreciate the shopping cart and bagging systems at Aldi. You can buy plastic or paper shopping bags at Aldi, or even purchase reuseable cloth bags. This saves money because you will bag your own groceries and it helps save the environment because it encourages you to bring your own bags from home. The carts require your $0.25 deposit on the cart in order to loose it from the cart corral. So, people are more likely to bring their carts back in and sometimes you even score a free cart! Both of these systems are efficient ways to save more money and keep the parking lot safe, while promoting a cleaner planet! Not to mention another reason I feel better about buying from Aldi is because their distribution center is in Batavia, IL. So when I purchase their store brands, I know they have traveled a shorter distance to get to me and also the distribution center has created jobs in my own state. 

Way to go Aldi!! I will be back again and again!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

BEANS in my Brownie??

That's right, folks...BLACK BEAN BROWNIES! And boy are they delicious!


My friend Catherine made these for a pot luck recently and stole the spotlight. She has two daughters with various and severe food allergies so this was a great recipe that worked for their diets and was still mouth-watering and delectable!

These brownies are chock full of protein thanks to the entire of can of black beans that are hiding inside this batch. What a great idea! The beans are almost undetectable, blending in perfectly to the fudgy, moist treats with a little extra nutrition!


Try the recipe here:

Two thumbs up!!