Kickoff Summer with ALDI Food and Recipes

by Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

May 13, 2020 • 0 comments

Summertime fun is on its way. While the kickoff to summer may look different this year, it can still be special – and tasty. ALDI has all your summer spread essentials you love for less.

I’ve teamed up with ALDI on this delicious food spread to help keep you fed in a festive way—all of the food and drinks you see here came from my neighborhood ALDI!

This post is sponsored by ALDI

Build-Your-Own Burger Bar

You know that I’m all about easy, but impressive spreads. While many of us had fun building charcuterie boards in the past, keep the fun going this summer with a burger board! Members of your household can all come together to enjoy this special meal. These at-home activities are fun and produce delicious results.

If you’re not able to celebrate the kickoff to summer or upcoming Memorial Day holiday as usual with your family and friends, consider hosting a virtual BBQ with your loved ones. Participants can even make the same recipes, so you feel like you’re all together in these uncertain times.

Grill up burgers with ground beef and add some Simply Nature Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs on for good measure—my kids love those. If you don’t have ground beef, you can substitute with whatever you have in your fridge or freezer. Or maybe try some meat alternative options from the expansive Earth Grown line from ALDI, including a variety of vegan, vegetarian and plant-based options, like these Earth Grown Kale Veggie Burgers and vegan shredded cheese.

For toppings, ALDI offers amazing cheeses that won the 2020 Product of the Year award, and still at a great value. Like Happy Farms Deli Sliced Cheese, in your favorite varieties, like Swiss, Muenster, Pepper Jack and Medium Cheddar. In fact, 1 in 3 ALDI-exclusive products is award-winning. (As of 1/29/2020, based on an audit of everyday, nationally distributed ALDI-exclusive branded products.) Tuck those dogs and patties into baked goods, like brioche hot dog buns and hamburger buns.

Balance Your Plate with Salads and Grilled Vegetables

I love balancing out my burger plate with a big salad. And now may be the best time to add more veggies into your diet.

This Citrus Popping Kale Salad is a great match for a burger, with quinoa, mango, onion, almonds, goat cheese and lime vinaigrette. ALDI offers a large array of fresh foods, including organic produce and convenient ready-to-eat food like sliced fruit, ready-made salads and more — ideal for all dietary preferences. I also love the intensified flavors of fresh vegetables thrown on the grill.

And what’s summer without guacamole. This Park Street Deli Guacamole is one of my favorites! So good.

Summertime Desserts and Drinks for the Whole Family

For drinks, you’ll also find an awesome selection of award-winning ALDI wines, many under $10. And beer, too! ALDI works with wineries around the world to curate top-quality varieties that bring connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike to ALDI.

• Espritza Sparkling Rosé Wine Cans, which are now on my summer staple list!
• Giambellino Peach Bellini
• Velata Premium Sangria
• Wild Range IPA, a premium-tasting beer

My kids love mocktails. Try some made with Simply Nature Pomegranate Plum 100% Juice, garnished with fresh berries.

These Backwards S’more Bars are total crowd pleasers. Make recipes that get the whole family involved—my girls love to bake with me. To prepare, you bake a box of Baker’s Corner Brownie Mix in two pans. Then you layer the brownies with marshmallows and graham crackers. And you have ooey, gooey s’mores bars! Yum.

Safety and Security First

ALDI is focused on keeping stores clean and stocked and have made a number of changes to further promote health and safety, for both employees and customers, within stores. This includes the installation of protective barriers at checkout, intensified store cleaning practices, continuous cart disinfection, social distance reminder signage, store occupancy limits, one-way aisles and requiring all employees to wear face masks or face coverings during their shifts.

The ALDI shopping experience is designed to save people money and who doesn’t want more money in their pocket? I know I do! Thankfully for us, ALDI operates more than 21 stores in the Indianapolis area, providing us convenient access to fresh, high-quality groceries at unbeatable prices.

Visit aldi.us to take advantage of more recipe ideas to make at home with your family. For more fun info and tips, “Like” ALDI USA on Facebook and follow @ALDIUSA on Instagram and Twitter.

Michelle Dudash, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, Cordon Bleu-Certified chef, and author of Clean Eating for Busy Families.