14 years ago my husband and I were a young couple with a newborn son. We didn’t make a lot of money, so every dollar had to be budgeted out. We often complained about the high cost of groceries and didn’t know how we would make it some weeks until we saw an Aldi being built, literally 2 minutes from our house.
All these years later and Aldi is still our number one grocery store. Why? You can save more than 50% off your entire grocery bill and still get quality products. PLUS it helped us get great quality food on a super small budget. 🙂
I have never been a brand snob, so when I first started shopping at Aldi all those years ago, not seeing brand names didn’t bother me at all, I actually loved checking out all the brands they offered and got a little excited every time I found something else that looked interesting. Today they still offer their own brands but also many of the brands you know and love.
I have told thousands of people about Aldi throughout the years, and most didn’t believe how much money you can save until they went and saw for themselves. Now I have friends and family who won’t shop anywhere else!
Now, every year during the Holiday season, I can’t wait to get to Aldi to start stocking up. I had already purchased all of my big-ticket holiday items like a ham, a turkey and all the fixings, so I wanted to make this trip about really doing something special for my guests. Normally, I have tons of cookies, cakes and candies out for snacking, but this year, I wanted to offer a savory cheese plate.
I was super happy to find the Hormel Party tray, it has everything I wanted and was under $10. I also bought a few more specialty cheeses like the Smoked Gouda, Havarti Cheese, and the Edam Cheese. Then I found a truly unique product, something I had never heard of before – Pinot Grigio White Whine salami! OMG! That just sounds divine! They also have a Chianti red Wine salami! I can’t wait till my guests try it!
Speaking of wine, Aldi has a very affordable selection of wine. They have everything from Riesling and Pinot, to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and they won’t break your budget. You can pick up a bottle right there in the store and save yourself a trip anywhere else. ALDI carries exclusive award-winning wines, most of which are priced at $6.99 or less. *** Prices will vary due to state and local laws. All products may not be available in all stores.
I also needed to pick up some odds and ends and found the perfect items. I found some Holiday Sprinkles for my sugar cookies, some milk chocolate caramel pretzels for my the cans of goodies I make and give out as gifts and my boys favorite candy for their stockings. See those little bag of silver chocolate coins, they are a holiday tradition in our home, they always have them in their stocking.
Holiday Entertaining Tips
The following tips were developed by food stylist, Janice Stahl, on behalf of ALDI.
Keep it Simple. When planning your holiday party or family dinner, don’t overthink it. Remember, “Less is More” when designing your menu and décor. If you try to do too much, you’ll end up unable to enjoy the event you’ve worked so hard to put together. Keep your shopping experience simple and stress free by shopping at ALDI. From award-winning wines and holiday baking essentials to gifts and all the trimmings for your holiday dinner, ALDI has everything you need at prices up to 50 percent* less than traditional grocers.
Somewhat Homemade. Combine traditional homemade recipes with pre-made items for a holiday spread that is sure to please. Dress up your Appleton Farms Spiral Sliced ½ Ham from ALDI with an apple cider and balsamic glaze. Or, place bite size portions of L’oven Fresh Dutch Apple and Pecan Pies and Belmont Cheesecake Samplers into mini martini glasses for a chic dessert table display.
The Perfect Table. Let the food be the star by using white or clear plates, bowls and serving dishes. Use napkins or table runners with seasonal colors and designs to add to the holiday mood. Seasonal flowers or plants such as poinsettias from ALDI can add a pop of color to your table as well. Consider renting linens rather than purchasing if you don’t think you’ll use them often. Rentals are typically inexpensive and there’s no cleaning or ironing involved! Pre-set your dining room table a few days in advance so you know you’ll have everything you need on the day of your event.
Don’t Forget the Kids. If you’re expecting children at your event, prepare a couple child-friendly dishes that adults will enjoy too such as the Mini Thanksgiving Bites w/ Cranberry Glaze recipe from ALDI. They pack a great flavor in a bite-size (and kid-friendly) serving. Or, if there are picky eaters on your guest list, set up a separate table for the kids, so you don’t have to display their kid foods right next to your gourmet recipes.
Small Bites. A hot trend this entertaining season is to serve small “bites” at your party. Serve homemade appetizers alongside gourmet and artisan cheeses such as the Specially Selected Brie and Specially Selected Havarti cheeses available at ALDI this holiday season.
The New Potluck Party. Hoping to get the neighborhood together this holiday?Instead of the typical potluck, get everyone involved in a neighborhood progressive dinner. Assign each neighbor a specific course – appetizers, salad, entrée, dessert – and a serving time. Then, walk from house to house and enjoy each course of your progressive dinner. Whatever course you are assigned, ALDI is a great place to pick up what you need. ALDI sells 1,400 of the most commonly purchased high-quality grocery items, including fresh produce and fresh meats, plus an additional selection of winter seasonal items.
Festive Flights. For a fun twist on holiday wines, offer guests a rage of flights. For example, line up a few different types of red wine in small, single-serving glasses and encourage everyone to share what they like about each sampling. Most of the award-winning wines at ALDI are priced at $6.99 or less, making it easy to entertain with a wide selection of high quality wines from Landshut Riesling and Sunshine Bay Sauvignon Blanc to Viña Decana Tempranillo and Toca Diamonte Malbec.
Spreading Holiday Cheer. Looking for the perfect party favor or hostess gift? Layer the ingredients for your favorite family cookie recipes – like Baker’s Corner Baking Sprinkles, Coconut Flakes or Baking Cocoa from ALDI – in mason jars to make “cookies in a jar.” Or, make mini loaves of the Baker’s Corner Pumpkin Quick Bread Mix and wrap them each in a small clear bag tied with a seasonal ribbon. Another easy way to extend holiday cheer is to pack up leftovers for your guests to enjoy the next day.
Plan ahead. This seems simple, but we all know how time gets away from us during the busy holiday season. Map out your menu, table settings and décor needs in advance so you know your shopping list is complete. Also remember to check out the ALDI Holiday Catalog online at www.aldi.us. It’s a great resource for holiday entertaining and includes turkey carving and planning tips, seasonal essentials such as Baker’s Corner Canned Pumpkin, Kirkwood
Boneless Turkey Breast and Happy Harvest Candied Sweet Potatoes, and all the trimmings for the ultimate holiday spread.
Unexpected Centerpieces. To update the typical floral centerpiece on the table this year, fill a large glass vase or a few small vases with ornaments, seasonal produce or holiday candies such as the Choceur Imported Chocolate Figurines or Choceur Peppermint Sticks availableat ALDI. For holiday seasonal produce, cranberries or layered red and green apples work well. ALDI carries approximately 60 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables at the lowest prices, so you can fill even your biggest vases without overspending.
Aldi’s website also offers great recipes using their products. Check it out for new ideas!
Find an Aldi near you!
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for ALDI. I received a gift certificate to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”
