Sometimes we like to go with the cheap product over the one that costs $0.50 more and it all works out. However, this is a case when ALDI’s product just doesn’t cut it. It’s not because ALDI’s peppercorns taste bad. The peppercorns are great and in a taste test I wouldn’t be able to tell between their black peppercorns and McCormick’s. We had used ALDI’s grinder for a few days when we noticed how difficult it was to grind the pepper. Granted, these are disposable grinders, but some level of quality and durability is expected. In this case, we decided to go ahead and spend an extra $0.50 when the time came to replace the grinder. We bought a McCormick’s grinder and it was evident how much better the grinder was. McCormick’s product cuts through the peppercorns with ease. We tried the ALDI product again and it was just a little laborious to use. This is a good example when spending a few extra pennies is worth it.

Aldi has some phenomenal prices on fruit this week. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of them and stocking up. While these items are the only ones specifically listed on the flyer, remember that Aldi provides a whole host of other quality products at low prices as well.

• Apples $1.19 per 3-lb. bag
• Gold Label Pineapple $1.99 each
• Pears $.89 per 28-oz package
• Navel Oranges $1.29 per 4-lb. bag
• Grapefruit $.29 each

It’s the New Year and it all seems to be about getting fit and staying active. It is a Fit & Active sale at Aldi this week. Aldi’s Fit & Active product line is designed to compete with Barilla Plus and some of the other healthier brands on the market. While Fit & Active is not organic, it is certainly a healthier alternative.

Produce

• Tangerines $1.29 per 3-lb. bag
• Navel Oranges $1.29 per 4-lb. bag
• Grapefruit $.29 each
• Cantaloupe $.99 each
• Del Monte Bananas $.39 per lb.

Fit & Active Breakfast

• Multigrain Waffles (12.3 oz.) $1.29 each
• Nonfat Yogurt (Assorted Varieties 6 oz.) $.37 each
• Egg Substitute or Egg Whites (16 oz.) $1.99 each
• Vitality Cereal with Red Berries (12 oz.) $2.39 each
• Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars (Assorted flavors 10.4 oz.) $1.89 each
• Vitality Cereal Bars (4.86 oz.) $1.79 each
• Reduced Sodium Bacon (16 oz.) $2.49

Fit & Active Entrees

• Panini Sandwiches (Assorted varieties 6 oz.) $2.29 each
• Lean Stuffed Sandwiches (Ham & Cheese or Philly Steak 8 oz.) $1.78 each
• Fresh Turkey Tenderloins (Assorted flavors 30 oz.) $6.49 each
• Grilled Chicken Bites (Fully cooked 25.5 oz.) $7.99 each
• Fresh Ground Turkey (93% lean 19.2 oz.) $2.49 each

Kirkwood Frozen Chicken Breasts (48 oz.) $6.29 each

Goldhen Eggs (One dozen. Grade A Large.) $.79 each (Limit 5)

In addition to the grocery savings that can be found at Aldi, they also have special buys that are available while quantities last. This week the focus of course is on staying fit and being active. I’m looking forward to checking out the Multi-Use Workout Bar for over-the door use ($12.99) and the Panini Maker ($19.99).

We use either multi grain or whole wheat pasta around our house quite often. We choose to use this in some dishes because whole wheat pasta is a healthier choice with better carbs than the type of pasta made with white flour. For a processed food, this is just more substantial and better to digest. Aldi hasn’t offered anything to compete with these products in our area so I was naturally interested when I saw this product. It is natural to be skeptical about store brands, but as I’ve learned with Aldi, their stuff is usually above average and usually approaching the quality of a name brand. That was certainly the case with the Fit and Active Whole Wheat Spaghetti. This was every bit the quality of Barilla and although it wasn’t as good as Heartland, nobody can expect any off brand to be the same as a specialized brand like Heartland. We used this product to make a tossed pasta with some grilled chicken, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and fresh dried basil. The quality was just as good as a name brand. Aldi hits another home run with this product.

I wanted to start highlighting some of the sales that are available at Aldi each week that are great buys at low prices. I shop Aldi weekly to stretch our budget, and while things like milk, eggs, produce, and sugar fluctuate in price; many of their items don’t fluctuate in price, unless they happen to go on sale. For the last few weeks, butter has been on sale, and I have been stocking up, especially since it is baking time around my house. Aldi provides high quality items at affordable prices that I can’t afford to pass up. Aldi is how we stretch our budget as far as we do, with high quality food, at low prices, that I know will stand up to the quality of its name brand counterpart. Aldi makes it easy to grocery shop, and while I still love to chase a deal with my coupons, I am still able to find great prices at Aldi that keep me coming back every week.

• Celery – $.59¢ per pack
• Broccoli – $.99¢ per pack ($.99¢ per lb.)
• Sweet Potatoes – $.69¢ per 3-lb. bag
• Pineapple – $1.99 each

• Butterball turkey – $.99¢/lb. (12-20 lb. avg. weight)
• Kirkwood Boneless Turkey Breast – $9.99 each (4lbs.)
• Kirkwood Premium Rock Cornish Game Hen – $1.99 each (20 oz.)

• Season’s Choice California Medley (broccoli, carrots, & cauliflower) – $.95¢ each (16 oz.)
• Happy Harvest Frozen Asparagus Spears – $1.99 each (12 oz.)

• Happy Farms Cheese Tray – $3.99 each (16 oz.)
• Happy Farms Deli Style Cheese Cubes (Cheddar, Pepper Jack or Colby Jack) – $1.99 each (8 oz.)
• Happy Farms Deli Style Cheese Balls (Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine or Pimento) – $1.99 each (10 oz.)
• edenVale Havarti (Basil, Light or Caraway) – $2.49 each (8 oz.)
• Savoritz Entertainment Crackers (Original, Wheat or Vegetable) – $1.19 each (7-8 oz.)

The great thing about shopping at Aldi is that they have a large variety of different foods to offer at affordable prices with consistent quality. One of the problems of shopping at Aldi is that they have such a huge variety of items available, it is sometimes difficult to see everything they have to offer. The items are stocked closely together because the intent is not to try and market their brand to you, you already know that you’re buying their brand.

While my husband and I were shopping for groceries we came across two items we hadn’t seen before; Aldi’s Sweet & Sour Stir-Fry and their Szechuan Stir-Fry. We have actually cooked and like their Teriyaki Stir-fry that includes noodles. The Sweet & Sour Stir-Fry and Szechuan Stir-Fry do not include noodles, but we added rice to to make the meal complete.

The Sweet & Sour Stir-Fry includes sugar snap peas, carrots, pineapple, and red bell peppers, along with a sweet and sour sauce. The flavors work really well together, and it is ready in about ten minutes. For our meal we included a cup of rice and three chicken breasts to feed our family of four and a half and we had leftovers. From a nutrition stand-point the meal is good because it includes a lot of vegetables and some fruit (a few pineapple chunks).  My daughters and I enjoy pineapple so I told them the next time we cook this meal we would add more pineapple.

I think that the key to the stir-fry is simmering the ingredients together in the sweet and sour sauce. Simmering allows all of the ingredients to bring out their full flavor. If adding additional pineapple to this I would definitely add during the first step of cooking the vegetables so that everything is fully heated before adding the sauce, allowing all of the flavors to combine. The meal is so simple your teenager could probably do this by themselves for a healthy dinner.

This meal also worked out to be a Meal for Less than $10.00 and it is something that we will eat again in the future. The stir-fry was $2.49; a cup a rice approximately $.50; and three chicken breasts $3.00 — a complete meal for $5.99. We’ll add this one as a favorite to our meal list, and continue looking for new ideas when we shop Aldi.