I'm a culinary judge who shops at Aldi. Here are 11 things I've bought and loved.
I like that Simply Nature thick-and-chunky salsa is loaded with vegetables.
The Simply Nature thick and chunky salsa contains visible pieces of chopped tomato, peppers, onion, and garlic. I've tried the medium-level heat, and much to my delight, it was hotter than I expected.
In the past, I've been able to snag a 16-ounce jar of salsa for $2.15.
Pueblo Lindo dried beans are a good pantry staple.
At Aldi, I'll grab a bag or two of whatever dried beans I find. On this trip, I grabbed Pueblo Lindo black beans.
High in fiber and protein and free of fat and sodium, dried beans can be used in a variety of recipes. I buy the dried kind since canned beans may have added salt.
I always check dried beans for pebbles or other detritus and rinse them well. To rehydrate, I do a quick soak: bring them to a boil, cover, remove from heat, let them sit for an hour, and drain.
I snagged some organic Bartlett pears from Aldi's produce section.
Aldi's produce aisle is always worth looking through for a regional specialty or sale. This time, I found a 2-pound sack of organic Northwest US Bartlett pears.
The pears looked like autumn in a bowl on my kitchen table, waiting to be eaten in salads or as dessert.
The sack of pears cost me under $5.
