UNOFFICIAL ALDI COOKBOOK

Going to ALDI is a weekly part of my family's regular grocery shopping routine; so today we're doing a review of a new cookbook based on using ingredients found at the store courtesy of Ulysses Press. The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook is full of tasty beverage ideas such as wine slushies, delicious gourmet-style meals like stuffed chicken breasts, and a number of tempting deserts. All together there are more than 50 recipes that ALDI nerds are sure to geek out about.

The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook focuses on the grocery store chains selection of free produce, out of the ordinary products, and discounted items to create some delicious recipes that are easy to dish up at home. The uncomplicated ingredient lists and easy to follow directions were particularly appreciated by this amateur chef. So after flipping through the book I decided to grab a quarter and head over to our local ALDI to whip up something to snack on while watching the University of Michigan play in the Sweet Sixteen during March Madness.

Using my quarter to obtain a shopping cart, a smart idea that seems to be only used by ALDI, I made my way around the store gathering up what I needed to mix up a bowl of Smoked Salmon Dip as listed in The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook. Everything on the ingredient list I was able to secure at ALDI as well as the crackers to enjoy the dip with. It should be no problem to create this home-made smoked salmon dip well before the 5pm tip off of tonight's big basketball game in the NCAA tournament.

Here is the ingredient list for enough to make a bowl of smoked salmon dip the equivalent of six servings:

2 (3 oz) packages of refrigerated smoked salmon

1 (8 oz) package of Happy Farms cream cheese

2 green onions 

2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon Stonemill Minced Garlic in Extra Olive Oil

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

1 box of crackers

Directions:

+ Cut the ends off the onions;

+ Place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir together;

+ Blend together all the ingredients with a mixer, blender or food processer for three to four minutes;

+ Place in a serving dish complimented with toasted bread, chips or crackers of your choice.

Wow! It only took me 5 minutes to prepare this great snack! Bon Appetit!

For more information about this cook book by Jeanette Hurt including some more sample recipes and retailers you can purchase it from go to ulyssespress.com