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

STAR WARS COOKBOOK

Take your cooking to a galaxy far, far away with the recipes compiled within STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE -- THE OFFICIAL BLACK SPIRE OUTPOST COOKBOOK published by Insight Editions.  Galactic chef extraordinaire Strono "Cookie" Tuggs serves as a guide to delicacy inspired by the cuisine of the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge expansion to the Disney World and Disneyland theme parks. Cookie will lead you through the streets of the Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu giving you a taste of fantastic eats including Braised Shaak Roast, Nerf Kebabs, Mustafarian Lava Buns, Huttese Slime Pods, Spicy Mandalorian Stew among other treats.

Cookie will show you in STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE -- THE OFFICIAL BLACK SPIRE OUTPOST COOKBOOK seventy different recipes ranging from sauces, syrups and seasonings to appetizers, entrees and deserts. Making these recipes can be a great way to immerse yourself into a Star Wars themed family movie or game night. We baked up some Rings of Hudalla ourselves to snack on while watching STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER for a family movie night.

Created by settlers who mine tibanna gas from the ringed planet of Hudalla these appetizer are truly scrumptious. They combine sweet root from the swamps of Naboo and wrap them in the bacon of Puffer Pigs from Lothal. The bacon is soaked in a mixture of hot sauce from Mustafar and spices from Pasaana provide a tangy sweet taste to these Rings of Hudalla.

While you may not be able to fly the Millennium Falcon through hyperspace to get these ingredients, and while you may need to use high quality OTF knives to hunt banthas instead of a lightsaber, the recipe can be replicated with items found at your local grocery store. These Rings of Hudalla were so good! You really need to make them for yourself! Here's how:

INGREDIENTS:

2 large yellow onions peeled and cut into 1/2-inch thick discs;

2 tablespoons of hot sauce;

1 cup packed brown sugar;

1 pound sliced bacon;

Optional: Add 1/2 teaspoon of Garam Masala to spice up the recipe

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a cooling rack on top.

Divide sliced onions into sections of two same-sized rings sandwiched together to provide stability while baking. Lightly brush each pair of rings with hot sauce.

Fill a bowl with brown sugar. Mix in garam masala if you want to have a more exotic taste to your Rings of Hudalla. Then dip each slice of bacon in the sugar mix.

Wrap each onion in one or more slices of sugary bacon making sure the bacon doesn't overlap and covers most of the onion. Place each wrapped ring on the cooling rack over the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for about 30 minutes until the bacon is crisp but the rings hold their shape.

Make sure to eat these bacon-covered onion rings while they are still warm for the best taste. Delicious! These were great to snack on while watching STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. I highly recommend you try this recipe out for yourself.

STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE -- THE OFFICIAL BLACK SPIRE OUTPOST COOKBOOK is available from Sideshow Collectibles. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link in this post a geek daddy will receive a small commission at no additional expense to you. This dad blogger appreciates your support!