Battle Aldi – Part 3 of 3 (WIN!)
Thank you to everyone who left comments on the previous Battle ALDI post. Our judges were pretty tough, and the results were surprising. For those of you just catching up, here are the first two posts in this series:
Battle Aldi: Part 1
Battle Aldi: Part 2
We had a good time creating our Battle ALDI meals and then having them judged by our harsh judge friends. In the end, I lost the overall challenge. I was not a sore loser, but honestly, who loses a cooking battle to someone who made honeyed apples as their dessert? Yuck! Like I said, er, I’m not a sore loser.
Here are the results –
Appetizer winner – Caprese Bites by cook Trig
The judges said that my appetizer was just too boring. It’s what killed me in the competition overall as well. I had forgotten that for my tricolore salad I was going to make a parmigiano frico (a parmesan crip) to place on top. I guess that’s what happens when you cook with two kids underfoot and don’t write everything down! I bet I would have won had I had the crisp, as our friends are serious cheese lovers it seems.
Entree winner – Homemade Gnocchi in a Pink Cream Sauce by cook Sabrina
I obviously won the entree division with my homemade gnocchi. If you’ve never made homemade gnocchi before, you should give it a shot. Everyone thinks it’s so hard to make, but it’s actually quite easy. I use my nonna’s tried and true recipe, which she shared via video 4 years ago. To make gnocchi you only need potatoes, flour, salt, olive oil, and an egg. It is inexpensive to make, looks gorgeous, and tastes fantastic.
I also can’t reiterate enough how tasty the Happy Harvest canned whole peeled tomatoes are. They made the most fantastic, velvety, sweet-but-not-too-sweet sauce.
The broccoli rabe and sausage pizza was very tasty, but Trig grilled the pizzas for a bit too long and the crust was a little too hard. I’m sure he would have had a better chance had he not burned the bottom. We’ve since used ALDI refrigerated pizza dough for another dinner and the pizza came out great, so this was definitely user error.
Dessert winner – Chocolate Mousse Cake by cook Sabrina
This was won by a landslide. I knew my audience would love something super chocolatey, and I was right. It was really easy to put together too. I used crushed ALDI sandwich cookies with the cream removed to make the crust, then made a simple classic chocolate mousse. Finally, I topped it with fresh whipped cream to which I added some pudding mix as a stabilizer.
Trig’s honeyed apples in vanilla ice cream was made with a variety of apples sold at ALDI. This tasted delicious for a healthy dessert, but we were all really in the mood for something decadent, which this was not. On any regular night though, I would gladly take a bowl of these apples with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Overall the challenge was really fun, and I enjoyed getting to test ALDI’s products out on this level. I highly recommend looking up your nearest location and giving it a shot!
WIN!
4 RhodeyGirl Tests readers will each win a $25 gift certificate to ALDI USA. To enter, leave a comment sharing your favorite dish out of the winning dishes above! For a bonus entry, leave a second comment sharing what item you’re excited to try or love at ALDI. All comments must be received by 11:59 PM EST on Friday November 28, 2014. Best of luck!
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37 Responses to “Battle Aldi – Part 3 of 3 (WIN!)”
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Your gnocchi looks delicious. I could tell which dishes were yours because you have a flair for plating. 🙂
(bonus entry!)
Your review of Aldi’s canned tomatoes have me really excited to test out Aldi! That and the dark chocolate. Do the NJ locations have wine? (I’m in Philly too!)
Congratulations! You are one of the winners. I will email you shortly to get your contact information.
Love that mousse!
I’d like to try Aldi’s produce!
The chocolate mousse cake looks delicious!
(Bonus entry)
I really want to try their gourmet pasta sauces. The chipotle pumpkin sauce seemed interesting!
I would like to try the gnocchi. The only gnocchi I’ve ever had was from Trader Joes, so I’d like to see how Aldi’s compares to that.
Congratulations! You are one of the winners. I will email you shortly to get your contact information.
(Bonus entry)
My family loves making pizzas together. We need to test out the Aldi pre-made dough!
I want the cake. My goodness. And I love their spicy trail mix! And when they have the dark chocolate coconut almonds on season–look out!
Mmm. Your gnocchi look delicious. I always buy them pre-made, but hearing how easy they are I may have to test making them myself!
*Bonus entry*
I love all the great cheeses Aldi has, especially the fancy ones they get around this time of year. I always snag a bunch and make a great cheese platter as an appetizer for the New Years party I go to!
I want to make the Homemade Gnocchi in a Pink Cream Sauce! I’ve made gnocchi once, and they were really good. It took me a long time and they were UGLY but I’m sure practice is key. Hah.
I go to Aldi at least every month. I’ve been buying their organic diced tomatoes to make my sauce, it comes out great and the price can’t be beat! I’m excited to try their chocolate after reading your last post. They have a great selection for christmas, coins, santas, they do a great job on specialty stuff and I’m hoping to grab some before it is gone.
Oops. Can’t follow directions, I left both comments in my prior comment 🙂
I want to try your gnocchi and the mousse! Yum!
I’d like to try the Aldi chocolate!
Would love gnocchi, amazing!
aldi chocolate looks yumy!
Love the homemade Gnocchi you made! I go to Aldi regularly, i buy the organic veggies/fruits, all imported cheeses anf imported products they carry, hummus(kids love the hummus fromm Aldi).While living in Belgium for 3 month years ago i used to buy in ALDI. Aldi is very popular in Germany and Belgium.
Congratulations! You are one of the winners. I will email you shortly to get your contact information.
Love the homemade Gnocchi you made! I go to Aldi regularly, i buy the organic veggies/fruits, all imported cheeses anf imported products they carry, hummus(kids love the hummus fromm Aldi).While living in Belgium for 3 month years ago i used to buy there.
Your chocolate mousse cake looks awesome! I don’t go to Aldi’s very often, but I really should go more. It seems like their variety and quality of food has really improved lately!
That homemade gnocchi is very impressive, looks like a feast for a great price!
I would like to try Aldi’s prepared dishes and convenience foods
That chocolate moose cake looks AMAZING!
The chocolate mousse looks amazing!
Love the regular hummus at Aldi! It’s awesome!
Chocolate Mousse cake hands down! I’m an ALDI’s fan already so this has been fun to keep up with!
the gnocchi looks fantastic! I would love to make some myself now
The gnocchi! Looks yummy.
Would like to
Want to try the pizza dough with my kiddos.
The chocolate cake! I love Aldis, food costs what it should there, particularly produce.
The desserts looked wonderful!! I’d like to try making the chocolate cake.
I’ve heard the wine is great at aldi, I’d love to try it.
i would love to make the Homemade Gnocchi in a Pink Cream Sauce by cook Sabrina