Hi, hi. I am sitting here typing this post wondering how it’s already 9p on Thursday night. Happy Veterans Day, friends. I am sending big love and gratitude out to all of those who have served our country. I had a packed house for my 10:45a yoga class this morning since many were out of school/work. My message was themed around owning your strength/power/unique gifts and our duty to share them in service to others and our community.
VETERANS DAY
Finn had the day off of preschool for Veterans Day and enjoyed an outdoor adventure with his nanny and some friends he doesn’t get to see often now that he is back in school..
I had a Zoom class with Duke after teaching yoga that was related to my mom and then took over with Finn around 3p. He played out in the back yard while I got a little more work done on my laptop. My heart melted a little when he took his shirt off (because it was wet with bubbles) and asked me to tie it around his waist. I wear my long sleeve shirts like this all the time so no doubt something he is mimicking. <3
Once I signed off of work, we spent the next hour drawing sidewalk chalk and taking turns running sprints up and down the driveway. I love how just when I think there’s no chance I’ll get a workout in, Finn works me out…haha. He seriously made me run up and down the driveway 20 times while yelling, “go mommy!” and “mommy, mommy, mommy!”
It was getting pretty dark around 5:40p so we headed inside and baked an apple cake together. It’s one of my favorite family/nostalgic desserts and just perfect for this fall night. Finn stayed in the kitchen for the whole baking process, which was so fun and sweet.
I won’t frost it or do anything else to it. I love this cake for its simplicity and that it can be breakfast, dessert or a snack. If you’re interested in the recipe, let me know and I will share it.
CURRENT ALDI FAVES
Finn and I did a quick shopping trip at ALDI last Sunday evening and I snapped a few photos of some of my current favorite things to buy there. I am always quick to click on anyone’s favorite Trader Joe’s or ALDI posts so want to let y’all know what I love. It’s been a few months since we shopped at ALDI but I am visiting stores like ALDI, Trader Joe’s and Food Lion more frequently as grocery prices seem to keep going up and up.
Let’s get toddler food out of the way first…Finn LOVES the Simply Nature Spinach, Broccoli and Sweet Potato Bites. I’ve been buying these since he was one and they remain a favorite. I cook them in the air fryer for about 5-6 minutes on each side.
LOVE, LOVE the organic chicken bone broth. I use it for everything from cooking rice to making soups. 9 grams of protein per serving!
Best veggie burger at ALDI! I cooke these for about 10 minutes per side in my air fryer to get them super crisp. Taste and texture is on point!
I always keep a jar of ALDI’s red and green pesto in my pantry. Super versatile and super delicious.
ALDI has a great selection of nut and seeds and affordable prices.
Same goes for cheeses. Their selection is incredible and the prices are unbeatable.
ALDI’s frozen shrimp and scallops are a great deal and something you’ll almost always find in my freezer. I dream about the days that shrimp was one of Finn’s favorite foods. But…alas, toddlers…
Also loving their smoked salmon right now.
Grapes are a favorite fruit of mine but they have to be just right or I can’t eat them. I like my grapes extra firm, crisp and flavorful. These ALDI Autumncrisp Grapes deliver. OMG, they’re so good. Worth every penny of the $3.99 price tag (which is a good deal for two pounds of grapes in my book).
Finally, the price of avocados is absurd right now but you can still get them for under a dollar a piece at ALDI and Walmart. I have a really hard time letting a single day go by without avocado in it so this is important to me. 🙂
QUESTIONS
Tell me all about your current ALDI favorites.
Are there any foods that you eat every single day (like me with peanut butter and avocados?)
Do you like veggie burgers? Favorite brand? Or favorite homemade recipe?
Yes, please to the apple cake recipe!
I second the YES to the apple cake recipe! Looks amazing!
Personally, for some reason, I love the fruit bar popsicle things at Aldi! The Caribbean flavor is my favorite, but will eat any of them I can find. CHEESE! Every day, in some form or fashion (cheese cubes, string cheese, shredded cheese, cheese slices, etc.), I must have it. My little sister thinks I was a mouse in a previous life. And LOVE veggie burgers! We get the Morningstar spicy black bean ones and put, you guessed it, smoked gouda cheese on top with salsa! So good!
Hope the Zoom meeting went well yesterday–still thinking about your mom and sending good vibes y’alls way!
Would love the apple cake recipe! I am wanting to make an apple treat but everything feels like too much work hahah!
Avocado is totally it for me too! PB most days. And lately, I’ve been all about yogurt bowls for breakfast so greek yogurt!
Would LOVE that apple cake recipe. I still have many apples leftover from an October apple picking day (2 year old in charge of putting apples in my bag so… I cleaned up!).
You and your mom remain in my thoughts and prayers, Jen. Sending so much love.
HI. I would love the apple cake recipe! Thank you!
hi Jen. I look forward to my morning bowl of oatmeal every day! My family enjoys Dr. Praeger’s veggie burgers that I purchase at Costco.
I would also love the apple cake recipe. It sounds so good!!
I buy the flatbread pizza crusts, use pesto as a base and add spinach/arugula, artichoke hearts, peppers, red onions, crumbled goat cheese…all from Aldi. So easy and SO delicious!!
Thank you for this list! I will try the flatbread crusts next time I am there!
I am mostly an Aldi shopper. I always have their nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios), their plain whole milk Greek yogurt, the frozen broccoli, their spinach/arugula mix, and I love their sparkling water.
Everyday I have Greek yogurt and peanut butter at some point in something.
Favorite veggie burger is the spicy black bean from Costco.
Yes, I love all of those things too! I used to eat a lot more greek yogurt than I do now. I find that I use it in things more often than I eat straight up these days but I am never without it in my fridge!