Summer Fun with ALDI! Smore's and Sweet & Salty Patriotic Popcorn

Happy 4Th of July everyone! I've been MIA for a bit not because I wanted to, but because I didn't have a choice. After we returned from vacation the video card in my computer went out, so I had to purchase a new laptop.

Not the best timing, but things happen like that sometimes. It's been almost two weeks since my last post, so I apologize. I wanted to pop on today and share a quick post and 4TH of July recipe.

Last month the nice folks over at ALDI sent me a Smore's kit with items featured in their new Summer Seasonal Catalog. The catalog is available in stores and online at www.aldi.us now through August 2012.

It showcases all sorts of summer essentials, recipes, affordable tips and ideas to help you kick off your summer barbecue or get together.

Do you shop at ALDI? I do along with Walmart and I love it. The nearest ALDI is located about 15 miles from my house. I try to make a point of stopping by at least twice a month if I'm in the area.

My favorite items are their milk, yogurt, cheeses and produce. The kids love their snacks and so do I because they're really affordable. Currently I don't get their weekly mailer, so I keep up with all of their sales and specials using their online sales ad and Free Smart phone App.

I love their new app because if I don't know what's on sale I can just look on the app and see if there is anything that peaks my interest before I head out to the store.

Our "Taste of Summer Kit" contained the following items for Summertime Smore's.

Choceur Milk Chocolate Bar -$1.49,
Benton's Graham Crackers -$1.49,
Baker's Corner Regular Marshmallows-$0.99
Container of Patriotic Baking Sprinkles $2.99

I didn't use the sprinkles as part of our Smore's, but to make a fun treat instead. I chose a Sweet & Salty Patriotic Popcorn mix in honor of 4Th of July. Patriotic Popcorn is colorful, yummy and a easy treat to make.

Really it's just a another variation to my Easter Bunny popcorn and Halloween Munch Mix recipes. I love popcorn mixes because they're so versatile and you can customize them for just about any holiday. Not to mention kids love it!

We had such a great time making smore's together. How did they taste? Well in the end everyone loved them. My family can be a bit picky when it comes to store brands, so when I grocery shop I take my time when choosing store brand items.

They really couldn't tell a difference in any of the products. The only thing I noticed was with chocolate bar it tasted just a bit different. I think that was because the chocolate bar was a European brand. As you can see by the photos above my family gobbled the smore's down.

You can check out ALDI's Summer Seasonal catalog online or stop by your nearest store and grab one. They have has some pretty great recipes and ideas for a successful summer.

Before I go I wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Safe 4Th of July as well as share the recipe for the Sweet & Salty Patriotic Popcorn.

Author: Tina Butler | Mommy's Kitchen

Sweet & Salty Patriotic Popcorn

This Patriotic Popcorn is colorful, yummy and a easy treat to make.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 3 MinTotal time: 18 Min

Ingredients

• 2 - bags microwave popcorn, popped
• 12 - oz vanilla almond bark (prefer Plymouth pantry) or
• 1 - 16 oz package white chocolate chips
• 1 - cup pretzels sticks
• Patriotic sprinkles
• Patriotic M&M's (red, white & blue)
• clear treat sacks
• holiday themed ribbon

Instructions

1. Pop the popcorn and remove any un popped kernels. Place pop corn and pretzel sticks in a large bowl and set aside. Unwrap and break the vanilla bark into smaller pieces, I break it into fours.
2. Add the vanilla almond bark to a microwavable bowl and melt on the DEFROST setting on your microwave. Don't use the cook or reheat setting or you will cook the almond bark instead of melting it.
3. I melt the bark in 3 minute intervals and stir in between. When the vanilla bark is completely melted and smooth pour over the popcorn mix. Using a large spoon mix together coating the popcorn and pretzels evenly.
4. Spread the popcorn mixture on a piece of waxed paper until the popcorn is dry. Add the festive sprinkles and half of the m&m's so they stick to the popcorn mixture.
5. When dry break into smaller pieces and add back to a large bowl. Mix in the remaining m&m candies and place popcorn mixture into holiday themed bowl or individual treat bags tied with ribbon.

https://www.mommyskitchen.net/2012/07/summer-fun-with-aldi-smores-and-sweet.html

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ALDI's exclusive brands can save you up to 50 percent compared to traditional grocers.

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Disclosure: I received ALDI's "Smore's Taste of Summer Kit for the purpose of this review. Opinions stated above are entirely my own.