Gems from Lidl and Aldi

In our household we are great fans of Lidl and Aldi; we are very lucky to have both within striking distance of each other (longmile road). Their quality of vegetables are excellent and when in season they support Irish. One can always pick up fun and interesting fruit and vegetables at both stores.

Last Month Passion Fruit were in season and we made a "passion fruit fool", with brown sugar and creme fraiche.
Their Smoked Mackerel is excellent as well, from Norway, very nice blended with creme fraiche and a squeeze of fresh lime with black pepper, a nice nibble!

Aldi currently have Fresh Asparagus on sale from Peru, Irish will follow at the end of this month.
Here is a lovely recipe from a Canadian Cookbook of ours; it calls for shallots which Aldi also carry, very hard to find here and an excellent tool for good quality french home cooking!!

Spring Asapargus Soup with Goat's Cheese Croutons

Serves Four

4 bunches of Asparagus
4 medium sized potatoes
2 onions
4 shallots

Spoon of Creme fraiche per serving
Black pepper

2 pints of chicken stock

Saute onions and shallots for about 10 minutes on medium heat until transparent to lightly browned. Add, peeled and chopped potatoes. Saute again for 10 minutes, keep turning, as they will stick. Then add asaparagus and saute for 5 minutes. Add stock, bring to boil and simmer until potatoes and asaparagus are cooked. Blend.

Serve with a blob of creme fraiche and black pepper.
Season with salt were necessary.

Goat's Cheese Croutons

Aldi Goats Cheese Log
French baguette

Slice french baguette
Slice Goat's cheese (an inch thickness)
Place on baguette and bake in preheated oven (200C) for 10 minutes or until done.

Delice!!