I'd like to thank ALDI for sponsoring this post about my recent summer party and this useful vegetarian cookout menu. Thank you for supporting posts like this that keep Running in a Skirt going! Stay tuned for a $250 dollar ALDI gift card giveaway next Tuesday.
This past weekend I hosted a party to kick off the summer season. Today I'm sharing the highlights, which include a must-try vegetarian cookout menu and my favorite grilled vegetables... WITH Whipped Garlic Feta Dip.
Hi friends,
This past weekend I had a small group of close friends over for the first cookout of the season... a summer kick-off party of sorts. Once we hit those first few 80-degree days of the year and I've planted my flowers, I'm itching to use my deck for a party. There really is something special about the first outdoor party of the season.
I wanted to keep the party fun and simple, but still share some of my favorite recipes for a vegetarian cookout menu with my friends. I settled on serving my homemade Black Bean Burgers with Guacamole, my favorite Summer Grilled Vegetables (with Whipped Garlic Feta Dip! <---because feta makes everything betta!,) Grilled Sweet Potato Salad and Watermelon Blueberry Feta Salad.
I did my shopping at ALDI because I knew I could get what I needed for so much less than other stores. I got everything I needed for this vegetarian cookout menu – appetizers, an entrée, sides, three salads, desserts and wine (for 12 people!) – for less than $150. I’ve spent upwards of $300 for similar menus before! (Price and availability may vary)
I keep going back to ALDI because they keep blowing me away with their amazing prices on all sorts of food, including organics. I always keep my eyes peeled for their SimplyNature line, which is free of artificial colors, flavors and unnecessary enhancers. While I was there, I also picked up some of their ready-made appetizers to serve before the main meal and the Little Salad Bar Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit to add to my menu.
I also stocked up on ALDI award-winning premium wines, like the Essenza di Vita Pinot Grigio, Broken Clouds Chardonnay and the Broken Clouds Pinot Noir.
My friends arrived and the evening started with some SimplyNature Organic Tortilla chips and Little Salad Bar Salsas. Soooo tasty and fresh!
I also put together an appetizer tray with fresh ALDI produce, Clancy's Pretzel Rods, Savoritz Rosemary & Olive Oil Woven Wheat Baked Crackers, Little Salad Bar Hummus and Pimento Cheese and SimplyNature almonds and pistachios.
This spread of course all came from ALDI and took me no time at all to throw together. It just looks fancy :-)!
For drinks I served up a big pitcher of Lemon-Cucumber Water and, of course, the wine.
Everyone was impressed at the quality of the wine! They loved the flavor and great price tag. All of those bottles were included in my $150 party shopping trip. You can't beat that!
Needless to say it quickly disappeared!
After some mingling and hanging out, it was finally time to serve my vegetarian cookout menu!
My Black Bean Burgers and Watermelon Blueberry Salad were a hit!
Everyone was asking about my grilled vegetables and the addictive Whipped Garlic Feta Dip.
Since I got so many requests, I'm sharing the recipe below!
My Grilled Sweet Potato & Black Bean Salad was also a new recipe idea that I'll have to share with y'all next week. It's such a fun and easy vegetarian grilling idea.
Everyone filled their plates with all sorts of wholesome, delicious goodness. This is the Little Salad Bar Sweet Kale Salad. I love how much kale it has in it! Other bagged salads I buy are full of fillers like broccoli slaw but not this one.
This entire plate is healthy and nourishing but still totally party-worthy. I've thrown a lot of parties over the years, but I dare say this is the best vegetarian cookout menu I've put together... all thanks to ALDI!
After dinner, we talked, played yard games and had a little more wine.
And for a little while the world seemed just about perfect.
Even the kiddos had a good time.
For dessert I made a self-serve ice cream tray in honor of the season with ALDI Specially Selected Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream... plus some fun toppings all found at ALDI. Because what kicks off summer more than ice cream?
This is such a great way to have dessert at your cookout without having to do a bunch of work, AND everyone picks exactly what they want.
Plus we had such a healthy meal that it was time to spring for a treat. The ice cream was so smooth and creamy. Everyone said that it was really good ice cream.
Summer parties have a certain magical quality to them. The menus are so easy, the weather is so warm and everyone just seems so darn happy.
The only thing that would have made the evening better is if all of you could have been there!
And oh yes... about that Whipped Garlic Feta Dip???
The Best Grilled Vegetables w/ Whipped Garlic Feta Dip
Ingredients
- For the Whipped Garlic Feta Dip:
- 8 ounces Happy Farms Preferred feta cheese
- 3 ounces Happy Farms cream cheese
- ½ cup Friendly Farms plain Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon Stonemill dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ lemon, juiced
- For the vegetables:
- 4 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 3 zucchini, sliced
- 1 large purple onion, quartered
- 1 teaspoon SimplyNature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Stonemill salt, pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the Whipped Garlic Feta Dip in a food processor and mix until smooth.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Mix the vegetables with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Grill the vegetables 5-8 minutes on each side until tender, but not mushy.
- Serve hot with the Whipped Garlic Feta Dip
Notes
Vegetarian Cookout Menu
- SimplyNature Organic Chips and Little Salad Bar Salsa
- Little Salad Bar Hummus Tray from ALDI
- Little Salad Bar Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit
- Watermelon Feta Blueberry Salad
- 6 Ingredient Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
- Grilled Vegetables with Whipped Garlic Feta Dip (recipe above)
- Homemade Black Bean Burgers with Fresh Guacamole
- Specially Selected Ice Cream and toppings
Like this vegetarian cookout menu? I’d love it if you could pin this to your favorite Pinterest board! Thank you so much for your support.
Here's the Grilled Vegetables with Whipped Garlic Feta Dip, too!
Love ALDI? Me too!
Check out my Healthy Vegetarian ALDI Shopping List
Three Quinoa Salads (7 Ingredients or less, all made with ADLI ingredients.)
Don’t forget to go to ALDI and see for yourself their amazing prices and quality of food on your next shopping trip. Find the store closest to you here!
Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow I’m sharing some weekly highlights and the best sales this Memorial Day weekend.
Your turn!
Head to the ALDI site and let me know what you'd like to buy when you go there!
Miz Helen says
Congratulations,your post has been featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Thanks so much for sharing it with us, we have really enjoyed it and hope you enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Liz says
Um can I please come next time! This looks like the best party ever! I had a Memorial Day BBQ and definitely purchased all my goods from ALDI too!
Mary Ellen | VNutrition says
All this food looks amazing Julie! I love your cute little touches like the chalkboard and sign for the cucumber lemon water - to me that's a sign of a wonderful hostess. The menu looks delicious. There aren't any ALDI's by me but from your post, I wish there was!
Tina@GottaRunNow says
I find good buys at Aldi for avocados, eggs, milk and olives. I should try the ice cream!
Edye says
I LOVE Aldi! My family and I shop there all the time and always find such great deals. Also, how cool is their European food variety?! 🙂
Jeffrey says
I'd buy some Fresh Atlantic Salmon On a Cedar Plank to grill up, along with some fruits and vegetables!
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
What a cute party! Love the layout of everything and it all looked soooo amazing. Lucky are the people that got to eat that food!
elena says
The cookout looks great. I can't wait for summer to start here. Even though it's officially started here it's raining all the time and it's cold. Hope for sunny days very soon.
Debbie@debbiethisandthat.com says
Loved seeing your summer kick off party and all that yummy food! I pinned recipes for future reference!
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says
Look at that spread! 😀 I want in on all of it!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Every thing on the menu looks so delicious! I would love to have some of your grilled black bean burger. I have heard so many good reviews about it. Your patio looks pretty too!
Carrie@TheLavenderHytta says
OMG everything looks so delicious! I would definitely have enjoyed myself at your summer party! Here in Norway our summer is very limited and it makes me super sad sometimes. I used to love Aldi when I was in the states. It is a great place to shop.
Gingermommy says
Looks like a yummy feast full of fresh tasty ingredients
Farrah says
I could get so, so many delicious things at Aldi for $250!!! :O!!!
That cookout menu looks all sorts of amazing! I want everything! *-* Will have to settle for salivating while staring at the computer screen though, heheh. Looks like an amazing time! <3
heather @Lunging Through Life says
Oh gosh I love buying everything, haha. But i do love their cereal!
Summer says
What a beautiful spread! you have some lucky friends and family! There is not a single thing on your menu that doesn't sound delightful.
Tasting Page says
Oh man, what a great looking spread. I want to come to THAT party. A great way to kick off summer!
Jamie@TheMomGene says
That watermelon salad looks so good! Also, we love Aldi for all the basics. If we lose bed closer to one, I'd shop there more.
Blane Sherer says
Vey nice !
Glad all went well.
Erlene says
I love shopping at Aldi and love their prices too. The only downside is they sell out quickly near us and you have to go when they stock their produce if I want the good stuff...lol.
Abbey Sharp says
Looks like it was a super fun party! Love all the food and colours.
Michelle says
Yummy. If I had a party ideas be all over the fruits and veggies myself
Amanda Brooks says
adorable party!! I actually love doing all the decor and finding ways to make healthy foods that they'll eat without even realizing they are healthy, ha!!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
Looks like a great spread!
Beth says
Wow! I want to be invited to YOUR next party. Everything is presented so beautifully and the food looks AMAZING! Is everything from Aldi? If so, I'm impressed. 🙂
Alexa says
Like Susie, I hope we are invited! This is a beautiful spread. I am eyeing those grilled vegetables. I don't think of grilling vegetables. Thank you for the inspiration!
Divya says
Everything looks so delicious!! Garlic and feta are my favorite!! The combination is bound to be fabulous 🙂
Jessica @Nutritioulicious says
That garlic feta dip sounds amazing! I want to be a part of this party! 😀
Emily says
It's hard to find perfect smooth creamy icecream; I've never tried Aldi's, but it sounds delicious. And your party looks dreamy; you have such a wonderful space for entertaining and a gift for entertaining. Everything is so beautiful.
Andrea on Vacation says
Everything looks so colorful! If I had a party I'd end up spending $150 on wine 🙂
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
And where was my invite! I would have loved to come! I love your menu!