I've Found This Versatile Aldi Cheese Will Rescue Even The Most Boring Lunch (And At A Great Price)

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Foodie has covered a viral quesadilla folding hack involving your toaster, but I keep my 'dillas from straying into ho-hum territory with a secret weapon from Aldi's dairy case. I like shopping at Aldi because it helps me save money on my miles-long shopping list (thanks to cost-cutting measures like a lack of brand-name products), and, when I go, I always grab about three or four logs of Emporium Selection Honey Goat Cheese. It retails for just two bucks, and the four-ounce package is perfect for my current favorite lunch/snack to feed ravenous teens.

See, I have three teenagers at home, which basically means that grocery shopping is a frequent and hugely expensive errand. Feeding big kids often feels like a losing battle, because somebody is always hungry, but everybody is picky. There's a short supply of nutritious lunches that taste good enough to tempt high schoolers, but also aren't so bland that I feel the need to make myself something separate. 

I make quesadillas with tortillas, goat cheese, sundried tomatoes minced into the consistency of a chunky relish, and a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach. I like to use a neutral shredded cheese for extra cheese pull, like mozzarella or Italian blend. The goat cheese adds delicious funk with just a light note of sweetness, which kids of all ages love. It's more complex and yummy than a plain quesadilla, and I feel like I'm tricking my unsuspecting spawn into eating some veggies, which is always a plus.

The goat cheese quesadillas I mentioned are endlessly riff-able, and I do tend to mix them up based on who's at home for a specific meal. If I have leftover grilled chicken from dinner the night before, I'll slice it and melt it into my tortilla for extra protein, since my oldest son is an active student-athlete. My daughter shares my passion for caramelized onions, so, if I have the time to babysit a skillet, I'll make some and slide them in. The Mediterranean profile of the sundried tomatoes and spinach is greatly enhanced by some fresh oregano, depending on the mood of my windowsill plant, although dried is also tasty. Salad people, take note, as this is fantastic crumbled on top of just about any type.

I have also used honey goat cheese in a plain Jane grilled cheese. Everyone knows that the cheese blend in a grilled cheese is all-important, and some goat cheese really marries deliciously with Swiss and white American for an ultra-umami melt that will become your new lunchtime craving. If you want to really take it over the top, drizzle some hot honey over your cheese before heating! I am usually feeding a crowd, so I go through a whole log at a time, but, if you are just making a meal for one, mind how long opened goat cheese lasts so that you don't waste this awesome ingredient. Aldi has other goat cheese offerings that I also enjoy, but, for my money, the honey flavor is the most versatile and scrumptious.