Food news antipasto

Value grocery chain Aldi is starting a complete revamp of its private label merchandise. The move comes after extensive customer feedback, placing the Aldi name front and center. Many items will also feature the nicknames that customers have given the product, such as Red Bag Chicken. Aldi has also met its goal that every Aldi-exclusive product will have reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging, and is continuing to find ways to make packages lighter, increase recyclability, and use more post-consumer recycled content.

Tim Dowling recently wrote about ten “endangered” British puddings, in which he made and rated 10 desserts such as jam roly-poly, bread and butter pudding, and spotted dick to see if they were “worthy of a rescue effort.” Following the poor marks he gave some of the desserts, Guardian readers chimed in with dismay at the article, offering their own positive reviews of these classic puddings.

Once you take a gander at the September cookbook review and (if you’re like me) add multiple books to your shopping cart, visit Saveur to see if your choices line up with their picks for the best cookbooks of fall 2025. Their review reinforced my choices and gave me a new option to consider.

Monday is National Coffee Day, and Food Network has compiled a list of freebies and specials going on across the US to celebrate. From free hot or iced coffee to discounts on coffee beans, you’ll see where you can grab a perk. Some of the largest chains are not included on the list (Caribou, Tim Horton’s, and Starbucks), but if you have their apps you can see the deals there.

If you love sourdough bread but were not sure if it is any better for you health-wise, head over to Good Food, where a dietician breaks down the medical science behind sourdough. You can gain nutritional benefits from sourdough, but how much depends on the quality of the starter culture.

A note from Jenny: In my September cookbook review (which is massive!), I write about It’s Time to Bake Cookies by Brian Hart Hoffman which can help with the holiday season coming up. In addition, the Bake from Scratch Magazine Special – Holiday Cookies 2025 issue is here and it is spectacular! (I already have cookies marked to make – it is being indexed now). Lastly, if you need a little help with cookies/cakes due to time pressures? Williams-Sonoma now carries Bake from Scratch cookie mixes! There is also a line of cake mixes and gorgeous pans and here! Note the mixes can be purchased singularly as well.

In case you missed our last few articles:

• Is cereal technically soup?
• The rise and fall of “foodie”
• The Great British Bake Off/Baking Show – Back to School Week 4 – 2025