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Aldi's Shells And Cheese Are A Total Velveeta Copycat

Boxed shells and cheese is a quick and easy dinner option that is beloved by children and adults alike. While Velveeta is often considered the gold standard, Aldi brand shells and cheese seemingly give it a run for its money. The Cheese Club brand of boxed shells and cheese also costs far less than its name-brand counterpart, which can help you save money when buying grocery staples for the home.

On the Walmart website, a 12-ounce box of Velveeta Shells & Cheese retails for $3.43. Conversely, Cheese Club Shells & Cheese costs just $1.49 for a 12-ounce box, as listed on the Aldi website. That means you get a quality product for nearly $2 less than the name-brand. Keep in mind that private-label products are less expensive because they eliminate marketing and production costs. As for quality, some private-label brands are actually manufactured by the same companies behind name-brand goods, although this information is not often disclosed. And even if there are different manufacturers, private-label goods typically contain comparable ingredients.

Read more: 10 Frozen Foods You Should Always Buy At Aldi

Lots Of Aldi Fans Praise The Chain's Shells And Cheese

Aldi storefront daytime - Jhvephoto/Getty Images

Devotees of Aldi aren't shy about making their thoughts and feelings known on social media when it comes to the chain's branded products. On Facebook, one shopper had high praise for Cheese Club Shells & Cheese, claiming that it bested Velveeta. Per the poster, "Wow. Better than Velveeta!!!!" Others mirrored the sentiment, with one person emphatically stating, "Agreed 100% and half the price!"

As for what makes Aldi's brand better than Velveeta, a commenter believed it had something to do with the sodium content, explaining, "It's not as salty as Velveeta." However, it should be noted that the Aldi brand contains the same amount of sodium as Velveeta at 860 mg. The Cheese Club product does contain a little more saturated fat than Velveeta, which could possibly explain the difference in flavor. Despite these glowing reviews, some consumers aren't satisfied with Aldi's boxed shells and cheese. A few even claimed that the product underwent a change that decreased its quality.

Not Every Shopper Wants To Join Aldi's Cheese Club

A box of Aldi's Cheese Club Shells and Cheese - Robert D Brozek/Shutterstock

Aldi customers on Reddit had a few grievances to air regarding the discount grocery store's shells and cheese. As stated by one shopper, "What's with Cheese Club Shells & Cheese? Nasty bitter aftertaste I can't describe." Another commenter concurred, stating, "Mine was gritty and had an awful flavor. I also didn't finish it."

These issues with aftertaste may have resulted from a change in the product, at least according to a Reddit thread discussing the shells and cheese. According to the original poster, "Did anyone notice that Cheese Club [changed] their formula? This used to be my go-to boxed mac, but I recently bought some and it did not taste as good as it used to." Another commenter agreed, claiming, "Yes, recently they tasted different, like a weird aftertaste. Not buying them anymore."

So, what gives? It's true that Aldi does make changes to its products, usually in the interest of quality enhancement. Additionally, the chain isn't very forthcoming about what goes on behind the scenes, so it's not possible to pinpoint any specific change in the recipe. But because lots of people love Cheese Club Shells & Cheese, the product is definitely worth sampling.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

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You Can Now Wear Velveeta Cheese 'Drip' As A Golden Lip Cuff

Few foods are as debated and polarizing as the creamy, super-processed Velveeta. Made by combining old and new cheeses (such as chunks that fell off a cheese wheel) with an emulsifier to make it smooth, Velveeta's popularity skyrocketed during the Depression and World War II, since the inexpensive product could be used in so many different ways, including everyone's favorite: macaroni and cheese. Yet, despite most people now knowing the negative health effects of super-processed foods, it hasn't disappeared from store shelves. Quite the contrary: There was even a Velveeta shortage in 2014.

Given the cheese product's popularity, it's not surprising that many people have found ways to make Velveeta clothing and merchandise, with Velveeta even enthusiastically dropping a "hypothetical" T-shirt on its X (previously known as Twitter) page. But superfans may be impressed to discover that there's a new product coming to show your devotion: Velveeta has joined forces with celebrity designer George the Jeweler to make limited-edition Velveeta Drip Lip Cuffs.

Made of 14-karat solid gold, the $77 cuff is in the shape of a physical drip of Velveeta and will go on sale on January 9 at georgethejeweler.Com. The cuff is the most recent nod to Velveeta's 2023 Popsugar collaboration, "La Dolce Velveeta," which included sunglasses and a necklace.

Read more: 41 Must Try Hot Sandwich Recipes

Velveeta chocolate and cheese TruffVels - velveeta / Instagram

According to the Urban Dictionary, drip describes something that is "very swag and cool, like an outfit, accessory, person, song, etc." Velveeta's name for the lip cuff, "Velveeta Drip," is directly inspired by this definition. The company referenced Vogue's spring 2024 runway jewelry trend article, which mentioned "playful droplet shapes," and "giving 'drip' a new definition." Velveeta's press release also cited a New York Times article about designers using more septum and lip creations in their works. So, whether you're a Velveeta fan, fashion-conscious, or both, Velveeta is marketing the Drip Lip Cuff at you.

George "George the Jeweler" Khalife has created jewelry for Kris and Kylie Jenner, Nicole Scherzinger, and others, so his collaboration with Velveeta is sure to turn some heads. "I've been a fan of VELVEETA's unexpected collaborations over the last few years, which is why I was thrilled to partner with the brand to create a statement piece that allowed fans to wear the drip for the first time," he said. One of those "unexpected collaborations," no doubt, was the Compartés chocolate and cheese TruffVel. With this track record — there's also been Velveeta nail polish and a martini with Velveeta-infused vodka — we can only imagine what other surprises the cheesy brand has in store for the future.

Read the original article on Mashed.

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This Gooey Cheese Brand Has Created Its Own 14-Karat Gold Lip Cuff

Snag this limited-edition swag before it's gone

Noah Fecks

Love it or hate it, there's no denying the creamy, cheesy deliciousness you get from adding Velveeta to your favorite queso or macaroni and cheese recipe. For more than a century, cheese lovers have added this bright orange shelf-stable block to their most beloved dishes knowing there's nothing quite like the drippy goodness you get from Velveeta.

That drip is exactly what's inspiring Velveeta's newest—slightly out of the ordinary—offering. Introducing: the 14 Karat Gold Velveeta Drip Lip Cuff, crafted in partnership with cult-favorite celebrity designer, George The Jeweler. Aiming to invite fans to own the drip like never before—by wearing it proudly.

Drip like no other

Noah Fecks

"Velveeta has been best known for its cheesy goodness and melty drip that proudly graces fans' lips, and for the last several years, our goal has been to breathe new life into this legacy brand through unique and unexpected collaborations and creations," said Stephanie Vance, Brand Manager for Velveeta. "We're always looking for ways to insert ourselves into culture and trends, celebrate our fans, and give them more ways to love Velveeta – whether in food form, like the Veltini, symbolically with like Pinkies Out polish, and now fashionably with the Drip Lip Cuff,"

In the fashion world, "drip" is often used to describe someone who embodies both style, swagger, and overall cool appeal. Pair that with the fact that 2024 jewelry trend reports are predicting liquified shapes and face jewelry will be all the rage this year and you've got a winning combination for this limited-edition piece of jewelry.

"As a brand that's all about making outrageous pleasure a way of life, our new lip cuff empowers people to boldly step out with an unapologetic confidence that encourages you to live life by your own rules," said Vance.

Are you into this 2024 trend?

Noah Fecks

Starting today, the limited-edition 14 Karat Gold VELVEETA Drip Lip Cuff will be available for $77.00 exclusively at George The Jeweler, while supplies last.

"I've been a fan of Velveeta's unexpected collaborations over the last few years, which is why I was thrilled to partner with the brand to create a statement piece that allowed fans to wear the drip for the first time," said George Khalife, Founder and CEO of George The Jeweler. "Working closely with the Velveeta team to create the unique design, we really wanted to capture the iconicity of the drip, fusing it with my own personal style and this year's jewelry trends. The 14-Karat gold cuff ultimately embodies the accessible and confident luxury of both George The Jeweler and 'La Dolce Velveeta.'"

Much like that bowl Velveeta queso we're all likely to devour at upcoming Super Bowl parties, this unique collaboration won't last long, so get it before it's gone.

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