Thread to help plan Christmas food shopping?

[sweetmelody]

Can someone direct me to any great threads that will help me prepare a shopping list for food if I'm doing Christmas lunch? I've searched for a while and not found anything. I know it depends on menu (which I've already done) but I need something to check against so I don't miss anything (I'm having 20+ so starting to panic - aaaargh!)

Thanks in advance!

[chanie44]

I can't help as such, but I've written a list of everything I need to buy and have started to buy things with my weekly shop. I've been getting tins, packets and frozen stuff that will last until after Xmas.

Start to prepare your food from now so you don't have to spend Xmas day in the kitchen.

[sweetmelody]

Thanks chanie. Yes - that's the plan. Have started shopping and want to start prepping ASAP. But am worried about forgetting to put something on my list...

[raisah]

Get a few sheets of A4 paper and write starter, main etc on the top of each on and then erite a shopping list for eacj course. I find this method helpful as I am just focussing on one course and am less likely to forget or can add something.

Join costco and buy your food & drink from thereas you can get big catering packs which will be better value.

Also drinks are much cheaper in multipacks. I bought a large quiche which served 15 for £7.

www.costco.co.uk/

JJWholesale is another wholesalers and you dont need to join up.

www.jjfoodservice.com/

[raisah]

See if you can hire a fridge for the holidays.

[Frozenatchristmas]

What's your menu?

[sweetmelody]

Writing each course on a sheet of paper (and a sheet for 'other'!) was a really helpful suggestion. This has really focused the mind as opposed to just one long shopping list (which I will eventually create from each course list). Thanks all!

[Pollywallywinkles]

I used to use an excel spreadsheet with fresh, frozen, fridge and cupboard columns.

Do your menus plan then put the ingredients into the spreadsheet. You can then soup for the frozen and cupboard things well in advance, leaving the fresh and fridge until nearer the time.

Don't forget to get the normal things such as loo roll, washing powder, washing up liquid etc.

[Fresh01]

We are having 20 on x-mas day. When we have had these numbers before we get out the cool boxes (like you have from picnics) put them outside the back door and store all drinks in them with a big bag of ice from the supermarket. Saves wasting valuable fridge space on drinks.