Christmas food shopping and other essentials

[Fallagain]

I’m sure there is already a thread on this but I can’t find it in Christmas. I’m stuck in bed with my sleeping toddler and wanting to get organised. This year we have PIL over for a nice lunch on Christmas and on Christmas day we will go to my parents.

What are you essentials for stocking up before Christmas and for the ‘Christmas shop’?

I keep a box of snacky bits, I start it quite early on so I often forget what I've bought! But some essentials over the Christmas period for us are: rum truffles, pringles, crackers, different cheeses to normal, some fancy pate and a freezer draw full of picky party food. Aldi have some nice bits this year, we tried the frozen chicken parcels a few weeks ago and they were great!

Oh, and a nice big gammon joint normally from morrisons which we roast in honey or something sweet like that! And part baked rolls for lunches!

I made my own mince pies.
Mulled wine Is a must
Baileys
I am a teacher so I get enough chocolate and biscuits.

Waitrose has a Christmas Dinner shopping list that's useful as a prompt

www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/seasonal/christmas/christmas-dinner-list

Id get the last minute annoying bits and pieces. Cranberry sauce, napkins and all the basic toiletries.

Eggs
Custard
Cream
Cranberry sauce
Potatoes, carrots, sprouts, parsnips and cauliflower
Turkey foil
Bacon
Brie, Wensleydale, Stilton and Edam
Cheese biscuits
Clementines
Salted nuts, olives and vegetable crisps

Check:
Toilet roll
Kitchen towel
Dishwasher tablets
Washing up liquid

Paracetamol
Immodium
Gaviscon
Plasters
Savlon
Basically an upto date first aid kit just in case

Bin bags
Takeaway foil containers & bags for guest food parcels

I keep two lists and use them every year as my base and add to them depending on the meal plans etc.

Non-perishables:
Goose fat
Foil trays (I cook all my roast veg in trays to save washing up and easily store the leftovers)
Vac pack chestnuts (to add to sprouts with bacon/pancetta)
Biscuits for cheeses
Chocolate biscuits
After eights
Stocking chocolates
Chutneys
Cranberry sauce
Aioli/Mayo/other condiment sauces
Chicken stock
Alcohol and soft drinks
Pickled walnuts (DH loves them )
Nuts
Part baked bread rolls
Also a check of household items that need topping up.

Then the perishables:
Veg for Xmas dinner, accompaniments for the meals until you next want to go to the shop
Fruits for snacking and desserts
Herbs for recipes
Cheeses
Breakfast juice
Creams for desserts
Butter
Eggs
Ready made pastry (handy for quick desserts or to make a pie with Xmas leftovers
Nibbles for evenings- I usually grab some frozen tempura prawns, sausage rolls etc
Things to eat for lunch on the days around Christmas. (I bought a sandwich platter for Christmas Eve so I didn’t have to cook and now I wouldn’t go back!)

I do a list of what we’re eating from the day I plan to go shopping until the day I plan to go next after Christmas. Then make one for any recipes you’ll use and add them to the perishables or non perishables list.

I store the lists on my phone so I can add to them as I plan and check off items when I go shopping. Then I uncheck them all afterwards ready for next year!

Thanks everyone!