It actually makes things easier because I know exactly what we’ll be eating – no new recipes to learn, no new ingredients to buy – therefore, I computerize my shopping list for each holiday meal.
My lists are simple Word documents, nothing fancy. I keep notes about the size of the turkey/tenderloin/ham I need depending on the number of guests, and what time to put the pies in the oven.
My Thanksgiving list, in part, looks like this:
Stuffing:
- ___ 1 bag seasoned croutons
- ___ 1 carton chicken stock
- ___ Celery
- ___ Onion
- ___ Butter
- ___ Salt
- ___ Pepper
- ___ Sage
Squash:
- ___ 2 medium-sized butternut squash
- ___ Butter
- ___ Brown sugar
- ___ Nutmeg, cinnamon
Whipped Cream:
- ___ 2 cups heaving whipping cream
- ___ Sugar
- ___ Vanilla
You get the picture, right? Before I go shopping, I look in the pantry and refrigerator, putting a check mark next to items I already have. As I shop, I check things off the list since I usually spread the shopping out over a few trips.
It might seem silly, but it saves me time AND money. How?
- I, don’t forget anything, so there are no frantic, last minute trips to the store.
- I don’t buy items I already have. Spices are expensive, and I don’t need multiple containers of sage.
Speaking of spices, here’s a helpful chart regarding their shelf life.
I’m in favor of anything that makes life easier as we head into the busy holiday season, how about you?
