It’s that time of year when friends and family gather to fill homes with love, laughter and warmth. Feeding a large crowd is a daunting task, and sometimes the grocery shopping can be even scarier. With the crunch most people are feeling in their wallets, you might be looking for ways to cut on the costs. Basically, the best solution is to plan ahead, and we’re not just talking October. Here are a few things you can do all year round that can not only save you money at Thanksgiving and Christmas time, but the rest of the time as well.
Save Your Bread Heels
Keep a gallon zip baggie in your freezer. Anytime you’ve got a loaf of bread that’s down to heels, throw it in the bag. When the bag is full, line them up on a sheet pan and put them in the oven. Turn it on for about five minutes, then shut it off and leave them. Even if you forget about them overnight, the dried out pieces won’t grow mold and you can bag them up again to keep for months. Just get in the habit all year round, and you’ll never need to buy breadcrumbs or stuffing mix again. You can also do the same with leftover chunks of cornbread after chili night.
Save Your Souvenirs
Beverages can really put a dent in your holiday budget. Try picking up local wines or spirits during your summer travels and then setting them aside for when your friends and family gather at the end of the year. Not only will you have a delicious rhubarb dessert wine to compliment your apple pie, but also your vacation stories will make great conversation starters.
Shop Around
Buy when things are in season or on sale. Canned pumpkin or veggies, frozen meats, and baking supplies can be purchased months in advance and stored until you need them. When you see a coupon or sale on evaporated milk in June pick up 2-3 for holiday pies. Also, some fresh things can be precooked and frozen. You can parboil sweet potatoes and then freeze them to save the hassle of finding a pan and peeling them in the midst of the holiday madness. I do the same when my celery is going wiggly. I chop it up with some onion, sauté it with a little butter for a couple minutes, and then bag and freeze it. Anytime I want celery for soups or dressing, I’m already one step ahead.
Mix ahead
Not only can you buy your supplies for holiday foods, you can make some ahead too. Unbaked pies, vegetable casseroles, and even unbaked cookie dough can be made up in advance and frozen. Freeze cookie dough in individual balls or in small portions so you can just pull out and bake what you need at any time.
Just make a list of supplies/projects and do a little bit at a time. You’ll be grateful to have less stress over the food, and more time to shop!
Photo credits: côtes du rhône by Jenny Downing/flickr; Sauteeing celery and onions by trenttsd/flickr
(Guest Blog) Mary Blanchard is a self diagnosed coupon addict! She loves to find the best deals, share her advice and investigate options. As an addict, she provides information for other addicts or just those who want to find the best buy for their dollar. One of her favorite sites to shop around for deals is the Coupon Croc in the UK, check them out to see why.
