I didn't do too much holiday food shopping, at least not pre-made versions marketed for the season, so I don't really have a holiday food haul. I did pick up things to make my life a bit easier over the coming week of Christmas and then New Years celebrating, but few would be considered holiday fare. I'm no martyr and refuse to demand homemade everything when much of this year, my mental energy resulted in eating toast for supper. I only snapped pictures of what was handy, but I listed items. I'm curious what others might have bought this year.
Sam's Club: Wheels of Brie, Mediterranean Platter, meatballs
I bought two 20 ounce Brie wheels at just $5.99 each-amazing! One is coming Christmas Eve to my sisters, but not sure when and for what we'll use the other. I plan to gently slice the top rind off one wheel, cover with cherry rhubarb jam I bought on Sister's Day back in November, and wrap in pastry and baking. I bought two packs of fancy mixed crackers-one for the Brie and one to take on Christmas Day to my MIL's to serve with a Mediterranean platter I found, also at Sam's Club, for $15. It was supposed to be for Thanksgiving, but no one needed another bite. I couldn't pass up buying this five pound bag of meatballs for just under $10 for Christmas Eve. There will also be ham, beef, and chicken wings, plus my sister makes beer cheese soup, plus all the other appetizers and sides, so while technically it says it serves 27 people, I think it will easily stretch to 2 X's that many.
Trader Joe's: Smoked Salmon, bruschetta, sun dried tomato Hummus, pepperoni, Cinnamon rolls
For my salmon lovers, I splurged and bought this small, but pricey bit of smoked salmon. I added some mini bagels and more cream cheese, but my oldest and youngest devour this stuff with nothing needed to go with it. When we went to Alaska five years ago, we brought back a massive portion of smoked salmon that I held for Christmas. DS brought one back to California himself.
I try and grab a tub of this hummus when I'm at Trader Joe's. I don't see any version of this elsewhere and it is so good with naan or pita bread. Same with the bruschetta-open a jar, slice some bread to toast, and you have a happy mouth. The pepperoni is DD2's favorite. I'll be using with mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and mozzarella to make a Stromboli appetizer for Christmas day.
Since we go to my MIL's on Christmas Day and have a large meal then later appetizers, I don't make breakfast at home really. However, the coffee pot is on, the juice is cold, and I make a pan of cinnamon rolls. When my daughter decided to not eat any animal product, she found that Trader Joe's version are accidentally vegan. They are also delicious jumbo sized and perfect.
Aldi: Fancy crackers, whole grain tortilla chips, mini naan, peppermint sandwich cookies, Toffee popcorn.
I already mentioned the crackers and naan, but I'll ad these tortilla chips to my staples for "nicer than" vessels for holding dips, cheese, proteins, and olives. Part cracker-part tortilla chip, they are perfect for hearty dips and salsas of all kinds. Last month I found thee peppermint sandwich cookies-Oreo like, but more of a dupe to the Trader Joe's peppermint Joe Joe's I bought last year. No one has opened yet so can't say yet if they compare, but it's chocolate, sugar, and peppermint so what could be bad? Caramel Popcorn? this white and chocolate drizzle version will go with cash and a couple other treats for our 14 year old Godson/nephew. I thought it was a unique treat he doesn't need to share with his three siblings and can tuck in his back pack for a day snowboarding.
While I make a lot of things from scratch, these items help me stretch my time and cost wise, stretch my holiday food budget. I'm not sponsored nor do I get any perks form any of these stores, so this is just t share my little found treasures and treats to help me implement our assorted feasts. What have you found in stores this winter that will be part of your holiday food spread?
You have some really nice items there, Sam. Sounds like it’s going to be delicious for sure. I would like to try the hummus from Trader Joe’s sometime. There is a new one in Chattanooga but we’ve not tried it yet too. Perhaps in 2022 we will venture in there.
ReplyDeleteMost of the TJ hummus is pretty standard but the sundried tomato one is fairly unique.
DeleteI used to make everything from scratch too - well I still do make most of it from scratch - but there's nothing wrong with shop-bought either. Over here they'd poke a hole into the brie and pour in a little white wine and garlic, stick it in a low-ish temperature oven in its box and then dip bread into it when it came out the oven. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThat brie sounds incredible.I would have no issues polishing it off- might use a spoon and skip the bread.
DeleteI bought pie crusts. Kept the rest very simple. Having dinner at Daughter 3's on Christmas where I do not have to take anything. Having Christmas lunch here on Boxing day(26th, a holiday my Daddy celebrated) with Son 1 and Daughter 4. That will be prime rib, baked potatoes and corn and green beans. Maybe some dessert.
ReplyDeleteI like the boxing day get together s and wish it was more a thing here. Not a holiday so if Christmas falls on weekday in Sun-Thurs, people have to work next day. Desserts are holiday treats to use them up.
DeleteI love brie cheese, and I think it is great to get some things that help make life easier. When I make Swedish meatballs I make over 120 good size, if I do cocktail size it is over 250, so I can just pull from freezer.
ReplyDeleteI make a decent homemade meatball but really am feeling lazy. This year they will be appetizer size.
DeleteYum, sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI wish we had a Trader Joe's. I'll have to see if I can find the peppermint cookies at Aldi. I love the spekulatius cookies from Aldi, so was happy to find them, but everything seems to be in short supply.
I bought these a while ago, but saw them still in Sunday. They do not overstock seasonal items at Aldi it seems.
DeleteLet us know what you think of the meatballs! I buy convenience items regularly but the one Christmasy food item that jumps out at me that we have to have are the Hickory Farms meat, cheese and cracker sets. I also got cranberry ginger ale, the cranberry sprite used to be so good but now it’s “spiced” and tastes awful. Your baked Brie sounds amazing, as does Treaders version too. Sadly no one else likes it but I could eat the whole thing myself ;) JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI'll share the verdict and what was a hit and what was a miss. I love brie with turkey or ham as a sandwich or with crackers and wine. So smooth! I sent my son Swiss Colony for Thanksgiving.
DeleteSince there will only be the two of us, not much. I did make sure we had Wheat Thins to eat with dips and cheeses. Of course, there is bought chocolates! You got some really nice things to round out the party.
ReplyDeleteCan't go wrong with wheat thins and the cream cheese) jam dip. My sister's and I share the main food, and then next day my SILs and I do the food at my MIL's. I think we'll be about 35 Christmas Eve and 17 Christmas day.
DeleteI meat to say I buy pie crust--Pet Ritz. Nothing fancy, but I do cook all the fillings.
ReplyDeleteI'll only make a pie crust if a bottom only pie. The store ones are good.
DeleteYou'll likely laugh but the one thing I always buy from the store are boxes of stove top stuffing. Because I don't do a turkey, there isn't a bird to stuff and in my mind it doesn't taste the same. I sometimes add celery and cranberries to it, but this year there will be no celery. None to be found at my grocery store.
ReplyDeleteI was planning to buy a cheese ball, but goodness they were expensive. So I made my own. We have a very small gathering, just my two adult children, my grandson, and I. Your Christmas sounds busy and fun!
Cheese balls and dips are quite pricey. My local grocery had one in the deli for $6.99 and I think it was perhaps 10 ounces and here my brie was 20 oz. And a dollar less.
DeleteI bought Aldi refrigerator pie crusts. (I will leave the future attempts at pie crust be and us only project until successful) I did make a few loaves of banana bread today - and I didn't fail this time. (I've been a little afraid of baking due to my recent end results) I make a few small loaves so that I can give them to my dad in assisted living. He can eat one after Christmas and freeze one for later.Saved one for us to taste test and it tastes like BB, thankfully. Dads BB will be included with a box of cherry cordial chocolates for his gift. Your ideas sound like good decisions to provide extra items, without having to make everything yourself. Ranee (MN)
ReplyDeleteWork was just too crazy and I wanted to do fun things when I logged off. No shame in my cheats this year. I may still do Rosette's tomorrow and possibly some pumpkin bread.
DeleteI think buying some things to make life easier is the way to go if it is not a financial burden. I bought frozen strudels, Pepperidge Farm dried stuffing, and some cookies that I could bake but they are time consuming and I had rather pay to have someone else spend that time. I bake the less demanding ones.
ReplyDeleteI know I can't make Brie and the meatballs came to $2 a pound, but realize they might not taste the same as homemade. I've still got my fair share of kitchen time.
Deleteyes yes yes to the salmon; I make some tomorrow night.
ReplyDeleteIt's official. Son won't be home so husband and youngest get the salmon to themselves. Enjoy yours.
DeleteI have my alarm set for 6.30am to go to Aldi, and quite a long list of things to buy, but much of it is fruit and veg. My taste is returning, but I've lost almost 7 pounds due to Covid so don't want to overeat. The thing I'm most looking forward to eating is halloumi!
ReplyDeleteI have two 6 ounce blocks I was saving for my son. Haloumi is hard to find here. I don't think illness is the best weight loss strategy, Just kidding, though I'm glad to hear your feeling better.
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