The “-ber” months have started

We suggest early preparation for the holiday season with regard to gifts, food stuff, menus and all things relevant to our traditional celebration.

This can only mean one thing – Christmas is soon to come. We suggest early preparation for the holiday season with regard to gifts, food stuff, menus and all things relevant to our traditional celebration. We used to start doing this in August. We are late this year, but there is still enough time.

First things first – a list. You must list your needs for  all aspects of the holiday season. A major concern is food. Inevitably, the cost of food stuff would escalate as December approaches. Not to panic – budget permitting, we can buy an item or two every week, as we go through our regular supermarket chores. This should be the case as well with our other requirements.

 Among the items that can be stored include oils (olive and truffle), queso de bola, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, bottled or canned sun dried tomatoes and red peppers, canned whole tomatoes, Chinese ham (if you are up to cooking it yourself), Spanish chorizo, bottled olives (stuffed, pitted, green and black), various types of dry pasta, including lasagna strips (there is the no-cook variety available now), canned salmon (for making spreads), seasonings or enhancers like powder or threads of saffron, balsamic vinegar, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, cooking wine (Marsala), bottled bacon bits, canned liver pate.  

Gadgets and kitchen utensils must also be checked that they are working well – the blender, the meat grinder, the electric sharpener, the weighing scale (a digital model is now carried by some stores); the knives, the chopping boards (it is better to have individual boards for major types of food – meat, fish, vegetable and fruits); the oven, of course, and the Dutch oven; the baking trays.

Your holiday linens – bring them out, wash or air them. The crockery – are they complete? Dinnerware – would you have enough, since over the year family members could have increased.

It will be good to check if some holiday items are available on sale now. We know of a chain that carries placemats, runners, etc. at very reasonable prices during the pre-holiday season. Check this one out. They are ideal to give as presents as well.

Remember it is always better to prepare early for any event.

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