1. Crackers and nibbles
You never know when your friends, family or neighbours might pop by, so be sure to have plenty of nibbles on hand. Stock up on pantry-friendly items like dried fruits, nuts, crackers and biscuits so you can pull together a tasty treat in no time.
2. GLAD® CLINGWRAP
You’ll need to wrap everything over Christmas, including all those delicious leftovers, so plenty of GLAD® CLINGWRAP is a must. From covering salads to keep them fresh to protecting baked goods from humidity, cling wrap is one item you don’t want to run short on.
3. Milk
Whether it’s for extra cups of tea or a batch of homemade custard, you’ll use milk continually over Christmas. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so add a few extra litres to your shopping trolley.
4. Herbs and spices
Remember to stock up on all the herbs and spices you’ll be using in your Christmas dishes. Have a look at what you have on hand and check the expiry dates to ensure you have everything you need. There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of cloves for your Christmas ham!
5. Oil
You can’t get very far in the kitchen without cooking oil, so do a final audit before you make your last trip to the shops. You may want to stock up on different varieties – including extra virgin olive oil for drizzling over salads or making salad dressings, peanut or sesame oil for Asian salad dressings, vegetable oil for roasting and frying and maybe even some duck fat for roast potatoes if you’re feeling indulgent.
6. GLAD® SNAP LOCK® BAGS
A good stash of GLAD® SNAP LOCK® BAGS are a must for Christmas. They’re perfect for storing leftovers, keeping your herbs fresh or you could even use one as a piping bag to decorate your Christmas cookies. Why not fill them with your Christmas baking and hand them out to your guests for a special take-home treat?
7. Serviettes and paper towels
Serviettes always seem to just disappear when entertaining, so keep an extra stash in the cupboard. Paper towels are also handy for any last-minute spills and for patting off fried foods.
8. Chocolate
A house without at least a small supply of chocolate could be a disappointing place at Christmas. Grab chocolate chips for your baking, chocolate treats for sharing and perhaps even some special chocolate to help the cook make it through the day!
9. GLAD® FOIL TRAYS
Less time cleaning up means more time with your family and friends. Invest in some GLAD® FOIL TRAYS so your Christmas cooking will cause as little mess as possible. They suitable for roasting, barbecuing, keeping food warm and for heating up finger food – and they’re perfect to have on hand during those times when you’re likely to run out of baking trays.
10. Tea and coffee
Nearly everyone who comes over during the Christmas holidays will be having a tea or coffee on the house. Keep plenty of tea bags and coffee on hand to cater for any thirsty guests.
11. Eggs
From omelettes to pavlova, eggs are an absolutely staple for Christmas cooking. Buy double the eggs you need so you have spares for an extra member at the breakfast table or a spur-of-the-moment cake-making session.
12. Hand soap and dishwashing liquid
No doubt you will power through the hand soap, particularly if you have houseguests, so an extra bottle or two is a must. Also, keep plenty of dishwashing liquid on hand so those dirty dishes don’t pile up!
13. Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
If you’re hosting a large crowd, why not use plastic plates, bowls, cups and cutlery? Get plenty of extras to ensure your dishwasher won’t be going 24/7!
14. Matches
And don’t forget the matches! The festive table will look great with a candle or two – and they’ll come in very handy if you feel like flambéed Christmas pudding. (Sponsored by GLAD).
