Pattypan's Pantry - Stocking up, Getting things done for Christmas Part One

Despite the Pantry not yet being done, there are lots of other "Pantry" related things to be getting on with at this time of the year.  Sometimes in order that you are not overwhelmed it is better to break things down into "Projects" and get them out of the way a bit at a time with, and this is predominantly what I have been up to with the Freezer section of this post.

I have slowly since the end of October been gathering a few bits together in for baking from the Pantry for Christmas or to use generally week to week. I like to have a choice of ingredients to play with at Christmas and it gives me more scope as to what I can actually make. In no particular order

Freezer

8 bags of Mixed fruit berries were on offer for two bags for £4.

2kg Gammon Bought and frozen

1kg Parsnips frozen

2kg Brussel Sprouts frozen

2kg prepared swede in cubes for stews or for Cornish style Pasties or wherever needed.

4kgs Crinkle cut Carrots frozen

4 tubs of Carrot and Swede Crush prepared so far

2 1 litre tubs of Ice cream vanilla

2 large Topside joints; one for Christmas and one for general use. I also have a rolled Pork joint, a Leg of Lamb as well as the Gammon. Lots of other smaller cuts as well.

Christmas Turkey breast rolled and dressed 3.7kg in weight bought early as the price and quality were really good. Came from a local farm shop that we tend to use an awful lot.

Other Items

Tub of Quality Street 

Tub of Roses

2 packets of Cadburys Fingers

4 packets of chocolate wafers

+2 bags of Peppermint creams

+2 bags of Raspberry Ruffles

+Note

As a I child at Christmas we used to go to the sweet counters at Woolworths and buy a load of pick n mix sweets all covered in their shiny papers and popped into a white sweet bag.  There were many other flavours as well sadly no longer available but they were a particular favourite. Peppermint Creams and Raspberry Ruffles used to be part of those selections which brings back many memories.  I also like the plain white peppermint creams as well.  Whenever I can locate these three sweets in particular

2 packets of Peppermint canes for the Christmas tree.  The beauty of this is that if all the Candy Canes do not get eaten you can make a little adult tipple by soaking them in some Vodka.  Waste not Want not!  There always has to be a secondary use for something that finds itself in my Pantry.

4 Boxes of After Eight Mints.  Bought these from Home Bargains at £2.99 a box.  I have seen elsewhere at £3 upwards with the Co-Op charging £4 a box; Nuff said.  However credit where credit is due at the moment and after I had been in initially they are on offer at £2 a box (therefore another two boxes came home with me).  One of my little foibles from childhood.  It was a special thing to be offered one of these minty slices as a child.

2 large trays of Ferrero Rocher

Christmas whole nuts in shell 2 nets/bags; If there are any of these left over after Christmas do not bin them as they can be used to decorate homemade wreaths for next Christmas or if the nuts still fresh enough crack them and use them in eating/baking.  I may get a few more nets of these as this is one of my little traditions proper nuts in the shell for eating over Christmas along with lots of little oranges and other fruit such as grapes, bananas, apples and oranges.  I always try and get proper peanuts in the shell as well.

2 bags of Pecan nuts (more to be bought)

2 bags of Dried Apricots (more to be bought)

1 Bag of Pistachios to try.  They are brilliant so some more will be sourced.  Will probably get more of these during the week.

2 bags of tiny Marshmallows for use in drinks/desserts

Various coffee sachets - mixed

Tassimo Pod refills - chocolate 4 boxes £3.75 a box Home Bargains.  Everywhere else ranges upwards to about £6.50 a box.

1 tub of Honey roast peanuts  - more to get £2.99 Home Bargains.  These are not too bad at all.  I do like the the M & S ones but I object to paying over £5 per tub.  So will get a few more of these as well.

1 litre bottle of Baileys

3 Bottles of Tribute - intend to get some more as we both like this.

3 Bottles of Chocolate Stout.  Intend to get another three bottles of this as well.

3 Bottles of Porter

6 cans of Blackcurrant Cider

6 8 bottles of Perry

2 bags of whole Almonds.  More are required as I am building a little stock of these for Cinnamon Sugared Almonds for Christmas.

4 bags SR Flour will probably need more for the baking.  I was out of this completely.

Rough Outline of Plans going forward before December although likely to be amended moving forward

I still have a lot of shopping to get in as was down to brass tacks on a lot of stuff in the Pantry and as the major shop is still not concluded I need to get a wriggle on.  I aim to get as much stuff into the Pantry as I can in order to save pennies and prep a lot of things that can be time-saving for me. Prices tend to go up in the month of December and I object to paying through the nose with the premium that is often applied. This way on I can focus on more important things.  

There is always fresh stuff to buy in any event, but I try and do this during week days in the run up before the Christmas panic when the World goes mad.  That is why I have frozen Brussel Sprouts and Parsnips as I know that there have been scraps in the shops over these in the past.  I do not like crowds in any event so I take the easiest way for me to acquire all the things that are needed with the least amount of stress.  At the end of the day I am not "Super Woman"; I am not perfect but I always put heart and soul into everything I do.  

The rest of the shopping will hopefully be concluded by the end of the week. I also need to source fresh Cranberries for making my own Cranberry and Apple jelly and also Cranberry sauce as well as some fresh ones for fresh Cranberry sauce to go with Turkey for the Christmas dinner this year.

End of first week of December 

I make sure I have a roast pork joint for Sunday dinner, and I put plenty of lard in the tin over halfway through the cooking process and make your own Pork dripping for the roast potatoes for Christmas dinner. I use a little fat in the Ninja Foodie to cook the "Roasties", they are usually well done within half an hour (I add an onion chopped in quarters which helps with the browning) and you do not have to use as much fat.  By preference,  I love Goose or Duck fat, however I do not like the price and for the sake of a little pre-planning you can achieve the same effect but for less money.  Not everything can be time focused and for me flavour is what I aim for whenever I cook.  As long as it is tasty does not matter if it is not presented to restaurant quality, it is the flavour that counts. Cut yourself some slack.  I am an old-fashioned simple home cook at the end of the day where flavour is the important thing.

Will make Nan's Christmas Fruit Loaf at the end of first week of December, as it improves from keeping in the tins well wrapped in some waxed paper. I will re-use some bread wrappers for this purpose or some homemade wax wraps which I need to make some more of from scrap fabric and melted Beeswax.

Second Week of December 

Will also decorate the Christmas cake firstly with Marzipan and then Royal Icing.

Will make some homemade ice creams and sorbets just before Christmas

The week before Christmas

Make Feta

Make Goat Cheese

In the few days prior to Christmas Eve:

I make homemade fresh yogurt about 2 litres.  You can use yogurt for breakfasts, for puddings, in baking, in general cooking and you can add to dips or make dips from it.  You can also make Labneh to add to a Charcuterie board

Christmas Eve

Is traditionally fresh baking day for my family.  This practice I know has been carried out for over four generations and seems to be embraced as a family tradition that is pretty non-negotiable on my Mum and Dad's side of the family.  This involves a very early start on Christmas Eve.  I try and get everything shopping wise all in the house so that I am not distracted and can get on with what I need to get on with, without distraction. Normally on Christmas Eve all the veggies are prepared as well however I have already done some of these and they are in the Freezer to ensure availability and to save me some precious time.

These are only a few of the things intended for Christmas this year.  No doubt more items will be added as I start to get my act together and get into Christmas mode.  I do not mind hard work and I like making things for Christmas as it is all part of the "get ready" for Christmas and is all part of the season. This is just on the kitchen and Pantry front.  There is still the house and decorating to deal with as well.  Ah well that will be another list.

In real life the other work still carries on despite it being very cold.

Keep safe, keep warm and keep in good spirits.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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