Has anyone started Christmas food shopping yet?

[smudge]

26 Oct 05 - As there are already so many ad's in the papers, insisting you buy large tins of Roses/Quality Street choc's to put away for Christmas - just wondering whether anyone has bought any yet - then finding yourself opening them up on a miserable cold night and scoffing the lot - then having to buy yet another tin for the festive season?

Personally, I think people buy far too much food, only to throw half of it out. What a waste, especially when there are people starving in this world!

[smudge]

Typical example: I've just found an unopened Christmas pudding in the back of my cupboard, left over from last year - fortunately, it reads 'use by 23 May 2006'!

[andy hughes]

Well, the present Mrs H. put the sprouts on to boil on July 1 as usual, so preparations are well advanced at Hughes Towers for the festivities - planning ahead, that's the secret!

[smudge]

I have to say, you have a good sense of humour Andy! Sprouts are my favourite vegetable too.

I don't mind buying special little Christmas gifts throughout the year and putting them away - but I find food shopping so tediously boring. Mr Smudge doesn't mind at all though, so he does the majority of that, bless him!

[maggie01]

My husband does that every year. Roses chocolates and Cadburys chocolate biscuit. Last year we went on holiday for Christmas so I think he broke the habbit because he hasn't bought any this year yet. BUT THERES STILL TIME

[boobesque]

we have all our xmas food, i have a small tin of roses, a tin of cadburys biscuits, 3 bags of funsized chocs, a couple of boxes of chocs for emergency pressies, mine pies and some fizzy sweets, oh and my sons white choc advent calendar which always sells out before xmas!! they are tucked away in a cupboard until i say they get opened lol

[Jules001]

I must admit I've seen the ads for those and I have been tempted, think I will buy them this week. I never never open them before Christmas Eve though. Reminds me of when my brother and I were younger, my parents used to always buy a tin of chocs for Christmas and we worked out that you could open the sellotape around the top of the tin without parents noticing and have a sneaky couple of chocs each when we got in from school. We always made sure that one of us were allowed to open the said chocs at the due time at Christmas thus disguising the fact that they were already opened. I remember how my mum used to complain how there seemed to be getting less and less in the tin every year (whoops). We don't really buy that much more food at Christmas than at any other time,maybe just something different or luxury versions, the shops are only closed for a day or two!

[smudge]

Oh Jules, that really cracked me up! I can just imagine you & your brother panicking in case Mum got to notice the selotape had disappeared. Kids eh, bless em!

[smudge]

I just told my husband too & we've both been in stitches at imagining your Mum saying "Oh, you don't seem to get as many as you used to these days", bless her!

We've all done it though!

[Jules001]

Smudge, we never actually removed the sellotape, we just cut into it with a knife and so it looked like the sellotape was still there. We did tell her years later what we had done and luckily she saw the funny side of it too, we are having Mum to stay for Christmas this year, so no doubt we will have a laugh about it again, hope we don't give my two kids any ideas though!

[smudge]

Sorry Jules, I meant cutting along the sellotape!

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful Christmas with your Mum. I bet it won't take long for your two to suss out what you're all giggling about though! I wish I could do the same, but alas, my Mum & Dad are up in Heaven now.

We'll have our two daughters, son-in-laws & four granchildren sitting round the table at Christmas & we always raise a glass or two to absent family & friends, although they're never far away!

We'll then tuck into our tin of Roses or Quality Street!

[indieanna86]

In my household, when it gets to September-ish, the first christmas food item is bought...a big jar of gherkins! The rest is bought at the last possible moment of course, just to add to the stress!

[Otrere]

I bought a jar of mincemeat for home-made mince pie making the other day, but that is all I have bought food-wise. Don't see the point in buying a load of stuf you're only gonna chuck away anyway. Agree entirely with your point about people buying far too much food Smudge. Christmas Food shopping - I just buy what I normally buy in a food week except buy a turkey instead of the Sunday joint, buy a christmas pudding for hubby and a tin of chocolates, and that's about it really.

I have got a large proportion of presents already though!!!

[smudge]

Enjoy your Gherkins Indie!

I thought I was the only person who makes mince pies Otrere, all my friends buy shop ones. Every year I say I'm going to buy them, but my family say there's nothing like my home made ones! I always end up on Christmas Eve, baking approx 36 pies with Christmas trees on top & sprinkled with a flurry of icing sugar. Then on New Years Eve, I end up making another batch with stars on top. I must admit, I only like my own!

I have collection of unusual gifts I've bought throughout the year too!

[Jules001]

ooh no Smudge you are not alone in making mince pies, although my pastry making skills are not up to much, I do find shop bought mice pies far too sweet so always make a batch of about 36 like you.

[Otrere]

Smudge - my husband insists I make homemade mince pies. He doesn't like the shop-bought ones. I usually make roughly 36 too but haven't put Christmas trees on - might give that a go this year!!! And I don't even like them myself, nor Christmas cake, nor Christmas pudding!!! So, guess who eats all the pies!!!

[smudge]

Hi all, thank you for your replies.

I always put little Christmas trees on top of mine Otrere, they look really nice & festive, 'specially sprinkled with icing sugar.

I only like my own mince pies, but not too keen on Chritmas pudding or cake either!

[smudge]

P.S. At New Year, I also put stars & angels on top of my mince pies. These cutters are similar to my collection, but my angels are more ornate:

Christmas-Pastry-Cutters

[mullein3]

i have made two xmas cakes one for me one for daughter..i bought some mincemeat but used it!! thought i would make some mince pies..i dont buy much in till nearer xmas as we will eat it..i do a bulk shop every month so all i need to add to it is a few extra goodies...you can only eat so much..anyway mr m will be working over xmas ..so i wont go overboard to much..we make a gallon of rum punch and put it in a rumtoff jar...i dont do that till xmas eve or we would drink it ...we had a turkey dinner yesterday so xmas dinner is no big deal..just a bit extra..

[smudge]

Well done mullien, enjoy your Christmas cakes! The rum punch sounds delish - I'd love to sample that - hic!