Many of the various "plans" that are out there, whether it be HGP, HHW or CC, often include the creation of a master grocery list.
And then suggest that it be divided into perishable and non-perishable items so that you can get a jump start on stocking away the non-perishable stuff.
I think it is a great idea, but I have struggled every year with the format of my list.
I tend to keep all my lists on the computer since they are so often in flux it is easier to change them.
In any case, this year I think I have hit on a good way to keep my list and I wanted to share. And also to see if anyone has their own tips/tricks they would like to share.
In the past, I've sat down with my menus for each holiday event, and made a huge list of the need groceries. Then I would combine items that were the same and end up with a notation for "2 dozen eggs" or "4 lbs of butter".
All well and good, but if I decided to change out a recipe at the last minute or skip it altogether, I had to look up the recipe, see what it called for and try to delete those amounts or special items from my Master List.
I also struggled with understanding when I would need what, especially on my Perishables list. I might need "6 cups of heavy whipping" cream, but I had no way to easily tell that I needed only 2 cups early in December and the rest for Christmas Day...
So to sum things up, I'm including a snippet of my new method of organizing my Master Grocery List below.
I've used color coding to represent each Holiday event where I will be making food items. After each item on the list I've noted the recipe it will be used for in parentheses, with the text in the appropriate color.
I've left items of the same type broken out as seperate lines, but still next to each other for easy totalling as necessary.
See what you think...
Master Grocery List Sample
Halloween Cookie Exchange Cookie Baking
Wrapping Party Christmas Brunch
Non-Perishable/Frozen Items
2 cups flour (Apple Cinnamon Bread)
1/4 cup brown sugar (Apple Cinnamon Bread)
1 cup brown sugar (Roasted Apples & Sweet Potatoes)
4 cups flour (Chunky Chocolate Gobs)
1 cup Crisco (Snickerdoodles)
Perishable Items
2 apples (Apple Cinnamon Bread)
8 eggs (Chunky Chocolate Gobs)
2 eggs (Snickerdoodles)
This is just a snippet of my real list, but hopefully you guys can get the idea...
I think this will really help me understand not only what I need, but why I am buying it and when I will actually be using it.
That is my grandiose plan, anyway! :haha:
And then suggest that it be divided into perishable and non-perishable items so that you can get a jump start on stocking away the non-perishable stuff.
I think it is a great idea, but I have struggled every year with the format of my list.
I tend to keep all my lists on the computer since they are so often in flux it is easier to change them.
In any case, this year I think I have hit on a good way to keep my list and I wanted to share. And also to see if anyone has their own tips/tricks they would like to share.
In the past, I've sat down with my menus for each holiday event, and made a huge list of the need groceries. Then I would combine items that were the same and end up with a notation for "2 dozen eggs" or "4 lbs of butter".
All well and good, but if I decided to change out a recipe at the last minute or skip it altogether, I had to look up the recipe, see what it called for and try to delete those amounts or special items from my Master List.
I also struggled with understanding when I would need what, especially on my Perishables list. I might need "6 cups of heavy whipping" cream, but I had no way to easily tell that I needed only 2 cups early in December and the rest for Christmas Day...
So to sum things up, I'm including a snippet of my new method of organizing my Master Grocery List below.
I've used color coding to represent each Holiday event where I will be making food items. After each item on the list I've noted the recipe it will be used for in parentheses, with the text in the appropriate color.
I've left items of the same type broken out as seperate lines, but still next to each other for easy totalling as necessary.
See what you think...
Master Grocery List Sample
Halloween Cookie Exchange Cookie Baking
Wrapping Party Christmas Brunch
Non-Perishable/Frozen Items
2 cups flour (Apple Cinnamon Bread)
1/4 cup brown sugar (Apple Cinnamon Bread)
1 cup brown sugar (Roasted Apples & Sweet Potatoes)
4 cups flour (Chunky Chocolate Gobs)
1 cup Crisco (Snickerdoodles)
Perishable Items
2 apples (Apple Cinnamon Bread)
8 eggs (Chunky Chocolate Gobs)
2 eggs (Snickerdoodles)
This is just a snippet of my real list, but hopefully you guys can get the idea...
I think this will really help me understand not only what I need, but why I am buying it and when I will actually be using it.
That is my grandiose plan, anyway! :haha:
rnament:
