Menu plans and lists for 2026

[sweetpumkinpye]

I sat down with Mum on Boxing Day and talked about what Christmas '25 looked like and what we might want to do for 2026. Christmas this year was really different for many reasons. We are now living away and DD and DSIL went on holidays over the Christmas period so it was different to past years. We are aware that we may have to change our plans as we get closer to Christmas, but we will plan as usual and then change if we have to.

We will be paring down things again this year, we find we are just not needing as much as we have done in previous years. There is typically just 4 of us so we are all for making the day a fabulous one but also making it as easy as possible. As we get older we are happy with simple, good foods. We were all very happy with what was served this year and we will offer just about the exact same for next year.
Mum as always did an amazing job but I will try and do a bit more prep from here. Some of the baking for example can be done here and I will transport it when I go to Canberra.

We will try and make a start with the non perishables over the next few weeks, we know that prices will continue to rise so the earlier we can purchase items and have them stored away the better.

Baking:
Cocoa (X)
Craisins (X)
Pecans (X)
Coconut ( ) wait until October
Glace cherries (X)
Condensed milk x 5 (X)
Crushed pineapple (X)
Cooking margarine (X)
Freckles (X) stored in freezer
Milk arrowroot biscuits x 5 ( )
White choc chips/cooking chocolate (X)
White sugar ( ) Will wait until around November
Sprinkles (X) Still have plenty after Christmas '25
Fruit mince mix (X) bought before Christmas and is good through to 2026

For meals:
Eggs ( )
Bacon (X)
Butter (X)
Custard ( )
Dried pasta (X)
Tinned corn (X)
Caesar dressing (X)
Crushed pineapple (X)
Tinned pineapple rings (X)
Tinned diced beetroot (X)
Chocolate flake bars (X)
Bake at home bread rolls (X)

Drinks:
Sparkling Apple juice (X)(X)(X)(X)
Ginger Ale ( )
Lemonade (Sprite)( )
Juice for punch (X)
Coke/Coke no sugar ( )( )

Motor Racing party: To be decided.

Extended Family Dinner: Normally November
This year Saturday November 28th
To be decided

Christmas Eve Dinner:
To be decided but am thinking steak sandwiches

Christmas Eve Basket:
Little bottles of drink (X) Bundaberg Lemonade
Large bottle of drink ( ) 1.25 litre Coke/Coke zero/Pepsi Max ( )
Coloured Popcorn ( ) Air popped popcorn ( )
Savory crackers (BBQ Shapes) (X)
Block of chocolate (X)
Potato chips or C&B Balls or Cheezels ( )
Mixed lollies (X) Sugar free lollies (X)
Pods (X)

Christmas Day Breakfast: Some early thoughts on this......
Coco pops (X) Froot Loops ( )or Nutrigrain ( )
Tropical juice ( )
Tea and coffee ( )
Ham, cheese and tomato croissants ( )
Waffles or danish or donuts ( )
Mixed berries ( )
Crushed pineapple ( )
Maple syrup (X)
Vanilla yoghurt ( )

New Year's Eve:
Apple cider (X)
Mixed lollies (X)
Potato chips or C&B Balls or Cheezels ( )
Shapes (X)

DH Advent Calendar....25 items:
Dream Chocolate (X)
Pringles x 2 (X)
Pineapple juice x2 (X)
Sherbies (X)
Pineapple chocolate x2 (X)
Batman drink (X)
Nougat ( )
Mixed Nuts/trail mix (X)
Jubes ( ) ?
Fruit rings (X)
Toblerone (X)
Twix (X)
Picnic bars (X)
Fun size BBQ Shapes ( )
Small lemonade x2 (X)
Gatorade ( )
Caramel Koalas (X)
Iced latte satchets ( )
$20 Bunnings gift card for Christmas Eve (X)

Word of the year: Comfortable

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Spent the first grocery shop of the year picking up some non perishables. I have done this over the past few years and it frees up time later in the year when I will concentrate on short dated items and perishables.

 

[halimer]

Spent the first grocery shop of the year picking up some non perishables.

I notice that a. lot of the local stores are having sales of canned goods. I really should avail myself of the opportunity to restock my pantry.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I notice that a. lot of the local stores are having sales of canned goods. I really should avail myself of the opportunity to restock my pantry.

It is a good opportunity if you can grab it.
I got tinned pineapple, corn and beetroot yesterday, very good use by dates. They will go into the stockpile and for part of our Christmas dinner. Butter was on special so got some and it is in the freezer next to the cooking margarine. There is a great benefit to having some idea of what you may be serving and shopping early.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Have sat and added most of the ingredients needed to future shopping lists. At this stage I will need more weeks in the year lol.
We still have to decide on a few get togethers for later in the year but we will not even mention these until mid year, maybe June or July.

I have started looking at the menu for our motor racing party for October. We had way too much food last year so will be looking at paring that right back this year.

 

[missjane]

We did some things differently for our family Christmas. The kids decided we always have too much food left and they prefer the more snacky things, rather than foodie things.

We still had a lot left. I need to rethink some things I made (because I like them) and maybe make those things on a night just during the holidays - maybe a wrapping night.

I made potato soup rather than gumbo. That went well, and I'll likely do it this year. Less expensive and I usually have all the toppings on hand already.

I will buy a turkey breast for us for Christmas day or the day after, despite the higher cost per pound. I like them and produces less waste than a whole turkey.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I did not need to purchase too much for menus here this week as we will be away for next week. I decided try and get ahead and buy some things off the list for later in the year. Bought pasta for pasta salads, pineapple to use in a dessert and some sparkling apple juice. All very good dates.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

missjane....I like your thinking. Over the past years the kids have said they like a more casual get together, cold meats, cheese, dips that sort of thing.
I am happy to change things up a little and adapt to what the family enjoys. Potato soup sounds wonderful.

 

[GeeWibble]

I have tried to buy non-perishable food items this early in the year but... haha in a pinch I end up using one or two things and then need to remember to rebuy them. It's also a good idea to store early food purchases in a plastic bin, I've had little critters chew through cracker boxes that I purchased a month early, that's a surprise when you go to use it

 

[mrskringle]

We had way too much food last year so will be looking at paring that right back this year.

I'm the world's worst for doing this.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

that's a surprise when you go to use it

Oh the horror. Good idea about storing in a plastic tote to prevent nibblers.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I'm the world's worst for doing this.

I'm not sure if we over buy because feeding our family is our love language. I tend to over think what we will need. I will buy 4 or 5 different cheeses because I think that is what people want and then note that only one has been eaten. We all like a good, sharp vintage cheese so that is what I should buy. Lessons learned!

 

[Myron's Mom]

I keep reminding my self that we don’t eat that much any more and it’s just the 3 of us.
I make sure my master shopping list reflects how many of each item to buy and try to stick to the master plan.
The only mouse I deal with here is my husband. If I don’t label things clearly for Christmas they disappear.

 

[missjane]

I'm the world's worst for doing this.

Me, too!

 

[Holiday_Mom]

I did not need to purchase too much for menus here this week as we will be away for next week. I decided try and get ahead and buy some things off the list for later in the year. Bought pasta for pasta salads, pineapple to use in a dessert and some sparkling apple juice. All very good dates.

Katrina, do you store these foods someplace different than your other foods so you and dh don't tap into them before hand? I struggle with this here. We have to put our names on the food containers and I have to "hide" the frozen and refridgerated foods so dh doesn't eat it.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

The only mouse I deal with here is my husband. If I don’t label things clearly for Christmas they disappear.

You have made me laugh and feel better about things here.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Mary,
Most of the items that I buy are stored at Mum's as she does a lot of the prep. She has a large cupboard that she uses just for holidays.
Here I store items on the very top shelf of the pantry. DH is very good and knows that what is on the shelf is set aside for upcoming occasions and not for everyday use. We will dip into it if absolutely necessary but I try not to have to buy things twice.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I need to sit and think about what events we have upcoming. I am not sure yet where we will be celebrating Easter. If it is here I will need to look at what we will need. We typically do a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Will think about it a bit more.

Would also like to have an idea of what I will serve for our motor racing party in October. Last year I had too much on hand (as is always the case with me) so would like to think about that a bit more.

 

[missjane]

I remembered last night that I want to order the candied fruit for the fruit cake. It's going to be close to $50. I didn't make o e last year. The stores didn't have the fruit, and when I looked it up and saw the price, it was too expensive. I'll order some one month, and the rest the next.

 

[jampss]

Yes!! @missjane You, too?! Around end of November or early December, I went in search of the candied red and green cherries with the pineapple for these yummy fruitcake cookies I make at Christmas. Went to several stores and NOPE. Nada! That was soooooo weird. I looked online too. Limited and pricey. I did look up on Pinterest about maybe HOW to candie my own .... hmmmm.

DS was disappointed. Those are his second fav to frosted sugar cookies.

It's a yummy eggy brown sugar cookie with those candied fruit and then walnuts and raisins. Oh well, maybe 2026 if I keep an eye out waaaaaay earlier for the fruit.