Last week I was shopping and as usual, I was in a rush. I thought I was doing really well, navigating the mall and trying to avoid the crowds of shoppers. That was until an elderly gentleman, I hasten to add, was not looking where he was going and walked straight bang in front of me and my trolley. I slammed on brakes and missed him by centimetres! What a sweetie he was. He chuckled and said, “Never get in the way of a woman and her trolley.” Too true, shoppers beware!
Make an early start
With only a few weeks to go, two actually, the countdown begins. The shops and malls are already getting busy and if I was you, if you intend going Christmas shopping on a Saturday, make the effort and get to the mall by 09:00. Also make use of the late night shopping malls are offering. Wear comfortable shoes too, I know this may sound silly but if you are shopping for more than a couple of hours, comfort is key to a great shopping experience.
Make a list of all the gifts you still need to buy and make-up menus of meals you’ll be preparing over the festive time and break the list down into items of food you’ll need for each meal. Try and purchase all the non-perishable items this week, such as serviettes, tin foil, Clingfilm, tinned goods, savoury crackers, eggs, and fresh food, such as cheeses and butter, just watch the sell-by dates. Also buy all your frozen goods including, ice-cream, frozen vegetables, frozen summer berries (great for a last minute dessert), frozen pastry (just in case you don’t have time to make your own), and fresh meat which you can freeze.
Don’t forget the Christmas wrapping paper, gift tags and Christmas crackers. If you have already bought some gifts, wrap a few each evening, I promise it will make a huge difference on Christmas Eve!
Gift ideas for grannies and grandpas
Many grannies and grandpas don’t need any more clutter in their homes so rather choose luxury food items they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. Make-up a Christmas hamper, including all their favourites and add a bottle of sherry or port.
For garden lovers, buy a plant or tree from a local garden nursery or gardening gloves and tools. You can make-up a hamper of gardening goods too, such as packet seeds, gloves, hand cream and a gardening book or magazine.
Book vouchers are also a great idea, as is a magazine subscription for their favourite magazines. This is a lovely idea as they’ll get a gift every month for a year!
Christmas sweet mincemeat
Buy a jar of Christmas sweet mincemeat, available at Pick ‘n Pay, Checkers and Woolworths. Empty the jar into a large bowl, (keep the jar).
To this, add: Four granny Smith apples (peeled and grated finely), 100g of glace cherries (finely chopped), a packet of slivered almonds and half a cup of brandy. Mix all together and then add some shredded suet (about half the box). I use Atora Suet and you can usually find it at Pick n Pay or Checkers. Last year a reader said you can ask your local butcher to shred some fat, and it is just the same. Once all mixed it will yield about three jars. If you don’t have another couple, keep it in a Tupperware container with a lid and refrigerate until you make your Christmas mince pies. It is delicious and not so sweet as the ready-made jar.
That’s it for this week. Shop till you drop! And then some more!
Julie
