Festive foodie checklist: Five holiday season essentials

Take a moment to think about all the food that’s prepared during the festive season. It’s not unusual for a family to braai on the Day of Reconciliation, dig into appetisers on Christmas Eve, have a large brunch on Christmas and countless dinners in between.

That’s a lot of moving parts, and no one would blame you for forgetting an ingredient or two. There’s nothing worse than realising you forgot the ice cream cake when it’s too late to do anything about it. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent that from happening.

Here are five essential items that you need to make sure are in your kitchen before you start preparing meals for the festive season:

Dessert When everyone has had their last bite of roast chicken or beef fillet, the next thing on their mind will be dessert. While you might be tempted to prepare and serve just one dessert, it’s better to give your guests a bit of variety. Make sure you have enough ingredients to make at least two of the following treats:

• Ice cream cake
• Malva pudding
• Fruit mince pies
• Trifle
• Yule log

Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Alternatives

You never know which one of your guests might have gone vegan since the last time you saw them. It’s also possible that their plus one could have special dietary needs. Whatever the case, remember to cater for everyone by stocking up on:

• Gluten-free versions of regular flour products
• Soy products
• Meat substitutes such as tofu, lentils and beets

Fresh Produce

Whatever you decide to prepare this festive season, there’s a good chance you’re going to need lots of vegetables. Whether it’s for your sides or your main dish, the last thing you want to do is scramble for vegetables at the last minute.

Your best course of action would be to decide early what you’re going to cook and buy your vegetables at least two days before you need them. Check one last time the day before your friends come over to make sure you didn’t forget anything.

Kitchenware

Even if your culinary skills could give a celebrity chef a run for their money, your meals won’t be the best they can be if you don’t have the right tools to do the job. Before you even send out invites, make sure you have the following:

• Roasting dish
• Steamer
• Potato masher
• Vegetable peeler
• Carving knife
• Gravy boat

Food Plating Tools

The way food is presented is just as important as the way it’s prepared. A plate of food engages your sense of sight long before you have a bite. If you want your food to look more tempting, you’ll need to make sure it’s presented properly. The food plating tools you should consider using include:

• Decorating brushes
• Garnishing kits
• Precision tongs
• Mellon ballers
• Squeeze bottles

Cooking festive season meals for your loved ones is generally an enjoyable experience, but it can overwhelm you if you’re not prepared.

Fortunately, something as simple as a checklist can take the anxiety out of the experience so you can focus on what matters most: preparing a meal your loved ones won’t forget anytime soon.