Stock Your Pantry for the Holidays to Feed a Few or a Houseful

You may have just a few people coming home for the holidays, or you may have dozens of visitors coming in and out from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. However many people you’re expecting, having plenty of food and drinks on hand will keep the festivities going and ensure that you keep your grocery store runs to a minimum. Plan for the season by making a list of everything you need to stock your pantry. Get dry goods and ingredients for favorite recipes and cases of beverages, from soft drinks to wine and beer, to keep everyone happy.

Have Plenty of Snack Treats On Hand

There’s a reason the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are sometimes referred to as “the eating season.” No gathering during this most wonderful time of the year would be complete without food, whether that means a bowl of mixed nuts or a table groaning under the weight of an entire holiday meal. To be sure you have plenty of options on hand, here are some goodies for your pantry:

• A variety of crackers
• Nuts-savory and sweet
• Dried fruits
• Holiday cookies and other baked goods
• Jams for cheeses (fig, date, orange)
• Popcorn
• Peppermint bark
• Chocolate covered pretzels
• Chips and salsa or different dip mixes (onion, ranch, green goddess)

Keep Beverages in Your Pantry

If you have a large enough pantry, store your beverages in large clear containers on your pantry’s bottom shelf or floor. They’ll be easy to grab, and you can check to see what needs restocking efficiently. Tip: Buy small bottles or cans of mixers instead of large ones to avoid waste.

Have these drinks and mixers on hand:

• Sparkling water (flavored and unflavored)
• Tonic water
• Club soda
• Cranberry juice
• Pineapple juice
• Diet colas
• Regular colas
• Root beer
• Ginger ale

Get some colorful straws and Maraschino cherries to make kids’ “mocktails” for children who want to join in the fun for cocktail hour.

Restock Your Baking Supplies

If you only bake around the holidays—or even bake all year round—now is an excellent time to refresh your baking supplies and ingredients. Spices, flour, and other baking necessities have a limited freshness shelf-life, so replacing what you have is a good idea. Store your baking supplies in clear containers with labels, and add a label on the bottom with the expiration date of what you have on hand.

Keep your items for baking stored together for easy access.

Pantry items to keep on hand for baking include:

• Flour
• Granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar
• Brown sugar
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Unsweetened chocolate
• Food coloring
• Sprinkles and other cookie decorations
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Allspice
• Ginger

Don’t forget to pick up some mulling spices to add a festive scent to your home!

Ingredients for Quick Meals

Some days, especially during the hectic holiday season, there’s just no time to cook a meal that needs lots of preparation and ingredients. So keep pasta, jarred sauce, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, and cold cereal on hand for quick breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Other good items to have in your pantry are canned soups and peanut butter and jelly for the kids to make meals for themselves while you’re busy wrapping, addressing holiday cards, or even taking a quick catnap.

Get Your Pantry Organized for the Holidays with Art of Drawers

Once you’ve stocked up on all the ingredients, food, snacks, and drinks you need, it’s time to call Art of Drawers to help you get organized and stay that way! We can help you design the perfect storage system to make your pantry—and the rest of your kitchen— as functional and beautiful as it can be for the holidays and the rest of the year.

To schedule a free design consultation, contact us online or at 770-800 8410.