This year I will be hosting my first ever Thanksgiving. I have a little notebook going with my menu plan and my brother-in-law is on cocktail-planning standby.
Here's how I'm stocking my pantry for success and you can, too.
Stock and Broth
Try making a gravy or stuffing or pan sauce or soup without broth. You can’t – or you can, but it probably won’t taste as good. I always have several boxes of 365 Everyday Value® Organic Chicken and Vegetable Broth on hand and plan to stockpile extra for the holiday season.
Dried Fruit, Nuts and Seeds
These snack time essentials are great for fancy-ing up salads and stuffings. Plus, if you mix them all together, you have a super-easy appetizer for early-arriving guests and football watching.
Canned Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin can do no wrong. Not only is it an essential ingredient in the Thanksgiving meal’s most classic pie, but the purée can be whipped into a festive pasta sauce (just whisk in hot pasta water et voilà!) or used to make any number of baked goods. Canned pumpkin rules.
Herbs and Spices
Sage and thyme, cinnamon and nutmeg. These savory herbs and warm spices are some of the quintessential flavors of the season. Place fresh herbs under turkey skin to infuse the meat while it roasts, or add that extra something by stirring spices in to store bought cranberry sauce or whipped cream. Keep in mind that Whole Foods Market's dried herbs and spices are never irradiated or sterilized using ethylene oxide, a common industry practice that is not allowed by our stringent quality standards. And we have lots of organic and Fair Trade options, too. In fact, the 365 Everyday Value and Whole Foods Market™ brands work to source from grower co-ops around the world and frequently that work includes partnering with Whole Planet Foundation opens in a new tab to provide micro-loans to many farmers and helps alleviate poverty in many key spice-growing regions.
Stuffing Fixin’s
No matter how big the batch of stuffing, it doesn’t last long – and turkey leftovers just aren’t the same without it. Have an extra box (or two!) of our 365 Everyday Value® Organic Stuffing Mix stored in your pantry for quickie Savory Stuffing Cakes opens in a new tab or an extra pan of dressing for an unexpectedly expanded dinner party.
More Onions and Shallots Than You Think You Need
Have you noticed that onions (and their slightly sweeter, garlicky cousins shallots) are in everything on the Thanksgiving table? They help to build flavor and can take many different forms – caramelized, roasted, crispy and raw. Total up all the onions your recipes call for and then grab a few more; you should be set.
How do you prep your pantry for Thanksgiving success? Any tips for a first-time host? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
From carving with confidence to pouring with pride, our online Holiday Cheat Sheet opens in a new tab means more of your best for less stress. Order holiday meals online opens in a new tab too; we'll do the work, you'll take the credit.
