The holidays are a great time to stock your pantry with baking ingredients. These items go on sale from about the middle of October through Christmas. Buy evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, canned pumpkin, chocolate chips, nuts, and spices. To extend the life of some of these things, I use my vacuum sealer and my freezer. You can store nuts and chocolate chips in vacuum-packed portions that work for your most-used recipes, and then store the packs in a white plastic bucket or your freezer.
Canned broth and gravy, canned vegetables and boxed stuffing are other great pantry buys this time of year. This week, at my local Albertson’s, Mrs. Cubbison’s whole grain stuffing mixes are $1 each, and Swanson’s natural chicken broth is 50 cents per can. Often, these healthier choices cost even more than their standard counterparts, so it’s nice to find them at a bargain. Juices are also typically discounted for the holidays, so stock up for the year, especially if you have kids.
My wife and I always try to find deals. It helps build your storage faster if you can find after-season specials.
yes, I love this time of year, I got some great after Christmas candy to vacuum pack to use for next year and it will still be fresh for recipes and gifts for a fraction of the price. I love your site. Keep up the good work.
Those Christmas packaged dark chocolate candies can be frozen or vacuumed packed and used just like chocolate chips in recipes and they always go on sale after Christmas. Do you have any clever recipes for chocolate?
I have a new love, my renalds vac. sealer I use alot for left overs, it’s so easy to use. I also freeze veggies and many other things in them. It’s so handy unlike to big vav. sealers, and it’s only 9$ so its a great thing. I also freeze christmas items, through the year it’s a great thing for my 8. Thanks so much for your info it’s wonderful. Lisa