My Easy Cooking

The Festive Season is upon us and so are the hordes of family and friends visiting every day and weekend. I love the fact that friends I haven’t seen in a while, pop in for a visit or family from other parts of South Africa phone to say they will “see us shortly!” Everyday of the holiday is different, filled with excitement and new possibilities.

However, with all this excitement comes the task of feeding all these people once they set foot in your house! Making snacks, light lunches or even little nibbles can be quite daunting if you are not prepared and before you know it, the excitement wears off and the holiday becomes a drag rather than a time of joy and fun! If however you are all stocked up and prepared, entertaining can be a breeze!

Always keep these items in stock

Bakery Items

an assortment of fresh breads or bake your own

packets of biscuits

tortillas

taco shells

fresh bread rolls

fresh pizza dough

Fridge Items

a variety of cheese – goats cheese, parmesan, cheddar, Emmenthaler, Grand Pandano ricotta, mozzarella

fresh fruit  – pineapples, berries, watermelon, melon, peaches, cherries

fresh vegetables – brinjals, cucumbers, tomatoes, baby marrows, mushrooms, celery, spring onions, avos

cream, Greek yogurt, sour cream, relishes and chutneys

cold meats and cured sausages

gherkins and pickle onions

marinated brinjals, peppers and mushrooms

eggs

Pantry Items

smoked mussels

tins of sardines

canned tomatoes in all flavors – Mexican, Italian and Indian

Canned corn

canned tuna and salmon

caramel

cream

artichokes

asparagus

beans- butter beans, baked beans, kidney beans

chickpeas

Visit My Easy Cooking for easy snack recipes and a quick recipe for

Blue Cheese Tartlets with Red Fig Jam