Gracefoods

Christmas is a time of happiness and cheer, no matter what. Well, this year we are faced with that no matter what moment. That means no big extravagant Christmas feast or dinner. So how do we meet our obligations to family fellowship this time of year when food is such a big part of all our celebrations?

Budget, dear folks, budget! Our 2009 holiday feast spending is likely to be arrested because many people have lost their jobs or have cut back just to be cautious. It’s not going to be easy, given the traditional Jamaican spread at Christmas. We are accustomed to all that ham, roast/baked chicken, curry mutton, roast beef, rice and peas, mashed potato, macaroni salad, vegetable salad, green peas and sweet corn, fruit cake and sorrel.

But for this Christmas, some of us can’t afford ALL that niceness, and that’s ok! It certainly doesn’t mean that your feast will be less delicious or appealing; it just means that you’ll be cooking with less food and possibly a different set of food items.

So let’s plan this low budget Christmas dinner in a way that it remains fun an memorable. For starters decide what you want for your main dish. Will you keep the ham/chicken/beef/mutton? Since most Jamaicans love ham at Christmas time, let’s keep the ham, and here’s a recipe for the Grace Country Pride Ham with Pineapple Guava Glaze. Get a size to serve your guests without having a huge left over portion. That will save you big bucks.

For your second main dish you try a corned beef salad, or Grace Corned Beef and Spaghetti for further savings.   Use lots of lettuce and a few tomatoes for your salad, and make your own dressing, perhaps with vinegar and olive oil or mayonnaise and ketchup! Grace Foods also has a fine recipe for an Arranged Fruit and Vegetable Salad.

Rice and peas will keep your costs down, and you might even want to make your own garlic bread! Use a good French bread, garlic, butter and parsley, and make enough for all your guests to get a hearty serving. Not only will that be light on your pocket, it adds a nice touch to the dinner. 

For dessert, let’s keep the traditional fruit cake, but add something for pizzaz. Try a vanilla flavored yogurt, ice cream or perhaps rum custard or brandy sauce (if you can afford brandy this year) that’s easy to make at home. The sorrel is also a must keep! Serve in some fancy glasses for “excitement’.

For  other ideas check here to see what Grace Foods advises.

Enjoy your feast and Happy Holidays.