10 Groceries that will Make Your Christmas Merry and Bright

Everyone knows potatoes, ham and rolls belong in a Christmas feast. But if you want something to make the holidays a little more special, take a look at Patch’s list of must-have groceries this Christmas. There’s only a few more days to pick up everything on your Christmas grocery list, so stop by your local Shaw’s, Market Basket or Stop and Shop for these holiday essentials:

Tell us in the comments: What are the must-haves on your Christmas grocery list?

1. Pomegranate Seeds: Grab some pomegranate seeds for a pop of holiday color and an added brightness to holiday dishes. Throw a handful of seeds on green beans, in salad, on desserts and in champagne for a festive touch.
2. Sparkling Juice: Serve in champagne glasses for the kids at your holiday dinner. They’ll love feeling like an adult. These juices also work for adults who’ve had a little too much of the real stuff.
3. Whole Cranberries: Though we all love cranberry sauce that holds the can’s shape, whole cranberries serve multiple purposes. You can follow this recipe for a fresh cranberry sauce, whip up a delicious and festive cranberry dessert or string the berries together for a Christmas decoration.
4. Spiced Apple Cider: With a hint of cinnamon and cloves, warm apple cider screams Christmas time. Serve it straight up or add a little Prosecco for a delightful holiday cocktail.
5. Crescent rolls: These tasty nuggets aren’t just meant to be served with butter, although no one ever complains about that. Wrap them around little sausages or load them up with cream cheese, chives and bacon for pre-dinner snacks your family will love.
6. Peppermints: Though peppermint-flavored items make their way to grocery store shelves every December, this festive candy is often under utilized on Christmas tables. Throw some on the mantel for a decorative accent or crush them up to add a little holiday flavor to Christmas goodies. Peppermint whipped cream anyone?
7. Figs: Figs aren’t just a filling in Newton cookies, they are a beautiful and delicious fruit. Fig and walnut biscotti makes a great Christmas breakfast and this fig filled pastry adds an Italian twist on your typical Christmas fare. But if you want to go super traditional, you can always make a figgy pudding.
8. Cinnamon sticks: This is another one that is both decorative and delectable. Cinnamon sticks add the holiday spice you know and love. Stick one in your apple cider as you heat it up or wrap some cinnamon sticks around a candle for a Christmas decoration that both looks and smells beautiful.
9. Whole chestnuts: The song doesn’t say “chestnuts roasting over an open fire” for nothing, and roasting chestnuts (don’t worry, you can do it in the oven) will make your home smell like Christmas. If you want something a little more interesting than whole nuts, chop them up and bake these roasted chestnut cookies.
10. Fresh rosemary: Add rosemary to almost any dish, savory or sweet, and it’s instantly holiday approved. This herb is also good for decorating; wrap a few sprigs with red ribbon and hang on your door for a Christmas welcome.

image: Alpha via Wikimedia