Your Holiday Menu Shopping List

Holiday feasts and treats are among the best traditions of the year. Massive spreads bursting with your favorite seasonal flavors are sure to satisfy even the hungriest bellies and strongest cravings.

The best part? This is the perfect time to show off your chef skills, whipping up recipes that your family and friends might mistake for coming out of the kitchen of a fancy restaurant.

But what's not so great? The dreaded—and often last minute—trip to a jam-packed grocery store in search of the dozens of ingredients needed for your tasty dishes.

So we decided to make this experience easier and more enjoyable with a simple holiday shopping list featuring versatile ingredients you can use across many holiday recipes. Here's the list:

Spices

• Cinnamon
• Crystalized Ginger
• Cardamom
• Whole Cloves

Produce

• Shallots
• Onions
• Garlic
• Brussels Sprouts
• Baby Kale
• Cauliflower
• Oranges and Grapefruits
• Beets
• Green Beans

Meat/Seafood

• Protein of your choice, we recommend a crown roast of pork, turkey, duck, or a standing beef rib roast

Baking Aisle

• Molasses

Bakery

• loaf of Brioche

These ingredients are the stars of the holiday menu outlined below. The root vegetables supply the savory foundational flavors of traditional soups and side dishes, and also add a seasonal flair to dressings, sauces and even aioli. The spices combine into a festive blend to boost the holiday flavor profile in everything from dressings, to sweet potatoes, stuffing, meat glazes, and of course, desserts.

When you're planning your next holiday feast, use these Vitamix-friendly recipes and the shopping list above to create a delicious, easy and wintery meal.

Starters

• Roasted Root Vegetable Soup

  Winter’s bounty is here; root vegetables make a delicious soup to keep you warm during these cold months.

• Charred Cauliflower Salad with Baby Kale and Citrus Segments with Harissa Vinaigrette

  This great alternative salad has a burst of flavor in every bite. The acidity of the citrus and heat of the harissa balance the bitterness of the greens and cauliflower.

• Roasted Beet and Green Bean Salad with Winter Spice Vinaigrette

  From soft roasted beets and goat cheese to crunchy pepitas, this well-balanced salad is brimming with texture and flavor. Drizzle with Winter Spice Vinaigrette for the perfect first course.

• Harissa Vinaigrette

  Harissa, the popular hot pepper paste used in North African cuisine, steals the spotlight in this vinaigrette. Serve drizzled over our Charred Cauliflower Salad for a little extra kick.

Entrées with Sides

• Crown Roast of Pork with Brioche Bread Crumb Stuffing

  This awe-inspiring dish will be the centerpiece of your holiday feast for years to come.

• Brioche Bread Crumb Stuffing

  Stuffing can make or break a holiday meal. Brioche adds a slight sweetness to this dish that complements your main holiday dish.

• Sweet Potato Au Gratin

  Try sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes for a burst of color and a nutritional boost.

• Charred Brussel Sprouts with Aged Balsamic Aioli

  Brussels sprouts are a great source of fiber and have a rich, sweet flavor when roasted.

Desserts and Cocktails

• Chocolate “Figgy” Pudding with Fig Jam and Toasted Pistachios

  This decadent dessert will have all the guests asking for the recipes. The ability to make these ahead of time allows you to spend more time with your guests.

• Gingersnap Cookies

  The holidays are not complete without these ginger-spiced cookies. You might want to make two batches and keep some hidden for yourself.

• Warm Spiced Mulled Cider

  This apple cider has a flavor boost with the addition of the winter spice blend.

• Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

  Maple syrup and winter spice give this classic drink a new twist.