I usually cook a lot at my mother-in-law's house over the holidays, which works out great for everyone because my mother-in-law would just as soon not have to make dinner for all those people, and I love to cook for a crowd. Here's my shopping list from the trip to the store, where I bought supplies for two large meals (for about eight people each):
- ground beef
- onions
- garlic
- tomato paste
- whole milk
- parsely
- chicken parts (for making stock)
- celery
- pork chops
- red potatoes
- butter
- green apples
- french bread or dinner rolls
- green beans
- lasagne noodles
- parmesan cheese (reggiano, if you can find it)
- gouda
- salad greens
- walnuts
- goat cheese
- walnuts
The menu was pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans one night, lasagne with salad the next, with a fruit and cheese plate for appetizers. This was augmented by a few things my in-laws had on hand (like wine and grapes), but the two meals complemented each other nicely in terms of shared ingredients.