Holiday Tips Tips to avoid a stressful Holiday Keep it Simple! Sometimes taking a few great ingredients and mixing them up just write, produces the most excellent explosion of flavors. First Get a plan. Organize! Plan your meals with similar ingredients so you will not have to purchase extra products. If you know you need gumbo twice in the same couple days make a double batch and freeze the rest. Smart Shopping Watch the weight of the item you are going to purchase. Beware one brand may be cheaper but it has less product in it. Only buy what you need if you end up with too much left over how much did you really save? Support your local farmers and shop as close to home as possible. When you shop close to home the money stays closer. Wine may get expensive during the Holiday season but instead of buying chef wine to cook with keep left over bottles wrapped tightly in the fridge.