MyTastr

Holiday cheat sheet

Christmas

Everything for the holiday: 63 things, from the Christmas ham and the roast to the cookie tins, the cheese board, the Christmas Eve fish and the morning-after breakfast. Each line links to the full MyTastr ranking and names the current #1 pick.

Some families do ham, some do prime rib, some do the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Buy what your house makes and skip the rest.

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The ham & the roast

Order the ham or roast now, and stock what it takes to glaze, season and carve it.

  1. 1

    Holiday ham

    The Christmas centerpiece. A bone-in spiral ham heats gently and feeds a crowd for days.

    Taste-test #1: D’Artagnan Berkshire Pork Bone-In Half Spiral Ham

  2. 2
  3. 3

    Lamb

    A rack or leg of lamb for the families who skip the ham.

    Chefs’ #1: D’Artagnan Australian Grass-Fed Rack of Lamb

  4. 4

    Whole turkey

    Some families do a second turkey at Christmas.

    Chefs’ #1: Diestel Turkey

  5. 5
  6. 6

    Dijon

    For the ham glaze and the roast beef crust.

    Chefs’ #1: Maille Dijon

  7. 7

    Honey

    For a honey glaze on the ham or carrots.

    Chefs’ #1: Mieli Thun French Honeysuckle Honey

  8. 8
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    Horseradish

    Horseradish sauce with prime rib is non-negotiable.

    Chefs’ #1: Atomic Extra Hot Horseradish

  10. 10
  11. 11

    Gravy

    Insurance gravy for the turkey or the roast.

    Chefs’ #1: Williams Sonoma Turkey Gravy Base (Classic)

  12. 12

    Salt

    For dry-brining the roast two days ahead.

    Chefs’ #1: Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt

Sides

Potatoes, greens and the things that make it a feast.

  1. 13

    Butter

    For the potatoes, the rolls and every cookie.

    Chefs’ #1: Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter

  2. 14
  3. 15

    Gruyère

    Potato gratin, done right.

    Chefs’ #1: 1655 Le Gruyère AOP

  4. 16

    Sour cream

    For the mashed potatoes.

    Chefs’ #1: Good Culture Organic Sour Cream

  5. 17

    Cranberry sauce

    Not just for Thanksgiving: great with ham.

    Chefs’ #1: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce

  6. 18

    Applesauce

    The old-school partner for ham and pork.

    Taste-test #1: Vermont Village Organic Unsweetened Applesauce

  7. 19

    Stuffing mix

    Stuffing on the side, especially with a turkey.

    Chefs’ #1: Stove Top Stuffing Mix (Savory Herbs or Traditional Sage)

  8. 20

    Dinner rolls

    For the bread basket, and for the leftover ham sliders.

    Chefs’ #1: King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

  9. 21

    Frozen peas

    The easy green side.

    Chefs’ #1: Woodstock Organic Petite Green Peas

  10. 22

    Bacon

    For Brussels sprouts and green beans.

    Chefs’ #1: Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon

  11. 23

    Puff pastry

    Beef Wellington, or an easy appetizer.

    Chefs’ #1: Dufour Pastry Kitchens Classic Puff Pastry

Christmas Eve fish

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, or just a smoked salmon platter.

  1. 24

    Smoked salmon

    Smoked salmon for Christmas Eve or a Christmas morning bagel.

    Chefs’ #1: Acme Smoked Nova Salmon

  2. 25

    Anchovies

    For bagna cauda and the pasta at the Seven Fishes.

    Chefs’ #1: Ortiz anchovies in olive oil

  3. 26

    Frozen shrimp

    Shrimp cocktail, or scampi for the Seven Fishes.

    Chefs’ #1: Northern Chef Wild Baja Shrimp

  4. 27

    Tinned fish

    Fancy tins on the board; an easy Seven Fishes cheat.

    Chefs’ #1: Fishwife (smoked salmon, smoked albacore)

  5. 28

    Pasta

    For linguine with clams.

    Chefs’ #1: Rustichella d’Abruzzo

  6. 29

    Capers

    For the fish course.

    Chefs’ #1: La Nicchia Capers of Pantelleria IGP in Sea Salt

Cookies & dessert

The cookie tins, the gingerbread house and the pie.

  1. 30

    Flour

    For cookies, gingerbread and pie crust.

    Chefs’ #1: King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose

  2. 31

    Sugar

    Brown and white, plus powdered for icing.

    Chefs’ #1: Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar (granulated and powdered)

  3. 32

    Vanilla

    In every cookie.

    Chefs’ #1: Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon

  4. 33

    Almond extract

    For spritz and almond cookies.

    Chefs’ #1: Nielsen-Massey Pure Almond Extract

  5. 34

    Chocolate chips

    For the cookie tin and the kids.

    Chefs’ #1: Guittard Extra Dark / Semi-Sweet Chips

  6. 35

    Baking chocolate

    For fudge and peppermint bark.

    Chefs’ #1: Valrhona Guanaja 70% (or Manjari 64%)

  7. 36
  8. 37
  9. 38

    Condensed milk

    For fudge and magic bars.

    Chefs’ #1: Longevity Sweetened Condensed Milk

  10. 39

    Pecans

    For pecan pie, sandies and pralines.

    Chefs’ #1: Pearson Farm Elliott Pecans

  11. 40
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    Whipped cream

    On pie and hot cocoa.

    Taste-test #1: Reddi-wip Original

  14. 43

    Vanilla ice cream

    Pie à la mode.

    Chefs’ #1: Straus Organic Vanilla Bean

The cheese board

Something to nibble while the roast rests.

  1. 44

    Brie

    Bake it with jam for the easiest party appetizer.

    Chefs’ #1: Fromager d’Affinois Le Fromager

  2. 45

    Cheddar

    A sharp aged cheddar with apples.

    Chefs’ #1: Cabot Vermont Cheddar (Extra Sharp)

  3. 46

    Blue cheese

    With pears and honey.

    Chefs’ #1: Rogue Creamery Rogue River Blue

  4. 47

    Gouda

    An aged gouda crunches with crystals.

    Chefs’ #1: L’Amuse Signature Gouda

  5. 48

    Prosciutto

    For the board and wrapped around melon or figs.

    Chefs’ #1: La Quercia Prosciutto Americano

  6. 49

    Salami

    For the board.

    Chefs’ #1: Olli Salumeria (Toscano or Antipasto pack)

  7. 50

    Crackers

    Something sturdy for the board.

    Chefs’ #1: Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps (Rosemary Raisin Pecan)

  8. 51

    Olives

    The board needs something briny.

    Chefs’ #1: Frankies 457 Pitted Castelvetrano Olives

  9. 52

    Jam

    Fig jam or preserves for the cheese.

    Chefs’ #1: Bonne Maman Preserves

  10. 53

    Dried fruit

    Dates and apricots for the board.

    Chefs’ #1: ApricotKing Dried Blenheim Apricots (Extra Fancy or Slabs)

Christmas morning

Breakfast while the presents get opened.

  1. 54

    Pancake mix

    Christmas morning pancakes.

    Chefs’ #1: King Arthur Buttermilk Pancake Mix

  2. 55

    Maple syrup

    For the pancakes.

    Chefs’ #1: Runamok Sugarmaker’s Cut

  3. 56
  4. 57

    Eggs

    For the breakfast casserole and the eggnog.

    Chefs’ #1: Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Eggs

  5. 58

    Bagels

    With lox and schmear.

    Chefs’ #1: Ess-a-Bagel (New York; shipped nationwide)

  6. 59

    Orange juice

    For mimosas and the kids.

    Chefs’ #1: Natalie’s Orange Juice

  7. 60

    Coffee

    Strong coffee for the early wake-up.

    Chefs’ #1: Be Bright Coffee (Los Angeles)

  8. 61

    Hot cocoa

    For the kids, and after sledding.

    Chefs’ #1: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

  9. 62
  10. 63

    Sparkling cider

    The kids’ toast at dinner.

    Taste-test #1: Martinelli’s Gold Medal Sparkling Cider

Also pick up

Not ranked on MyTastr (yet): the fresh produce, specialty items and decorations the list above assumes you have.

  • Standing rib roast or beef tenderloin (order from the butcher early)
  • Fresh rosemary, thyme and sage
  • Garlic, shallots and onions
  • Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
  • Brussels sprouts and green beans
  • Carrots and parsnips
  • Fresh cranberries
  • Oranges, clementines and lemons
  • Pomegranates
  • Fresh ginger and molasses for gingerbread
  • Eggnog (dairy case) and candy canes
  • Fresh seafood for the Seven Fishes: clams, shrimp, calamari, baccalà

Tasters cited from public sources have not endorsed MyTastr.

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