Top 10 buys for the top of your busy season shopping list

They are far from glamorous but you'll be glad you stocked up when a spontaneous dinner is flung upon you last minute.

Don't be caught unprepared and instead use the ease of Choithrams.com to make hosting season easier on everyone.

Here's a run down of 10 ingredients every pantry should have in abundance ahead of the festive season 2022.

Eggs

Breakfasts and Boxing Day bubble and squeak taken care of as long as you have a box or two of these guys tucked away.

Icing sugar

A sprinkle gives a festive frosting to any dessert, even if it wasn't meant for the Christmas season. Simply sprinkle some atop of anything, or even on the serving plate and voila!

Cheese and biscuits

The perfect snack when you're too full for a full-blown meal. Cheese stored in the fridge and emergency packs of crackers and biscuits can save any spontaneous family visit.

Chutney

At least once over the season you'll find yourself with a pile of all the leftover cold meats. A good chutney is a great way to serve cold cuts with a touch of zest.

An easy win for a mid-week lunch or cheeky afternoon snack.

Vanilla ice cream

Allow to melt slightly and mix with leftover Christmas pudding for an easy dessert.

Alternatively, a few scoops with a festive candy cane and kids will be happy, merry and bright!

Frozen peas

Rustle up a pea and ham soup with leftover ham stock and gammon.

Having a bag of frozen peas tucked away in the freezer can be a real lifesaver. The best bit? It doesn't matter even you don't end up using them.

Apples

A potato salad or coleslaw make easy Boxing Day sides.

But if you're craving a healthy kick over silly season, make sure you also have an abundance of apples to hand.

From a Waldorf salad, stacked with protein-packed nuts and crispy chunks of Washington Apples — for extra punch — to a simple snack, served with a dollop of organic peanut butter for the kids, they are a must.

Puff pastry

Impromptu guests? Scatter ready-rolled puff pastry with leftover cheese, slice and cook for simple cheese straws.

Add some tasty tomato sauce to create a pizza-like snack.

Sauces

Not just cranberry and bread, top up your tomato and brown for festive brunches.

We love a spicy tomato salsa to serve with easy garlic bread dough balls. An easy way to feed the masses.

Butter and self-raising flour

You've got the eggs, have these two to hand and you can always whip up a quick cake for guests.