Article archived: December, 2009
Delighting your friends and family during the holidays should be a pleasure. But the holiday season can be hectic, so you might not have time to prepare a meal or party down to the last detail. Don't stress! Giant Eagle® carries a diverse selection of ready-to-serve holiday foods for easy entertaining — so there's sure to be something for everyone.
Set the mood
During the holidays, winter flowers make guests feel cozy and welcome. Why not welcome your friends and family with poinsettias? These beautiful flowers, which are native to Mexico, come in many vibrant colors and types.
Giant Eagle® carries potted poinsettias for your holiday gathering, so pick up a few baskets of these huge, gorgeous blooms today! And, browse our Floral Department for other holiday decorating ideas.
Start with appealing appetizers
Set the mood for your holiday gathering with a cocktail hour — and a spread of delicious appetizers.
- Consider setting out a festive mixed nut tray. Or, pair a dish of cashews with a cheese and pepperoni platter and a Farmers Market® fruit or veggie tray.
- For the seafood lovers on your guest list, Maryland crab cakes and shrimp party platters will make your holiday gathering the hit of the season.
- Make appetizers easy. Simply prepare and serve our Market District® frozen appetizers, and satisfy guests with unique, fresh choices.
- Carnivores will love a tray of wings slathered with flavorful sauce. Traditional wing sauces, including BBQ and Buffalo — as well as spicy twists like General Tso's sauce — make wings treats to crave. Serve wings with celery sticks and dressing for dunking and dipping.
Browse other mouthwatering appetizer options in our Holiday Entertainment Guide.
Dinner is served
Giant Eagle® carries roasts, hams, and other meats for your holiday table. Choose from:
- Standing rib roast — Treat this holiday favorite with a dry-aged rub or simply season with garlic and black pepper to taste.
- New York strip roast — Serve this flavorful cut with a holiday seafood course, or accent it with an antipasti tray.
- Top sirloin roast — This roast tastes great with traditional potatoes and green beans, or lasagna, or casserole bake — or anything else you dream of.
- Spiral ham — Our spiral ham is a holiday tradition. Treat it with a brown-sugar glaze for extra flavor and a pleasing finish.
- Pork roast — Just like Grandma's old-fashioned favorite, our pork roast is ready to cook and serve.
More sides, please!
With Giant Eagle®, holiday sides are a snap! Try our Holiday Side Dish recipe tips, or purchase ready-made sides from our Prepared Foods department (see them all in our Holiday Entertainment Guide). Sides we carry include:
- Mashed potatoes
- Seasoned bread stuffing
- Macaroni and cheese
- Sweet corn, cut green beans, and Brussels sprouts
- Family-size house or Caesar salad
Don't forget dessert
For many, dessert is the most-anticipated part of the holiday meal. This year, take the pressure off yourself and serve a spread of delightful holiday treats from the Giant Eagle® kitchens.
- Cheese and nuts
Cheese and nuts are a decadent dessert surprise. Serve our Market District® Saint André Brie with Brown Sugar and Mascarpone Icing. This triple-crème brie is layered with a heavenly combination of Mascarpone cheese and brown sugar.
The brie plays nicely with our sweet nut selections, including our Honey Tri-Nut box (cinnamon almonds, cashew chunks, and honey peanuts — mmmm!) and our chocolate-coated cashews. Or, pair brie with a fruit basket — citrus fruits, apples, and pears all taste delightful with dessert cheese.
- Cookie trays
Holiday cookies bring out the kid in everyone. Pick up an assorted Holiday Cookie Tray from the Giant Eagle® Bakery, and enjoy all of the classics — like ginger men, macaroons, thumbprints, mini lady locks, and holiday cutout sugar cookies. (Holiday Cookie Trays come in Small, Medium, and Large — and start at just $12.99!)
- Cakes and pies
Of course, you need a holiday cake or pie to round out your dessert course. Visit our bakery, and select from a dozen torte varieties. Or, try a holiday specialty dessert — like our Fudge Crown Cake and our Toasted Almond Cake. Don't forget about classics like cheesecake and cherry pie! A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream rounds out any dessert selection.
More holiday fun