When it comes to preparing the Christmas dinner making a shopping list of food seems to come natural. What about the other necessities you need? There never seems to be enough pans and utensils to pull off the perfect Christmas dinner. Here are a few ideas to add to your shopping list.

No one wants to have to make a last minute substitution because they forgot something at the store. When you are making a list of the grocery items you need, don’t forget the utensils. Unless you have a large family, most people don’t use every pot, pan and spatula in their kitchen unless it is Christmas.

To save on storage space and money, look for items that are disposable. It makes clean up easier and is a little lighter on the pocketbook.

• Aluminum roasting pans for meats
• Square aluminum side dish pans
• Round aluminum cake pans for cakes and rolls
• Serving utensils
• Plastic silverware, paper plates and napkins
• Thermometers for both meats and candy
• Plastic mixing bowls
• Trash bags

It’s not really a long list but makes the clean up much easier. Instead of using all of your baking pans and washing them repeatedly, it is easier to cook sides and meats in disposable aluminum pans. They hold up well when cooking and can be thrown away afterwards. Any extra pans can be used for take home items. If gives them a container to carry the food and reheat the food once they get home.

There always seems to be a problem when it comes to plates and silverware. There enough for 8 but not enough for the entire family. Party supply stores sell Christmas plates, napkins and silverware that resemble the real thing. The family won’t mind and your holiday table will still look elegant.

When preparing meats for a large crowd a thermometer is necessary. Turkey takes a long time to cook and you want to be sure it is cooked throughout. A meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh will let you know when the turkey is done. If the turkey comes with a pop up you still need to ensure the turkey is cooked through with a meat thermometer. Creating the perfect fudge or other types of candy also need a thermometer to ensure they come out perfect every time.

There is a lot to pulling off the perfect the Christmas dinner but by planning ahead you can keep the stress and work to a minimum. These tips can help in making Christmas day special for all.