A Merry Reunion Christmas (that suits every purse!)

Almost everyone is feeling the pinch this year, with huge energy and food price rises, and even shortages forecast for some foods. In spite of all that, people still want to find a way to make “the most wonderful time of the year” as special as ever.

Here Reunion Owner Jo Black and team give some great tips on how to make your Christmas table a marvel, whilst still keeping an eye on the pennies. Read on for eight ways to make Christmas day 2022 one to remember, Reunion style!

1. Buy a little less, bake a little more (quick and easy snacks!)

Jo says: “Usually when I’m doing the Christmas shop I stuff the trolley full of so many sweets and crisps that we end up eating them until the end of January, ruining the best laid new years resolutions(!). This year, I’m thinking less is more, so laying in a few special selection boxes and a good few bags of fancy crisps, but nothing too outrageous. Instead, I’m planning to make some quick and easy snacks that can be kept in the fridge, baked and served whenever needed. For example, I really like having some puff pastry that’s ready rolled in the freezer, and when I’ve got a spare 30 minutes I make squares and put on some red onion chutney, goats cheese and local Belper honey. Just before sticking in the oven I might add a couple of walnuts to each tart and then add few sprigs of rocket to serve - voila!”

Psst… Reunion’s have a selection of goats cheese available. The best for this recipe would be our Goat’s Cheese Log which you can order by 100g. With it’s super rich and creamy flavour, it’s proving very popular.. head into the Deli and pick up a piece. We also sell top quality Red onion chutney and totally delicious Belper honey too!

Bubble and Squeak - it’s the best!

2. Waste not - want not!

It’s very easy to buy way too much at Christmas, but there are some handy tools to help you calculate how much you actually need per person like this one at Love Food Hate Waste.

Make a thorough plan so you can keep an eye on spending, and don’t be tempted to ‘trade up’ on basic items like potatoes, buy these at plain market prices and spend the money you save on something extra special for your table.

Also have a think about how you can use up leftovers. Revive the great British tradition of bubble and squeak, but this time adding chorizo or another richly flavoured sausage for ultimate yumminess. You can also reheat leftover roast potatoes in the oven with some olive oil, paprika and a bit of sea salt and serve with melted cheddar or parmigiano on top.

Matthew & his roasted pork belly with yummy crackling

3. Try something different

With turkeys getting more and more expensive due to bird flu, why not try something different this year? Jo says: “At home Matthew and I will be making a fabulous pork belly recipe that we adapted from Yotto Ottolenghi’s delicious version.

This really does feature the best way to cook up delicious pork crackling, takes less time and will almost certainly take less effort and cost less than a huge turkey. For best quality, try and shop at your local butcher (we have Belper pork butcher Jerry Howarth and Cooper’s butchers in town).

Our pork shoulder cost under £5 per kilo compared to turkey which currently comes in at between £8- £13 per kilo. Turkey is cheaper of course from supermarkets, but you may well compromise on quality. Pork belly is a really delicious, fatty meat which makes it packed full of flavour. You can then go with super fresh sides to keep it well balanced. If you’re wondering what wine to pair, you’re looking for rich whites and juicy reds. This could mean a nice crisp Reisling or Viognier, or a red that isn’t too heavy, like a cooler climate Pinot Noir.

Mushroom Timbale

For vegetarians, how about making a real splash on your Christmas table with this Mushroom Timbale recipe based on the version from vegetarian trailblazer, Rosie Elliot? Reunion Community builder Maggie says “This amazing dish was first lovingly presented at our table by my wonderful cook of a husband Matt, when we couldn't face another shop-bought nut roast for Christmas. Times have changed, and our teenage children are now avid meat eaters, but the timbale will still be making an appearance as it’s become a real family favourite and is especially good as a cold snack on Christmas night served with spicy pickle!” You can adapt it for vegans too, using aquafaba (tinned chickpea water) to replace eggs and plenty of vegan spread instead of butter.

Support your beloved local indies this year and spend less!

4. Shop Local and spend less even though you may pay a little more

It’s worth bearing in mind that shopping online, although sometimes offering cheaper prices, can, in many instances, lead to buying more stuff. “Free shipping for orders over £30” is a great example - you went online to buy a t-shirt that cost £15 and you ended up with an outfit! (Sigh - we’ve all done it!)

Avoid the trigger-happy spending that comes with clicking and head into town with a good old fashioned shopping list, and only buy what you intended, then you can afford to spend a little more on those extras that you spot along the way.

Love Belper are offering 10% off on all Love Belper Vouchers purchased until 24th December. This is brilliant if you want to give the vouchers as presents, but can also be used to save yourself money on your own Christmas Shopping if you’re keeping it local this year. More information and how to purchase here.

Reunion Hampers..including build your own

5. Get personal

Hampers are a popular way to spoil your loved ones, as they make maximum impact with often gorgeous presentation, but off the shelf hampers can ultimately be disappointing as you can’t be sure of the quality of the contents or even if the person you're buying for likes what’s inside! Spend your well earned pennies wisely with Reunion Deli personalised hampers.

Here at the deli we have an amazing array of great products including several from local suppliers; talk to our super trained and enthusiastic staff who have the knowledge and skills to support you in finding the right selection to suit your budget. We can cater for any intolerances or dietary requirements, we can even work with you to select products around their favourite foods, all presented in beautifully eco friendly packaging.

And if hampers don’t work for you there are a wealth of options that can help you find just the thing!

Often our staff have their own favourite Reunion products that they can recommend and they’re more than happy to share their knowledge - just ask!

Gorgeous cheeses from Reunion - add something special to the table!

6. Small touches make a big difference

It’s inevitable that many of us will have to buy at least some of our Christmas food shop from supermarkets this year, but if that’s the case for you, consider using our local shops to add something truly unique to your table that you can’t get in a supermarket. Belper favourite Shaun's Fresh Fish agrees, saying that many people will want to take advantage of super-slashed fish prices in supermarkets, he has been as busy as ever on his local stall “People still want the quality, fresh fish that only small suppliers can offer - this is the real thing.” Visit Shaun’s facebook page to find out when he will be at Belper Market Place and other venues.

Reunion Cheese platters make a great statement

Meanwhile at Reunion Deli you can find some amazing cheeses that will spruce up your cheeseboard. For some top tips on the best cheeses and chutneys, watch this reel of director, Jo with expert guidance on creating a fabulous cheeseboard to delight your guests. We’ll also have local, high quality pork pies in stock as well as a range of fantastic cold meats.

Finally consider letting Reunion take on the job and buy one of our cheese and meat platters, they are packed full of lovely Reunion selected products and really are great value.

7. Leave the car at home and save those £s

The fabulous shops of Belper are just a walk or short bus ride away, so, if you’re able, leave the car in the garage and head down to your local high street. You’ll save a chunk of cash on petrol and avoid the hassle and expense of looking for parking, plus you can feel virtuous about getting a little more exercise (or at least cancel out that extra mince pie you had yesterday!) as well as doing your bit for the environment.

It’s worth noting that there is free parking from 1pm every day in Belper at the Amber Valley car parks (more information here).

8. Need to return items? It’s easy (and totally free!) if you’re local

How many unwanted gifts have you held on to or ended up giving to the charity shop because it wasn’t worth the time, hassle or expense of returning them through the post? Hmmm, we can definitely relate to that, so this year consider buying from local shops, in the knowledge that if there are any problems with your purchase you’ll be able to speak to another human being about it and won’t have the hassle or expense of packing and posting to face.