The first family Christmas dinner that I ever hosted, was served “promptly” at about 9PM at night. Not fabulous with a bunch of little kids running around. I forgot the freshly baked buns …in the oven…for a long time. Then spilled a full bodied red wine, all over the delicately set dining room table. Cue the secret crying in the bathroom. I was a failure at Christmas. Were these the memories I wanted to be creating for my girls? Then something strange happened. That tardy turkey? Everyone said it was delicious (probably because they were all starving to death. but still YUM! ). No one missed the buns because I had made about TWO pounds of mashed potatoes..per person, and I hated that table cloth anyway. So no sense crying over spilled wine! These are just some of the Holiday gaffs I can remember and now looking back, they are what makes the Holidays a little more interesting!
Rather than dwelling on our mishaps, Campbell’s is encouraging Canadians to spill the beans (or the wine, as the case may be!) and celebrate the humour of these embarrassing or stressful moments by sharing their "holiday confessions" at WWW.CAMPBELLSHOLIDAYSECRETS.CA . In return, Canadians have the chance to win one of 100 pre-paid credit cards valued at $100 each. Now these are some confessions worth making!
Looking for some tricks to help get you through the holiday season? Campbell’s has a sleigh full of helpful holiday hacks to get you through any sticky situation, including:
Pepperidge Farm® Cracker Chips – Fill a bowl with these and no one will notice that dinner’s late!
The bold flavour and crunch of a chip, baked into a wholesome cracker, will leave guests satisfied with these yummy snacks while you scramble to get dinner on the table. Five whole grains, delicious ingredients like savoury real garlic and 60% less fat than 20g of the leading potato chip, your guests can indulge without the guilt!
Campbell’s® Ready to Use Broth – Brings flavour to dishes and helps prevent dry conversation.
While there’s no guarantee that all of Uncle Wayne’s jokes will be winners, your Classic Holiday Stuffing will be! Campbell’s Ready to Use Chicken Broth adds a mouth full of flavour to your holiday meals, with a simple pour straight from the box.
Campbell’s® Condensed Soup – The perfect foundation for classic recipes (that even your mother-in-law will love).
So you burned the turkey last year – who didn’t!? It’s time to redeem yourself. Campbell’s Condensed Soup is “Step 1” in a variety of great recipes, including fan (and in-law) favourite Ultra Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Start with great flavours, plus a glass of wine for the chef, and you’ll be sure to satisfy even the fussiest guests.
Pepperidge Farm® Cookies – Put your foot in your mouth? Your guests would prefer these.
Two easy steps to salvage a holiday faux-pas:
1) Remove foot from mouth
2) Replace foot with Pepperidge Farm® Cookies
Simple! Alternatively, whip up a batch of festive Reindeer Cupcakes decorated with Pepperidge Farm® Monaco® Double Chocolate Cookies. A little something sweet to save you when something you said wasn’t.
Goldfish® Chocolate Grahams – Not a master baker? Throw some of these in a bowl!
Reality check! Moms around the world burn one million batches of chocolate chip cookies every holiday season* in preparation for Santa’s arrival. Skip the stress, and leave him Goldfish Grahams instead! Rumour has it, chocolate is his favourite.
*Just kidding. We made this up.
Now that I’ve been hosting Christmas dinner for a few years, I still make my fair share of mistakes, the difference, I don’t stress about it like I used to! My family certainly doesn’t expect perfection, so why should I? We enjoy each others company, go with the flow and say thanks for our many blessings. To help get through the chaos of this year, I was sent this beautiful “HOLIDAY HACK” Gift Basket filled with Campbell’s and Pepperidge Farms items.
Even more exciting news, I have a second “HOLIDAY HACK” Gift Basket to GIVEAWAY to one lucky reader of How To Survive Life In The Suburbs. So which Holiday Secret are you willing to expose? Leave me a comment below telling me about your biggest holiday gaff, then fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to Canada only and will close December 21st!
*Don’t forget when you are done here, you can go to WWW.CAMPBELLSHOLIDAYSECRETS.CA for your chance to win a $100.00 pre-paid credit card!
For more information on this contest be sure to follow @CampbellCanada and the hashtag #HolidaySecretsExposed.
I buy store bought desserts and arrange them on a platter to make it look like I made it myself.
Im having all the in laws this year . Something is sure to happen,
My first ever turkey dinner to cook was at my parents house when I was 18. Myom worked retail so the holidays were more then stressful. As I was cleaning out the carcus I was pulling on the neck. Out pops the turkey’s head. Beady eyes looking at my I know they were saying “Don’t Cook me” after my brother chased me through the house and my uncles had fun on my behalf I got over it. Meatballs for dinner that year for me. Merry Christmas everyone. May your dinner be eventful 😉
I love using packaged gravys and also use box stuffing mixes and add a swirl of cranberry jelly into it
I always use packaged gravy sauce mix and add drippings to it.
My secret: I’ve re-gifted things I didn’t want.
The first time I roasted my own turkey I left the bag of giblets inside the turkey while I cooked and served it. I didn’t know it was even in there!
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My kids were SO disappointed when they discovered that one of their favourite dishes at holiday dinners at Granny’s, the honey garlic meatballs, were bought and not home-made. They all had wanted the recipe and were shocked when told that those delicious little meatballs came from the grocery store!
We ended up having to go for Chinese food one year since we had forgotten to set the timer. Don’t leave the turkey in the oven when you go play cards without the timer set! LOL!
Last year my hubs was taking out the turkey and moving to a platter,well it ended up on the floor 🙁
I used salt instead of sugar to bake my dessert
forgetting to turn the stove on we had dinner at midnight not happy people i will say
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