Do you ever cook the day before when having guests?

[Anonymous]

I'm between jobs and also sent my second kid to college so have been cooking and entertaining more than I have in years.
In the process I've found that most dishes (soups, risottos, pastas, even roasts) taste much better the second day.
(I know, I know, not a novel concept).

Given this, do you ever cook the day before entertaining? It's not something I've done before.

[Anonymous]

Ina Garten has an entire cookbook dedicated to make-ahead meals.

[Anonymous]

For Thanksgiving when I host I always make stuff the day before.

Two days before:
- cranberry sauce
- pickled veggies (we're southern and do some weird things like spiced peaches)
- pie crusts (can be done even earlier)
- I also lay out my serving dishes and label each with what's going in it (just a clean post-it in side)

The morning before:
- desserts

The afternoon/evening before I can prepare the following for the fridge and bake the next day:
- green bean casserole
- candied sweet potatoes
- mac and cheese
- if you're roasting veggies you can cut and put in the fridge as long as they're non-browning (carrots, b sprouts, squashes, cauliflower, etc...)

Day of the turkey starts early, obviously.
Mashed potatoes, fresh veggies, stuffing, and assembly things (cheese plate, etc...) are not hard to do.

I cook a lot and my mom and I agree that Thanksgiving requires organization, but it's not particularly hard.

[Anonymous]

If it’s required for the proper preparation, i follow the preparation.

If it’s because I want to save time, or don’t have time to make it fresh, never. I don’t want to serve reheated food to guests.

Prep is different. You can prep components ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Of course. I have 2 kids and job. Especially if hosting on a Friday night (or even a Saturday night), I make some dishes ahead. Makes hosting and enjoying the party much more pleasant.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Whenever, whatever I can.