Make-ahead recipes for guests that aren't casseroles from 1965?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enchiladas.

Lots of recipes out there. My fave is the Skinnytaste chicken enchiladas -- the sauce is fantastic. https://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-enchiladas/

How do you leave the spice out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws are visiting for ten days at the end of May. I was thinking this morning that it'd be great to find some recipes that could be partially or wholly prepared in advance and then frozen, to make things less hectic when it actually comes time to cook.

The only recipes that came to mind are 60s frankenfoods involving cans of cream of mushroom. Delicious for sure, but... it'd be nice to add more, erm, elevated recipes to the rotation.

In the comments on some NYT recipe, someone mentioned freezing chicken thighs in marinade, to pull out the night before. Hacks like that are really intriguing, too!

Limitations: MIL won't eat lamb or fish or bell pepper. Husband and kids have zero spice tolerance, otherwise will eat anything.

Thank you in advance, it's gonna be quite a week!

Why not 1) hire a personal chef for the week 2) dine at a restaurant where you won't have to worry about cooking?

Not everyone has this kind of money to spare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eggplant parmesean is perfect, but takes 3+ hours to make. Its all the slicing, cutting in half, dip egg, dip bread crumbs, and frying of billion pieces until its brown that takes a few hours. Like 2 large eggplants, but I prefer multiple small ones. Raos sauce is fine, slice mozzarella to put on top of casserole (in deep large foil pan). Bake maybe an hour covered. Cool. Freeze. serve with spaghetti.

Wegman's has frozen cutlets. Maybe TJs too or they did at one time. I do half a pan eggplant and half chicken patties. You can probably do whole pans though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws are visiting for ten days at the end of May. I was thinking this morning that it'd be great to find some recipes that could be partially or wholly prepared in advance and then frozen, to make things less hectic when it actually comes time to cook.

The only recipes that came to mind are 60s frankenfoods involving cans of cream of mushroom. Delicious for sure, but... it'd be nice to add more, erm, elevated recipes to the rotation.

In the comments on some NYT recipe, someone mentioned freezing chicken thighs in marinade, to pull out the night before. Hacks like that are really intriguing, too!

Limitations: MIL won't eat lamb or fish or bell pepper. Husband and kids have zero spice tolerance, otherwise will eat anything.

Thank you in advance, it's gonna be quite a week!

Why not 1) hire a personal chef for the week 2) dine at a restaurant where you won't have to worry about cooking?

Oh DCUM. So reliably out of touch.

[Anonymous]

Indian food is great made ahead. I know you said no spice tolerance, which would make this suggestion problematic, but did you really mean heat? If so, just make it mild. Many of the other suggestions like enchiladas and chili are spiced too.

[Anonymous]

Soup
Quiche
Muffins/quickbreads
Granola
Stock (I make paella for large gatherings using stock that I portion out and freeze, along with frozen seafood)
Wontons, dumplings
Curry puffs

[Anonymous]

I would build in one 1965 casserole. It may be the ‘hit’ of the week.

[Anonymous]

Grill some marinated chicken, cool and freeze.

We like to make Greek souvlaki with lemon marinated chicken, but you can also serve over pasta or rice.

How about good quality hot dogs for a cookout? The hot dogs with a snappy skin such as Sahlen's brand are really good. Have some toppings prepared ahead of time and serve on good quality rolls. Have make ahead pasta salad and fruit on the side.

[Anonymous]

Per above, if you are local Butcher's Alley has excellent hot dogs (which would not have occurred to me to serve to guests but I'd do it with some other sausages & throw them all on the grill).

A PP suggested making mashed potatoes & freezing them. Would not recommend - freezing doesn't do good things to the texture of potatoes. But, you can make ahead potatoes easily - just mash them & add butter, sour cream, cream cheese, put in casserole & put paprika on top. Reheat for 45-60 min at 350, covered.

https://www.reddit.com/r/cookingforbeginners/comments/kk0y09/learn_from_my_mistake_cooked_potatoes_dont_go_in/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws are visiting for ten days at the end of May. I was thinking this morning that it'd be great to find some recipes that could be partially or wholly prepared in advance and then frozen, to make things less hectic when it actually comes time to cook.

The only recipes that came to mind are 60s frankenfoods involving cans of cream of mushroom. Delicious for sure, but... it'd be nice to add more, erm, elevated recipes to the rotation.

In the comments on some NYT recipe, someone mentioned freezing chicken thighs in marinade, to pull out the night before. Hacks like that are really intriguing, too!

Limitations: MIL won't eat lamb or fish or bell pepper. Husband and kids have zero spice tolerance, otherwise will eat anything.

Thank you in advance, it's gonna be quite a week!

Why not 1) hire a personal chef for the week 2) dine at a restaurant where you won't have to worry about cooking?

Oh DCUM. So reliably out of touch.

Right? Let me hire a chef. No problem!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grill some marinated chicken, cool and freeze.

We like to make Greek souvlaki with lemon marinated chicken, but you can also serve over pasta or rice.

How about good quality hot dogs for a cookout? The hot dogs with a snappy skin such as Sahlen's brand are really good. Have some toppings prepared ahead of time and serve on good quality rolls. Have make ahead pasta salad and fruit on the side.

If you want to do fancy hot dogs, I highly recommend preparing them a la Wolfgang Puck Hot Dog Melts recipe — they are definitely a little extra and delicious
https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hot-dog-melts