299 ahead recipes

Smoky salmon cheese ball made with canned salmon, cream cheese, horseradish, and liquid smoke, rolled in pecans and parsley. A no-cook make-ahead appetizer for parties.

Shrimp cheese ball with cream cheese, horseradish, lemon juice, and liquid smoke rolled in toasted pecans and parsley. A make-ahead party appetizer with real boiled shrimp.

Cheddar and cream cheese ball with sherry, ripe olives, and Worcestershire, rolled in dried beef. Make-ahead appetizer that improves with a few days in the fridge.

Pita chicken sandwiches with sauteed breast, caramelized onions, and a cool yogurt-cucumber sauce, chilled and wrapped for portable eating. A make-ahead lunch or picnic sandwich.

Overnight Chinese pasta salad with cool rice vermicelli, snow peas, cucumber, shrimp and crab in a sesame-ginger dressing. A make-ahead potluck favorite with serious crunch.

Strawberry ice cream pie with a spiced shortbread crust and a swirl of warm fudge topping. Make-ahead frozen dessert that comes together in under 30 minutes.

Freezer-mix lasagna layers cottage cheese, mozzarella, Swiss, and Parmesan over a make-ahead beef-tomato sauce base. A retro time-saver dinner pulled from the freezer.

Frozen cranberry slices with cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, sour cream, and pecans. A make-ahead holiday salad that slices clean and keeps for weeks in the freezer.

Classic French country pate with ground pork and veal marinated overnight in white wine and brandy, lined with fatback, and baked in a water bath until firm. A make-ahead appetizer.

Sausage and beef party rye appetizers with melted Velveeta, oregano, and hot sauce. A make-ahead freezer appetizer that broils up bubbly and hot straight from the freezer.

Grilled corn and tomato salad tosses smoky charred corn kernels with sweet cherry tomatoes, red onion, and a light rice vinegar dressing. A make-ahead summer side that's even better the next day.

Tangy potted cheese spread with sharp cheddar, port wine, caraway seeds, mustard, and Worcestershire topped with walnuts. A make-ahead British-style appetizer for crackers or Melba toast.

Make-ahead egg casserole with milk-soaked bread, Swiss cheese, and crispy bacon. Assemble the night before, bake in the morning. Brunch for four with almost no effort.

Chinese-style drunken chicken salad marinated overnight in sherry, then served cold on red lettuce with toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, and scallions. Elegant, refreshing, and make-ahead friendly.

Shrimp ceviche "cooked" in fresh lime juice with green onions and capers, folded with homemade creme fraiche. An elegant make-ahead appetizer served on lettuce or scallop shells.

Flour tortillas stuffed with chicken, green chiles, black olives, sharp cheddar, and Monterey Jack in a creamy chicken soup sauce. Make ahead, freeze, and bake when you're ready.