299 ahead recipes

Enchilada casserole layered with corn tortillas, a prepped beef-tomato freezer mix, olives, and two cheeses. A make-ahead Mexican-style casserole that pulls dinner from the freezer to the table.

Marinated asparagus steams fresh spears, then chills them in a bright orange and lemon vinaigrette with cayenne. A make-ahead spring side dish with citrusy tang and a hint of warmth.

Easy marinated asparagus blanches fresh spears and soaks them overnight in Italian dressing for a tangy, make-ahead side dish. Cool, crisp-tender, and ready to plate on a lettuce leaf.

Mexican cheese torta: a no-cook chilled cheese ball-style mold of cream cheese, Colby, Monterey Jack, red pepper, scallions, and jalapeño. A make-ahead party centerpiece served with tortilla chips.

Russian pastries (pirozhki) with a tender cream cheese dough wrapped around savory ground beef, sour cream, dill, and chopped egg. Make-ahead friendly and freezer-stable for up to a month.

Curry garlic dip whisks mayonnaise with chili sauce, curry powder, garlic, grated onion, and Worcestershire for a make-ahead party dip. Doubles as a sauce for cold shrimp, steak, or lamb.

Marinated mushrooms simmer briefly in a tart bath of white wine, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil with shallots, garlic, and coriander. A chilled make-ahead appetizer ready in 40 minutes.

Pate Diana, a silky French-style chicken liver pate with sauteed apples, shallots, and apple wine or brandy, sealed in clarified butter. Elegant make-ahead appetizer that keeps a week chilled.

No-bake blue cheese terrine with toasted hazelnuts, hard-boiled egg, and fresh herbs set in a radicchio-lined loaf tin. A make-ahead vegetarian appetizer that slices cleanly for parties.

Pickled fish poaches mild white fillets, then bathes them overnight in a citrus-bright marinade of vinegar, orange juice, green chiles, bay leaf, and garlic. A make-ahead Mexican escabeche-style dish served cold.

A lighter Cajun mayo made with light mayonnaise and low-fat yogurt, seasoned with cumin, oregano, cayenne, and garlic salt. Mix it up a day ahead and let the spices meld overnight.

Make-ahead breakfast ring with bulk sausage, grated apple, onions, and cracker crumbs molded into a circle. Chill overnight, then bake and fill the center with scrambled eggs for impressive brunch presentation.

Italian-style green bean salad tossed with thinly sliced onions, red wine vinegar, olive oil, basil, and Parmesan. A low-calorie make-ahead side dish that gets better the longer it chills.

Asparagus simmered in orange juice and topped with sliced rounds of make-ahead ginger-orange compound butter with fresh cilantro. An elegant spring side dish that melts into a glossy finishing sauce.

Freezer-friendly spinach balls with herb stuffing, Parmesan, garlic, and eggs that bake from frozen in 20 minutes. Make 50 bite-sized appetizers ahead and pull them out whenever company shows up.

A no-cook Texas caviar dip with black-eyed peas, jalapenos, tomatoes, and bell peppers tossed in a cumin-oregano vinaigrette. The ultimate make-ahead Super Bowl snack that feeds a crowd.