385 ahead recipes

Marinated bean salad with five beans (yellow, green, kidney, lima, garbanzo) and bell peppers tossed in a sweet-and-tangy brown sugar vinaigrette. Make ahead for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues.

Asian vegetable salad with pineapple, snow peas, carrots, red bell peppers, and watercress in a pineapple-ginger-soy sesame dressing. A light, colorful make-ahead side for barbecues and potlucks.

Minted peaches and melons is a fresh summer fruit salad of ripe peaches and cantaloupe in a light orange-lemon dressing, finished with chopped mint and toasted almonds. No cooking, and easy to make ahead.

Quebec poached salmon steaks gently cooked in a lemon court bouillon, chilled, then cloaked in a vivid green herb mayonnaise of spinach, parsley, scallion, and pepper. An elegant make-ahead cold salmon platter.

Polish-style fried onion seasoning: finely chopped onions browned with flour in oil, finished with a knob of butter. The make-ahead golden flavor base for Polish soups, dumplings, and gravies.

Zesty chili seasoning mix, a make-ahead blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes with a little flour to thicken. Skip the packet and season a pot of chili from scratch.

Crunchy no-mayo coleslaw with shredded red cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots tossed in a tangy tarragon-dill vinaigrette. A vibrant, make-ahead side dish that holds up at cookouts and potlucks.

Asparagus vichyssoise made in the microwave with fresh asparagus, potatoes, and skim milk. This light, low-fat cold soup is blended silky-smooth and chilled overnight for a refreshing make-ahead starter.

Make-ahead freezer bread sticks shaped, frozen unbaked, and stored for up to 4 weeks. Thaw, rise, brush with egg wash, sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds, and bake fresh whenever you need them.

Marinated cucumber and red bell pepper salad: crisp cucumber, sweet pepper, and slippery bean thread noodles tossed in Italian dressing and basil, chilled until they soak up the tang. A light, make-ahead salad.

Blueberries in black pepper Syrah syrup soaks fresh berries in a reduced red-wine syrup laced with vanilla and freshly cracked black pepper. A sophisticated make-ahead dessert for dinner parties.

Easy to prepare, and this German potato salad is very flavorful and tasty. Make it a day ahead, let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight, it tastes even better next day.

A showpiece blueberry pie with 7 cups of fresh berries in a glossy orange glaze, nestled in a homemade orange-zest crust. Served chilled and can be made a day ahead.

Cold bow-tie pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, black olives, cucumbers, radishes, and roasted sunflower seeds in a tangy lemon dressing. A crunchy, make-ahead side dish that's best chilled overnight.

Southern-style marinated vegetable salad with green beans, shoe peg corn, peas, pimentos, and onion rings in a sweet red wine vinegar dressing. A classic make-ahead side dish for potlucks.

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.