1,078 ahead recipes

Cranberry-ginger relish cooked with fresh ginger and orange juice into a thick, tangy condiment. Make it up to a month ahead for Thanksgiving or holiday dinners.

Make-ahead frozen French toast using Texas toast soaked in an egg, milk, vanilla, and nutmeg custard. Freeze, then bake from frozen for a quick hot breakfast.

Peanut butter cup cheesecake on a chocolate cookie-peanut crust, loaded with chopped peanut butter cups and finished with a vanilla sour cream topping. Make-ahead friendly.

Brown rice salad tossed with French dressing, water chestnuts, snow peas, mushrooms, and red bell pepper. A crunchy, make-ahead cold rice salad for potlucks and picnics.

Vinaigrette potato salad with olive oil, lemon, white wine, and Dijon mustard instead of mayonnaise. A lighter make-ahead potato salad with hard-boiled eggs and shallots.

Double peanut butter sandwich cookies with peanut butter in the dough and between two slices. A slice-and-bake cookie with freezable dough for make-ahead baking.

Cranberry fool dessert with homemade orange and star anise cranberry sauce swirled into whipped cream. A make-ahead holiday dessert that chills for up to 6 hours.

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.

Sweet tea punch with orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and ginger ale, garnished with fresh mint. A make-ahead party punch for bridal showers and weddings.

Honey lemonade sweetened with a honey-water syrup instead of sugar. Make the syrup ahead and mix individual glasses all week for a naturally sweetened summer drink.

Baked cheese and spinach fondue with cubed white bread, eggs, and American cheese in a savory custard. A make-ahead brunch casserole that's part strata, part souffle.

Southwest pasta salad with a creamy cilantro-lime-jalapeno dressing, fresh tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and zucchini. A zesty make-ahead side that chills in an hour.

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.

Split pea soup brightened with lemon zest and juice, loaded with carrots, potatoes, bacon, and Canadian bacon. A hearty, make-ahead soup with an unexpected citrus lift.