166 ahead recipes

Marinated vegetable toss with tomatoes, radishes, red onion, celery, and cucumber in Italian dressing, chilled overnight. A crunchy, make-ahead side salad with no cooking required.

Creamy ambrosia fruit salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, coconut, mini marshmallows, and sour cream. A no-cook, make-ahead holiday side dish.

Salmon cucumber rounds with canned salmon, yogurt cheese, lemon zest, and tarragon piped onto crisp cucumber slices. A light, make-ahead party appetizer.

Spicy marinated shrimp for a crowd with 10 pounds of shrimp soaked overnight in olive oil, cider vinegar, capers, and hot sauce. A make-ahead party appetizer that serves 20.

Port-soaked dried figs stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped with a whole almond. An elegant make-ahead appetizer or dessert bite that needs overnight chilling.

Concia is a Roman Jewish dish of fried zucchini layered with garlic, fresh basil, and white wine vinegar. A make-ahead antipasto that improves overnight.

Tangy cabbage relish simmered in red wine vinegar with tomatoes, Dijon mustard, turmeric, and warm spices. Makes ahead beautifully and keeps for 5 days.

Grapefruit segments in lemon sugar syrup with a splash of gin or orange juice. An elegant, refreshing citrus dessert that can be prepped ahead.

Garlic marinated olives with lemon, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns, and sherry. A make-ahead antipasto jar that gets better every day in the fridge.

Marinated asparagus bundles tied with blanched green onion strips and marinated in red wine vinegar with oregano and tarragon. An elegant make-ahead appetizer.

Overnight porridge with cracked wheat, rolled oats, molasses, and dried fruit soaked overnight then cooked in minutes. A hearty, make-ahead whole grain breakfast with no added sugar.

Freezer burritos with mashed black beans, rice, sauteed onions, garlic, and tomato sauce rolled in flour tortillas. A vegetarian make-ahead meal prep staple that freezes beautifully for fast lunches or breakfasts.

Low-fat marinated vegetable platter with crisp broccoli, carrots, celery, red pepper, olives, and artichoke hearts in tangy Italian dressing. Make-ahead appetizer that gets better as it chills.

Homemade Kahlua: a rich coffee liqueur from a slow-simmered coffee syrup, vanilla and vodka. Cheaper than store-bought, make-ahead, and a great gift for cocktails or pouring over ice cream.

Chicken and chili stew with browned drumsticks, white beans, cherry tomatoes, and chili powder, finished with fresh cilantro. A make-ahead one-pot stew loaded with garnish options.

Frozen fruit juice slush with green tea, orange juice, lemonade, and rum or vodka. A make-ahead boozy slush punch for parties and summer gatherings.