212 ahead recipes

Asparagus lasagne with a lemon-nutmeg white sauce, ricotta, Swiss cheese, and Canadian bacon. A spring twist on classic lasagna with make-ahead steps for easy entertaining.

Slice-and-bake butterscotch cookies with brown sugar, cinnamon, and a make-ahead frozen dough. Press into loaf pans, freeze, then slice thin and bake whenever the craving hits.

Make-ahead oven French toast with orange juice and zest in the custard, baked over a honey-cinnamon glaze. Soak overnight, bake the next morning, served with whipped orange-honey butter.

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

Double chocolate slice-and-bake refrigerator cookies with melted chocolate, mini chips, and a hint of cinnamon. Make-ahead dough freezes for 2 months.

Quick rhubarb mint chutney with lemon juice, sugar, and onion. Tangy-sweet condiment for lamb, ready in 30 minutes. Make up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate.

German-style potato salad with boiled potatoes, diced apple, onion, dill relish, and hard-boiled eggs in a creamy mustard-mayo dressing. A cold, make-ahead Kartoffelsalat.

Marinated mushroom salad with vinegar-poached mushrooms, blanched carrots, celery, and bell peppers dressed in oregano olive oil. A make-ahead antipasto-style cold salad.

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.

Oasis carrot salad boils carrots tender then marinates them in garlic-onion-vinegar dressing, finished with fresh cilantro and parsley. A bright, make-ahead North African-style side.

Crisp steamed asparagus on baby lettuce with toasted hazelnuts and a tarragon-Dijon vinaigrette made with hazelnut oil. An elegant make-ahead salad or appetizer.

Showstopping three-layer cappuccino torte with a nutty graham crust, thick semisweet fudge layer, and espresso chocolate buttercream. A make-ahead dessert that chills overnight.

Chilled penne pasta salad with julienned carrots, zucchini, green onions, and fresh basil in a light sesame-cream dressing. A vibrant make-ahead side dish.

Frozen white chocolate mousse cake with a vanilla wafer crust, Grand Marnier whipped cream, chopped pistachios, and fresh raspberry sauce. An elegant make-ahead dessert.