166 ahead recipes

No-cook cranberry relish with crisp celery, fresh apple, and a hit of lemon. Make it a day ahead and let the flavors meld for your Thanksgiving spread.

Brown rice summer salad with tarragon vinaigrette, fresh vegetables, peas, and pimentos. Low-fat, no-mayo, and served cold. A make-ahead side dish for hot weather meals.

Sweet potato whip blended with carrots, chicken broth, nonfat yogurt, and cinnamon for a lighter, less sugary take on mashed sweet potatoes. A great make-ahead holiday side.

Mulled summer fruits in Chenin Blanc, a make-ahead dessert of peaches, berries, and apricots soaked in spiced white wine syrup. Served chilled with sorbet or whipped cream.

A no-cook marinated string bean salad with mushrooms, cucumber, cauliflower, and pimentos in a tangy champagne vinegar dressing. Make ahead, fat-free, perfect for picnics and potlucks.

Bean burrito casserole layers tortillas with pinto beans, brown rice, and scallions under a homemade chili-spiked enchilada sauce. Vegetarian make-ahead Mexican casserole baked in one dish.

Five-bean salad with green, navy, lima, garbanzo, and kidney beans tossed with bell pepper, celery, and onion in a sweet-tangy vinegar marinade. The make-ahead potluck classic, vegan friendly.

Rainbow meringue torte: four crisp meringue discs layered with chocolate, mint chip, and strawberry ice cream, topped with whipped cream and toasted almonds. A make-ahead frozen showpiece dessert.

Fresh cherry sauce simmered with white wine and lemon juice, pureed smooth, then studded with whole cherries. Nutmeg and cayenne add quiet warmth. A make-ahead sauce for pork, duck, or game.

Asian-style stuffed mushrooms with crispy bacon, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and garlic in a savory bread crumb filling. Blanched caps keep their shape, and they're make-ahead friendly.

Spicy pear relish simmered with whole cloves, cinnamon, lemon slices, and sugar. A make-ahead condiment that pairs with roast chicken and turkey, or doubles as a warm dessert.

Mayo-free pasta salad with marinated artichoke hearts, alfalfa sprouts, black olives, and red wine vinegar. The artichoke marinade doubles as the dressing in this tangy, make-ahead side.

Par-cooked balti meat is a Birmingham-curry-house technique: meat simmered with masala paste then frozen for fast curry assembly. A make-ahead British-Indian meal prep base.

Old-fashioned oxtail soup with rice, carrots, celery, and tomatoes simmered for hours until the meat falls off the bone. A make-ahead family recipe that develops deeper flavor on day two.

Cranberry-apple Stilton bites on Melba toast with port-braised fruit, creamy blue cheese, and chopped walnuts. A make-ahead holiday appetizer that balances sweet, salty, and funky in one bite.

Mango Splash cocktail with fresh mango puree, curacao, lime juice, and sparkling wine. An elegant brunch drink or party cocktail with a make-ahead puree base. Non-alcoholic option with ginger ale.