166 ahead recipes

Homemade cranberry orange sauce studded with dried apricots and raisins. This fruity, jewel-toned holiday condiment can be made up to 4 days ahead and thickens beautifully as it chills.

Smoky chipotle salsa simmered with roma tomatoes and garlic, then pureed smooth for a deep, fiery table sauce. A bold make-ahead salsa that keeps for days and freezes well.

This lighter chocolate dessert has a bonus because it is also easy to prepare. Plan to make this recipe one day ahead to let the yogurt drain in your refrigerator.

A frozen slush punch made with cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and sugar, topped with lemon-lime soda for fizz. Make ahead and scoop out servings as needed. Makes 2 gallons.

Crispy pan-fried chicken dumplings stuffed with napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, and ginger served with a sweet-tangy orange marmalade dipping sauce. A lighter homemade potsticker you can prep ahead.

Spinach pesto appetizer: a sliceable, high-protein cheesecake-style savory loaf with spinach, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and Romano. Perfect make-ahead party food served chilled with crackers or crostini.

Rice pilaf salad tosses diced turkey, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, apples, celery, and green olives into a protein-loaded chilled salad. Perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers or make-ahead lunches.

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.

Chilled pasta shells layered with basil pesto, spinach, Roma tomatoes, black olives, and shrimp. This make-ahead Italian pasta salad is a crowd-pleasing potluck star that only gets better as it sits.

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.

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.

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.

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 marinated asparagus blanches fresh spears and soaks them overnight in Italian dressing for a tangy, make-ahead side dish. Cool, crisp-tender, and ready to plate on a lettuce leaf.