Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes?

Rachel Skelly

October 8, 20070 found this helpful

Cook your turkey ahead of time. When cool, slice meat from turkey and place in ziplock bags and freeze. If making homemade stuffing, prepare it in a disposable aluminum baking pan, Bake and then cool, cover with foil and freeze in pan it's baked in. Do the same for baked yams, etc.... everything can be thawed in the fridge and re-heated in the oven an hour before your meal.

If you really want to impress your in-laws with your cooking, get your turkey ready the day before Thanksgiving and refrigerate it. Get up early on Friday morning and bake it. There is nothing more that says 'it's leftover' than frozen turkey, whether you want it to be or not. Sorry, but I am not a fan of frozen cooked meat of any kind, especially poultry.

i'm so glad you asked.
i love how this idea works out!
i make my mashed potatoes weeks in advance.
i mash the potatoes as usual.
then i fold in some shredded mozzerella cheese,
some finely diced ham and 1 egg (lightly beaten).
put the mixture into a buttered casserole dish.
sprinkle the top with a mixture of bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese. Dot with butter.
cover with clear wrap and tin foil.
and freeze for up to one month
or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
before baking - remove clear wrap and replace foil.

My girlfriend (the italian home economics teacher)
calls this "Italian Potatoe Pie"

good luck.

Mashed Potato Casserole

• 5 lbs. potatoes, peeled
  
• 1 cup half and half or milk, warmed
  
• 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, room temp.
  
• 6-8 oz. French onion dip, room temp. or sour cream, optional
  
• 1 stick butter, softened
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1/4 tsp. white pepper or to taste
  
• Dry parsley and paprika to taste
  

Cook potatoes. Mash, season with salt, pepper and parsley; adding butter as needed. Add half and half, cream cheese and onion dip using whip or hand mixer. Do not over beat.

Put in a 9x13 inch greased casserole. Brush top with butter and sprinkle with parsley and/or paprika.

Bake in 350 degree F for 30 minutes. Serves 12.

Can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen. Bake for one hour at 350° to reheat.

Personal Note: I warm the cream cheese, sour cream, and half and half in the microwave at a low setting.

Any type of cassarole dishes can be made ahead of time and just placed in the fridge and baked when you need them. Deserts can be made a couple of days or more in advance also.

Holly
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 364 Posts

October 28, 20070 found this helpful

Target has some decent (Target brand) frozen and fresh cheesecakes you might like to try. I just had a free sample in the store today. The fresh ones are in the bakery section.