Discussions

I think every Christmas I look for recipes that I can make a few days or maybe a couple of weeks before our family gathering but so far I really haven't found what I am looking for. Does anyone have any recipes (nothing fancy, we are a 'meat and potatoes' kind of family) which can be prepared a few days ahead and refrigerated or frozen, ready to pop in the oven if it needs to be baked? What tried and true recipes can you share. Yes, I have searched online but most of what I find seem rather fancy. I also seem to lack oven space this time of year and suggestions of foods that can be heated together would be great too. (I do have a countertop roaster and a warming tray which has helped.)You would think at the age of 60 with 35 years of marriage (and at least 32 years of preparing a Christmas meal) I would have it all figured out by now but I need some help. Gone are the days of all night preparations.

If you don't actually stuff your bird, you can make and freeze stuffing

We prepare the mashed potatoes ahead. Sometimes will use a recipe that uses cream cheese etc. Place in crockpot the day (or maybe 2 days) ahead. Then put the crock pot on low Christmas day. You do need to stir often or it will stick.  
 
I usually prepare a vegetable casserole dish the day before and just bake or reheat Christmas day. Prepare most of my salad the day before, then just reheat. There are lots of make ahead stuffing crockpot recipes as well (if you don't stuff the bird).

For your help so far. Every year I make plans to get salads and such prepared the day ahead and almost every year the day before gets very busy and I will admit I am a terrible procrastinator. There are several recipes which would cause great disappointment if I didn't prepare them for our family. One of these is a perogie casserole. I would like to make it ahead and freeze it, but the packaged perogies say not to refreeze if thawed. Any ideas for something similar that can be frozen?

If your perogie casserole is like mine (uses frozen perogies, mushroom soup, cheese etc) I would think you could mix it in advance then freeze. I never defrost my perogies first I just mix then bake. So if you mixed the other ingredients with the frozen perogies (not leaving them out long enough to defrost) I am sure you would be fine to freeze. But you may be using a different recipe than mine.

I have always thawed the perogies because I fit as many as I can into the bakeware. I have done a little more searching though and I have found a perogie lasagna which I may try. It is very similar. Maybe it is time for a bit of a change up.

I do stuffing in the crock pot and make potato or sweet potatoe casserole ahead of time. Just reheat. Buy premade jellied salads. Some coleslaw, buns...

You can roast your turkey ahead of time; several in our family roast it in advance of the big day. Eliminates the cleanup of the roasting pan the day of your big meal and can also free up some oven space as the turkey is also carved in advance and the sliced meat is put into a smaller baking dish or slow cooker. Can pm you details if you wish.

This is what I plan on doing. It will save a lot of time. I will be better able to enjoy my day.

Sounds great. I have done it in the morning and kept it in the electric roaster at 170* but haven't made it any further ahead than that. Grandmama, I would love it if you can send me your info. I will log in on my computer a bit later ... Unfortunately I can't open my private mail on my iPhone.

Doreen Winona Logeot said "Sounds great. I have done it in the morning and kept it in the electric roaster at 170* but haven't made it any further ahead than that. Grandmama, I would love it if you can send me your info. I will log in on my computer a bit later ... Unfortunately I can't open my private mail on my iPhone. "

to you Doreen Winona Logeot

I cook turkey with stuffing the day ahead. I carve turkey, put in a roaster. Christmas day I add about one inch of chicken broth and put in the oven on low heat. My husband says it is more moist and loves it this way. I reheat stuffing in microwave. I save the juices, etc. to make a gravy.

Meatballs, i always have a bunch made ahead of time allready cooked and frozen just have to add saucw and heat up. I also do home made buns the day before. And well deserts i make a few weeks ahead