You can save time in the kitchen this Thanksgiving by making some of your dishes ahead. And, if you have the room for them, even make them well in advance and freeze them.
These dishes freeze well, and you won't lose any texture or flavor:
These dishes freeze well, and you won't lose any texture or flavor:
- Dressing/Stuffing
- Sweet potatoes if they are mashed or in casserole form
- Mashed potatoes if you use plenty of cream and butter
- Corn casseroles
- Squash casseroles
- Yeast breads and rolls
- Gravy
- Cookies
- Fruit pies (not pumpkin)- assemble, but do not bake prior to freezing. Pies may be baked from frozen state (just add a bit of extra time.)
You may be tempted to freeze the kind of pies that you can buy in the supermarket frozen- but remember, those factory-made pies have added stabilizers to make them freeze-able. That's something the home-cook cannot replicate.
To use, simply defrost in the refrigerator (except cookies and breads!) and warm in the oven.
