Easter Dinner planning ahead

PhillyGal34

We are having an Easter open house for DH's family and mine.  We plan on basically having my family over for lunch and his for dinner but I am sure people will come and go throughout.  Since I have to cook for about 30 people I want to start planning ahead. I was just wondering what I can make in the weeks before so that I just have to heat it/ finish cooking it that day.

 

Thanks!

ScissortailFlycatcher

Depends on the type of food you are planning.

At my inlaws it's potluck style. Everyone brings a side dish or dessert, and the person hosting makes the ham, turkey or whatever main meat.

Not knowing what you're cooking makes it difficult to know what can be cooked ahead of time. But, most prep work can be done the day before. If you're having cut veggies and dip, cheese and cracker you can cut and plate those the day before and store with plastic wrap in the fridge. Same with deviled eggs.

 

 

getitdone

As pp said - it depends on what your menu contains, but if you are having a fruit salad or potato salad, you can make those the day before.

PhillyGal34

As far as a menu I was thinking: 

Glazed ham

a potato dish- Not sure which kind- possibly twice baked potatoes as they are a favorite in my family

pineapple stuffing- I was thinking this may be able to be frozen 

a few veggies (asparagus, corn, carrots)

a pasta dish for those who do not eat meat

a salad- I'll make the dressing the day before 

possibly a quiche for the brunch crew

I am not sure what else I will add but that is the main menu.

 

and then desserts 

ScissortailFlycatcher

PhillyGal34:

As far as a menu I was thinking: 

pineapple stuffing- I was thinking this may be able to be frozen I'd be cautious freezing the stuffing, it could get mushy when you reheat.

a salad- I'll make the dressing the day before Are you talking green salad? This can be made the night before too, just don't add the dressing.

possibly a quiche for the brunch crew I belive quiche can be prepped ahead and cooked before you eat. That's what my mom did with a quiche-ish dish a few years ago.

Those are the only ones I know about.

Last year I bought this 3-tier rack for my mom, from Williams Sonoma, it works perfect. It organized the oven so we could fit the turkey and 3 13x9 pans. We actually had 2 13x9s and 2 8x8s on the middle shelf. It was a lifesaver with 25 people for dinner.

For the things you can't prep the night before, or don't fit in the oven just taper your cooking schedule. Pick a few main items to be ready at 11, put in the next couple dishes and then serve when they are ready.

Timeline to fit what your doing, since it's an open house style not everything needs to be ready at once, imo.

PhillyGal34

that rack looks amazing!!!! I am looking into it now! 

 

thank you for your input and advice! 

MrsW101109

If you plan to make a pasta dish ahead, you can definitely make a lasagna and freeze it.

SueBear

You can make a strata, which is an egg and bread dish.  It's brunch-y / lunchy, but they are often savory and can definately be made ahead.