Many foods freeze well, especially what home economists call 'combination casseroles' that include meats, sauce, vegetables, and pasta. If you aren't sure about a recipe that you would like to freeze, go ahead and make it and serve it to your family. Reserve a small portion, wrap it, and freeze. Then thaw that portion and reheat it. If the quality is maintained through the freezing process, you'll know you can freeze the entire recipe.
For cookies, shape drop cookies into balls and freeze solid, then pack; bake frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time. For roll out cookies, divide dough into portions and shape each into a 1/2" thick disc; freeze. Let stand until thawed and shape and bake as directed. For bar cookies, line the pan with foil, press in the crust or cookie, then freeze. Remove the dough, wrap and freeze. Make the filling just before you bake the bar cookies.
Here are some of my favorite recipes for freezing ahead.
Freeze Ahead Holiday Appetizers and Beverages
Freeze Ahead Holiday Breads
- Easy Sourdough French Bread
- Herbed Oatmeal Pan Bread
- Crusty Mini-Loaves
- Golden Honey Rolls
- Yeast Pizza Crust
- Wild Rice Bread
Fabulous Holiday Cookies
- Roll Out Butter Cookies
- Mexican Tea Cakes
- Swedish Oatmeal Cookies
- California Gold Bars
- Peanut Blossoms
- Butter Pecan Turtle Cookies
- Picnic Chews
Make Ahead Holiday Desserts
- Peanut Parfait Dessert
- White Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Kahlua Frozen Mousse
- Strawberry Margarita Dessert
- Frozen Pumpkin Pie
- Fluffy Raspberry Dessert
- Coffee Almond Tart
- Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
- Caramel Apple Cake
Freeze Ahead Entrees
- Pizza Spaghetti Style
- Filo Sausage Egg Bake
- Oniony Spaghetti Sauce
- Overnight Lasagna
- Sicilian Supper
- Vegetarian Lasagna
- Chicken Ziti Casserole
- Chicken Potato Casserole
- Chicken Tortellini Casserole
- Tuna Alfredo Casserole
- Pork Chops with Cheesy Hash Brown Potatoes
- Veggie Pasta Shells
- Chili Rice Casserole
Frozen Holiday Salads
- Divinity Frozen Fruit Salad
- Frosty Fresh Fruit
- Carrot Pineapple Frappe
- Frozen Banana Salad
- Freezer Coleslaw
