Which Christmas Dinner Dishes Can I Make Ahead?
Good Questions

Q: I am making Christmas Eve Dinner and this is the menu:

French Onion Soup
Crown Roast of Lamb
Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
French Bread
Dessert: Bûche de Noël

I am wondering if any of these recipes can be made ahead other than the Crown Roast of Lamb?

Sent by Amy

Editor: Amy, we'd love to come over to your house for Christmas dinner! Sounds like you and your guests are in for a real treat.

Quite a bit of this meal can be made ahead, we think. You're right that the crown roast could be made ahead and then re-heated. Just be sure to under-cook it a bit initially so that it doesn't dry out while re-heating.

The French Onion Soup can be made several days ahead (in fact, we think the flavor improves overnight!), and then re-heated with the crouton topping at the last minute. The french bread can be baked, frozen, and re-heated in a warm oven before serving and the Bûche de Noël can be made a day or two ahead. Even the Brussels sprouts salad should keep for several hours if you want to make it in the morning.

Readers, what are you making for Christmas dinner? Are you making anything ahead?

Next question?

(Image: Martha Stewart)

Comments (3)

brussels sprouts need to be cooked right before, but you can get all the chopping and prep done ahead of time, store it in gallon-size ziplocs and it will make it come together much quicker!

If you don't have room to store your whole soup pot, you can just caramelize the onions in advance--just scrape the pan REALLY good so you don't miss any of the good bits. I second prepping the brussel sprouts the day before too--they are much hardier than other leafy vegetables and will not show that they've been pre-chopped.

I am cooking Bouef bourguinon for 27 people. I am cooking it tomorrow and will re-heat it for Christmas Day dinner.