I'm leaving town for a friend's surgery from 12/16 to 12/23. I come back the
evening of the 23rd and am doing a family Christmas Eve dinner 12/24.
To boot I may be working 'til pm on the 24th. No, this isn't a ploy for
sympathy but prayers wouldn't hurt.

Anyway I figure I'll make and freeze as many things as possible before the
16th. The menu I am considering is below interspersed with questions on what
I can realistically freeze with good results and I would be really greatful
for feedback and suggestions for how to survive all of this. I would really
appreciate suggestions for different/other good tried and true dishes for
freezing in advance. It's not a super large group and the atmosphere is
pretty casual, but I still want it to be as simple as possible given the
time I have. (oh and the vegans usually bring a thing of their own so I'm
not neglecting them :-D). Thanks in advance.

apps:
Eggplant caponata (make in advance) with crostini
Mushroom Ragout on crostini
Cheese etc.

hot:
*** Oyster Chowder (can I make this and freeze it?)
Hearty veggie tagine for the vegans
*** Swedish Meatballs (make and freeze?)
*** mashed taters with gruyere and some w/o (can I make and freeze cheesy
taters?)
Fresh citrus on baby lettuces with blood orange dressing

dessert:
cookies (made and frozen in advance?), truffles, etc
maybe a flourless chocolate torte (made and frozen in advance?)


cheers, rox

That's 2pm the 24th. No, I haven't lost my mind completely :-)

"rox formerly rmg" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm leaving town for a friend's surgery from 12/16 to 12/23. I come back
the
> evening of the 23rd and am doing a family Christmas Eve dinner 12/24.
> To boot I may be working 'til pm on the 24th. No, this isn't a ploy for
> sympathy but prayers wouldn't hurt.
>
> Anyway I figure I'll make and freeze as many things as possible before the
> 16th. The menu I am considering is below interspersed with questions on
what
> I can realistically freeze with good results and I would be really
greatful
> for feedback and suggestions for how to survive all of this. I would
really
> appreciate suggestions for different/other good tried and true dishes for
> freezing in advance. It's not a super large group and the atmosphere is
> pretty casual, but I still want it to be as simple as possible given the
> time I have. (oh and the vegans usually bring a thing of their own so I'm
> not neglecting them :-D). Thanks in advance.
>
> apps:
> Eggplant caponata (make in advance) with crostini
> Mushroom Ragout on crostini
> Cheese etc.
>
> hot:
> *** Oyster Chowder (can I make this and freeze it?)
> Hearty veggie tagine for the vegans
> *** Swedish Meatballs (make and freeze?)
> *** mashed taters with gruyere and some w/o (can I make and freeze cheesy
> taters?)
> Fresh citrus on baby lettuces with blood orange dressing
>
> dessert:
> cookies (made and frozen in advance?), truffles, etc
> maybe a flourless chocolate torte (made and frozen in advance?)
>
>
> cheers, rox
>
>

"rox formerly rmg" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm leaving town for a friend's surgery from 12/16 to 12/23. I come back the
> evening of the 23rd and am doing a family Christmas Eve dinner 12/24.
> To boot I may be working 'til pm on the 24th. No, this isn't a ploy for
> sympathy but prayers wouldn't hurt.
>
> Anyway I figure I'll make and freeze as many things as possible before the
> 16th. The menu I am considering is below interspersed with questions on what
> I can realistically freeze with good results and I would be really greatful
> for feedback and suggestions for how to survive all of this. I would really
> appreciate suggestions for different/other good tried and true dishes for
> freezing in advance. It's not a super large group and the atmosphere is
> pretty casual, but I still want it to be as simple as possible given the
> time I have. (oh and the vegans usually bring a thing of their own so I'm
> not neglecting them :-D). Thanks in advance.
>
> apps:
> Eggplant caponata (make in advance) with crostini
> Mushroom Ragout on crostini
> Cheese etc.
>
> hot:
> *** Oyster Chowder (can I make this and freeze it?)
> Hearty veggie tagine for the vegans
> *** Swedish Meatballs (make and freeze?)
> *** mashed taters with gruyere and some w/o (can I make and freeze cheesy
> taters?)
> Fresh citrus on baby lettuces with blood orange dressing
>
> dessert:
> cookies (made and frozen in advance?), truffles, etc
> maybe a flourless chocolate torte (made and frozen in advance?)
>
>
> cheers, rox

I would freeze (uncooked) but ready to go - a standing rib roast. Pop it in a
slow oven uncovered fat side up till the desired temp is reached.

BTW Butterball suggests you can cook one of their turkeys frozen - it just takes
about 2 hours longer and of course it's un-stuffed and the giblet's should be
tossed. Other than that it's fine according to BB

Dimitri

rox formerly rmg wrote:
> I'm leaving town for a friend's surgery from 12/16 to 12/23. I come back the
> evening of the 23rd and am doing a family Christmas Eve dinner 12/24.
> To boot I may be working 'til pm on the 24th. No, this isn't a ploy for
> sympathy but prayers wouldn't hurt.
>
> Anyway I figure I'll make and freeze as many things as possible before the
> 16th. The menu I am considering is below interspersed with questions on what
> I can realistically freeze with good results and I would be really greatful
> for feedback and suggestions for how to survive all of this. I would really
> appreciate suggestions for different/other good tried and true dishes for
> freezing in advance. It's not a super large group and the atmosphere is
> pretty casual, but I still want it to be as simple as possible given the
> time I have. (oh and the vegans usually bring a thing of their own so I'm
> not neglecting them :-D). Thanks in advance.
>
> apps:
> Eggplant caponata

Does not freeze well but can survive refrigeration for a week.

> Mushroom Ragout

What is it?

> Cheese etc.

Will survive refrigeration well for many weeks, do not freeze.

> hot:
> *** Oyster Chowder (can I make this and freeze it?)

Depends; cream based chowders typically do not freeze well, nor do
those containing potato.

> Hearty veggie tagine for the vegans

Screw the creepy vegans.

> *** Swedish Meatballs (make and freeze?)

Meat balls freeze well, but typical white Swedish sauce does not.

> *** mashed taters with gruyere and some w/o (can I make and freeze cheesy
> taters?)

This can freeze well.

> Fresh citrus on baby lettuces with blood orange dressing

Um, no.

> dessert:
> cookies (made and frozen in advance?), truffles, etc
> maybe a flourless chocolate torte (made and frozen in advance?)

Wrapped well all will survive at room temperature for weeks.

Sheldon Reefer

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 08:41:33 GMT, rox formerly rmg wrote:

> I'm leaving town for a friend's surgery from 12/16 to 12/23.

That person is very lucky to have you as a friend!
--

Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

In article >,
"Dimitri" > wrote:
> I would freeze (uncooked) but ready to go - a standing rib roast.
> Pop it in a slow oven uncovered fat side up till the desired temp is
> reached.

Not me, Dude; but I would have one ordered at the supermarket meat
counter ready for pickup on the 23rd (or early on the 24th if need be).
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 11-19-05 - Shiksa Varnishkes.

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 08:41:33 GMT, "rox formerly rmg"
> wrote:

>I'm leaving town for a friend's surgery from 12/16 to 12/23. I come back the
>evening of the 23rd and am doing a family Christmas Eve dinner 12/24.
>To boot I may be working 'til pm on the 24th. No, this isn't a ploy for
>sympathy but prayers wouldn't hurt.
>
>Anyway I figure I'll make and freeze as many things as possible before the
>16th. The menu I am considering is below interspersed with questions on what
>I can realistically freeze with good results and I would be really greatful
>for feedback and suggestions for how to survive all of this. I would really
>appreciate suggestions for different/other good tried and true dishes for
>freezing in advance. It's not a super large group and the atmosphere is
>pretty casual, but I still want it to be as simple as possible given the
>time I have. (oh and the vegans usually bring a thing of their own so I'm
>not neglecting them :-D). Thanks in advance.
>
>apps:
>Eggplant caponata (make in advance) with crostini
>Mushroom Ragout on crostini
>Cheese etc.
>
>hot:
>*** Oyster Chowder (can I make this and freeze it?)
>Hearty veggie tagine for the vegans
>*** Swedish Meatballs (make and freeze?)
>*** mashed taters with gruyere and some w/o (can I make and freeze cheesy
>taters?)
>Fresh citrus on baby lettuces with blood orange dressing
>
>dessert:
>cookies (made and frozen in advance?), truffles, etc
>maybe a flourless chocolate torte (made and frozen in advance?)
>
>
>cheers, rox
>

Hi rox!
It sounds like you got a golden opportunity to try out one those
"vacuum sealer" machines...cook it..seal it air tight in
plastic...store it in the fridge until the day before the event...

the question for me is...would it be better storing it in the fridge
or the freezer since you are only storing it for "weeks" instead of
"months".

Bill