Make life easy on yourself this Thanksgiving and get all of the cooking done ahead of time. From a gorgeous pomegranate sangria to an impressive pumpkin torte, all of these recipes can be made a day or two in advance, so you can kick back on Thanksgiving day and enjoy your guests.
This beautiful, bold sangria is made from red wine, pomegranate juice, brandy, orange liqueur and autumn fruit. Go ahead and make it ahead of time -- it's best when the fruit has a chance to steep in the punch overnight. Cheers! GET THE RECIPE
Sweet, salty, spicy, and rosemary-infused, these nuts are the perfect nibbling food. Serve them with cocktails, enjoy them as a snack or give them as a gift. But don't say I didn't warn you: they are crazy addictive! GET THE RECIPE
This has got to be the easiest butternut squash soup recipe ever. You start with pre-cut squash from the supermarket, then you basically throw everything in a pot, simmer it, purée it and you're done. It's still everything you expect a classic butternut squash soup to be: silky, slightly sweet and full of flavor. GET THE RECIPE
Made with crisp power greens, toasted walnuts, chunks of Parmesan and a lemony Dijon dressing -- this salad tastes like a healthful, crunchy Caesar. Unlike most salads, it benefits from being made ahead of time. GET THE RECIPE
Instead of roasting a huge bird this year, try this rolled turkey breast with sausage stuffing. It's so much more flavorful than your typical roast turkey and cooks in just 1-1/4 hours. What's more, it can be made entirely ahead of time and is a cinch to carve. GET THE RECIPE
This down-home sweet potato dish is always a big hit. Like most sweet potato dishes, it straddles the line between sweet and savory -- it's meant to be a side dish but you might be inclined to eat it for dessert. To crisp up the top before serving, gently reheat in the oven. GET THE RECIPE
This simple and elegant recipe involves slowly cooking shallots in olive oil to coax out their natural sweetness, and then simmering them with string beans until tender. Make it ahead of time and reheat in the microwave. GET THE RECIPE
This tender cornbread is flavored with corn, Cheddar cheese and fresh thyme. Make it the morning of Thanksgiving and reheat at dinnertime. GET THE RECIPE
It's not Thanksgiving without a pumpkin dessert. With a tender pecan crust, pumpkin pie filling, and crunchy oat streusel topping, this torte is like a cross between pumpkin pie and coffee cake. It looks elaborate, but takes only 30 minutes to put together! GET THE RECIPE