Cooking/preparing food in advance question:)

lostinrates

I normally only cook in advance freeer stuff, but I'm struggling this weekend and I'm trying to pace my self (have a house ful of people, not feeling brilliant and timings to collect from different train stations etc.

Could I now prepare a salad for tonight? (raw veg dressed with lemon juice) or would it taste ''not fresh''/dry and better to do just before serving. I have the rest of this meal under control.

Could I today prepare a trifle (minus cream and custard) and a summer pudding for sunday -I'd normally do this tomorrow.:o

Gigervamp

I'd prepare the salad and bung it in the fridge with clingfilm over the bowl, but don't put the dressing on until just before serving.

The trifle should be fine made today too.

misskool

Yes to both. Leave the dressing out of the salad until serving.

Cook as much as possible in advance too if you're not feeling great. Most things will keep a day or 2. only fish/shellfish will taste too weird if reheated.

lostinrates

Thank you both. I'm good at freezer in advance, but try and make everything else with ''perfect timings'' or choose better what can fridge keep: everything just has gone worng today!

Right: off to prep puds and salads.