For the first time, trusted and beloved cookbook author Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, answers the number one question she receives from cooks: Can I make it ahead?If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in front of the stove at your own party, scrambling to get everything to the table at just the right moment and wondering how you’ll ever be able to serve a freshly baked dessert without disappearing into the kitchen for half an hour, Ina is here to let you in on her secrets! Thanks to twenty years of running a specialty food store and fifteen years writing cookbooks, she has learned exactly which dishes you can prep, assemble, or cook completely ahead of time. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply making dinner on a hectic weeknight, Ina gives you lots of amazing recipes that taste just as good—or even better!—when they’re made in advance.   In Make It Ahead, each recipe includes clear and concise instructions for what you can do ahead of time, and how far in advance, so you can cook with confidence and eliminate those last-minute surprises. Make a big pitcher of Summer Rosé Sangria filled with red berries, let it chill overnight for the flavors to develop, and you have a delicious drink to offer your friends the minute they arrive. Simmer a pot of Wild Mushroom & Farro Soup, enjoy a bowl for lunch, and freeze the rest so you’ll have a hearty homemade meal on hand for those chilly evenings you don’t want to leave the house. You can prep the kale, Brussels sprouts, and lemon vinaigrette for Winter Slaw ahead of time and simply toss them together before lunch. Assemble French Chicken Pot Pies filled with artichokes and fresh tarragon a day in advance and then simply pop them in the oven before you’re ready to sit down to dinner. Think mashed potatoes have to be made at the last minute? You’ve obviously never cooked Ina’s Make-Ahead Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes! And for dessert, everyone needs the recipe for Ina’s Decadent (gluten-free!) Chocolate Cake that sits beautifully—if you can resist eating it right away! Top it with whipped cream you prepped earlier in the day—the secret is in this book. Ina also includes a dozen menus you can make ahead along with recipes for the biggest cooking day of the year—Thanksgiving; Ultimate Make-Ahead Roast Turkey and Gravy with Onions & Sage just may change your life.   With beautiful photographs and hundreds of invaluable make-ahead tips, this is your new go-to guide for preparing meals that are stress-free yet filled with those fabulously satisfying flavors that you have come to expect from the Barefoot Contessa.