Recipe(tried): Freeze Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes - Frozen Cranberry Salad, Potato Casserole, Creamed Spinach, Quick and Easy Pecan Pie

I'm always on the lookout for freezer-friendly recipes. I have a small kitchen and do better with things that can be made well ahead. On this website I've found a recipe for Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow Clouds that says it can be frozen - I'm going to try that one this year. Cranberry bread freezes well. Dessert ideas include pumpkin ice cream pie or pumpkin cheesecake. Easy sides to throw together on Thanksgiving Day are a salad with bagged greens, dried cranberries, crumbled bleu cheese, toasted nuts and cranberry or raspberry vinaigrette; peas jazzed up with toasted hazelnuts, and the old faithful green bean casserole. Below are some tried and true recipes that I've made and frozen successfully many times. Good luck!!

Frozen Cranberry Salad

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (16 oz.) can whole cranberry sauce
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (9 oz.) container Cool Whip, thawed

In large bowl, combine milk and lemon juice. Sire in cranberry sauce, pineapple and nuts. Fold in Cool Whip. Spoon into muffin tins lined with cupcake liners to make serving easy (or turn into 9 x 13 pan). Freeze. If you make in muffin tins, you can transfer to another container once frozen. Makes about 20-24 servings. Keeps a long time in the freezer.

Potato Casserole

10 medium potatoes, peeled & boiled
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk, scalded
8 oz. package cream cheese
1/4 tsp. pepper

Whip potatoes and butter. Add remaining ingredients and whip until light and fluffy. Place in buttered casserole. Dot with small pieces of butter. Refrigerate or freeze. Bring to room temperature before baking. Bake 325 degrees about 30 minutes or till heated through.

Creamed Spinach

2 cups milk
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
Pinch nutmeg
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the milk to simmering in a small pot over low heat. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook until pale blond, stirring often. Add the hot milk all at once and stir until smooth and thick and the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to cook about 3 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg, garlic and spinach and cook 3 to 5 minutes over low heat until the spinach is hot. Season to taste. Can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen. Defrost and reheat.

Quick and Easy Pecan Pie

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 eggs, well beaten
1 cup pecan halves
9-inch unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together sugars, syrup and butter. Add eggs and pecans, stir well, and pour into pie shell. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until set and golden. Can be made in advance and frozen. Serve with whipped cream.