Answers from Expert: Canadian Living Test Kitchen Staff

There are many side dishes you can make ahead that will be just as nice the next day. If you boil green beans or baby carrots until tender-crisp in salted water, then chill them in ice water and drain them thoroughly, they will take only a couple of minutes to reheat in a pan on top of the stove. Just toss them with a little butter and/or olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper for a very quick and easy vegetable side dish. You can also make mashed potatoes ahead if you add some extra fat to the recipe in the form of butter, sour cream, full-fat cream cheese or cream (this will prevent them from going hard). Just reheat in the oven or microwave and stir or whip until smooth again. If they do go a bit hard, just reheat them as directed, then add in some hot milk and a bit of butter and re-mash until smooth. Also, if you look in holiday or Christmas cookbooks, many of them will have useful tips for making side dishes ahead, as this is a time when many people entertain large groups and don't want to be making things last-minute. I hope this helps you out. Best, Annabelle Waugh Canadian Living and Homemakers Test Kitchens