Make Ahead Dinner Party

Nothing makes a dinner party easier than having all of the food done ahead of time.  This way you can relax and enjoy your guests instead of being a slave to your kitchen. Here is a classic and simple make-ahead dinner party menu that will still wow your guests.


Beef Tenderloin with a Horseradish cream sauce
Serves 10

Ingredients:
1  5 lb beef tenderloin
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
2/3 cup prepared horseradish
2 Tbsp chopped chives

Beef Tenderloin:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Rub the tenderloin with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Roast the tenderloin for 15 minutes and then turn the oven down to 350 degrees and roast for another 25 minutes (the tenderloin will be medium rare).
Take it out of the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes. When you are ready to serve dinner, slice the tenderloin to your desired thickness and serve room temperature.

Horseradish cream sauce:
In a bowl, mix the heavy cream until it starts to thicken a bit. Fold in the sour cream, horseradish, chives. Season with salt and pepper.


Twice Baked Potatoes
Makes 10

Ingredients:
5 Lg baking potatoes
3 Tbsp butter
1-16 oz sour cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
4 scallions- chopped
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Pierce the potatoes with a knife and bake for an hour or until soft.
When cool enough to handle,  cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the inside, keeping the skin in tact.
Mix the potato, and the rest of the ingredients in a mixer until well combined.
Spoon the mixture back into the skins.
(At this point they can be individually wrapped in plastic wrap and put in the freezer)
Bake the potatoes for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.


Roasted Asparagus
serves 10

Ingredients:
2 lbs asparagus
olive oil
4 garlic cloves- minced
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Wash the asparagus and cut off the tough ends.
Lay them on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic, salt and pepper over the asparagus.
Bake them from 8-10 minutes.

*Prepare these ahead of time and then pop them in the oven as you are slicing the tenderloin.