Make-Ahead Preparation
Bernadette
05/10/06 		Dear Ellen, I am having a graduation party for 100 and my menu includes: Turkey salad, Baked Ham, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese. Can I prepare any of these 3 days ahead? Thank you.
ellen
05/10/06 		The turkeys can be roasted 3 days ahead. So can the ham, if you are going to slice and serve cold. The potatoes can be boiled (I would boil with the skins on and peel right before making the salad). The mac for the salad and mac and cheese can be done one day ahead, drained chilled and coated with salad oil or olive oil. All the salads can be mixed 124 hours ahead if you have enough refrigerator space to keep them really cold- DO NOT leave them out for a few hours before chilling.

With this menu, I would probably use slaw instead of mac salad.

sharon
05/12/06 		Ellen: Thanks for all your infomation. I am also serving potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, broccoli/cauliflower salad for a wedding reception. I need to make a great deal of each and would like to know if it is (health) safe to make these (except coleslaw) on Thurs for a party on Saturday and put them in clean/sterilized 5 gallon containers. I do have the room to refrigerate them.
ellen
05/12/06 		This is not really such a huge amount. If you use a vinegrette, the broc/caul can be made up to 48-72 hours ahead. Thursday is too early for mac and potato; do just the day before, cole slaw can be made the day befrore as long as you use coarsely shredded, not fine or ground, but will need to be drained the day of and possible some fresh dressing added. The problem with the 5 gallon containers is they are too deep to chill fast enough; you want to keep the depth to 4 inches or less to chill.
sharon
05/13/06 		Thanks Ellen. I really didn't make myself real clear when I was giving you "huge" amounts. I have to make a minimum of 60 lbs of potato salad for example. From your note, I will refridgerate them in smaller containers and when they a fully chilled I'll transfer them to the 5 gallon containers. This way I'll be sure they are chilled all the way through and health safe.
ellen
05/13/06 		Excellent plan!