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[lilmsjess]

so we're doing a fairly traditional ceremony, but decided we're going for a "speakeasy" reception...

but we're trying to keep into theme on food, and i figured a pasta menu would be best(ya know the big italian!), but even though we'll have the place early friday am, i'm thinking i don't really know how to cook our main food choices and keep them fresh, by doing it thursday instead of cooking friday...we're having what my 1st husband calls "ghetto chicken parmesan" :rolleyes: df hates it but it's cheap and easy and actually tastes really good compared to fresh stuff...as well as spagetti and lasagna....and leftovers are no issue, it'll give us something to continue eating sunday ;)

but does anyone know how to cook these items and keep them fresh for 2 days? friday i'll be too busy, w/checkin into property, getting parents settled, etc..plus superbly early wednesday morning, i'll be driving to florida to pick up my stepson so he can attend, which puts me home early thursday evening.....-lucky my mom will keep alex, otherwise he'd go nuts, so he'll just come down with her & bf and my bro and sis.....

[ChristineLS]

so we're doing a fairly traditional ceremony, but decided we're going for a "speakeasy" reception...

but we're trying to keep into theme on food, and i figured a pasta menu would be best(ya know the big italian!), but even though we'll have the place early friday am, i'm thinking i don't really know how to cook our main food choices and keep them fresh, by doing it thursday instead of cooking friday...we're having what my 1st husband calls "ghetto chicken parmesan" :rolleyes: df hates it but it's cheap and easy and actually tastes really good compared to fresh stuff...as well as spagetti and lasagna....and leftovers are no issue, it'll give us something to continue eating sunday ;)

but does anyone know how to cook these items and keep them fresh for 2 days? friday i'll be too busy, w/checkin into property, getting parents settled, etc..plus superbly early wednesday morning, i'll be driving to florida to pick up my stepson so he can attend, which puts me home early thursday evening.....-lucky my mom will keep alex, otherwise he'd go nuts, so he'll just come down with her & bf and my bro and sis.....

First, I love your theme, that's really awesome.

Beyond refrigerating it, I don't know how to keep it fresh. As far as pasta goes, one way that we "perk up" spaghetti is to take the left overs and fry them in a little bit of oil, re-add sauce. But I'm not sure how you would do that for a large amount of pasta. The problem with spaghetti or any pasta is that it's a sponge and will absorb any liquid that it's left in for a period of time, then soften. The only thing I could think of (but PLEASE EXPERIMENT FIRST!!!) is to cook the pasta until it's still stiff, and then store it in too much sauce. The pasta will absorb some of the moisture, theoretically, and hopefully be the tenderness you want.

I'm speaking from creativity, not experience though. So take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. But we are going to have the same problem as you!

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

I also love your theme!!! (Pasta is my favorite) The first thing that popped in my head is those "sealing bags" you see on TV. They are supposed to keep the air out and make your food stay much fresher, longer. I know a lot of times Wal-Greens has the stuff from TV, or maybe you could order one? Sorry thats all I can think of :) Good luck!!

[SkippyNXC]

as an italian i have never found a good way to "reheat" pasta... IMHO... ur best bet would be to cook the sauces and the chicken the day before then cook the pasta the day of...

certain dishes can be prepared in advance like lasagna's and ziti's... getting them assembled but not baking them or only baking them part of the way... that could work b/c u just chuck em in the oven and pull em out when done and voila fresh food... i like ziti too b/c its SO EASY to make in MASSIVE quantities cheaply....

not sure about chicken parm tho...

[lilmsjess]

well ding dong me, i sooo forgot about just making pastas in advance, and noodles day of :rolleyes:

so we've decided on these items, so we can save time

chicken alfredo-(takes about an hour to grill 10 breasts-then just chop and add to a separate bowl for those who want the chicken)...the sauce comes in a jar, so i just need to heat it up!

spagetti-chris said let's just buy like 3 of the hunts style canned sauce, and he'll just add spices and veggies to it so tave time

lasagna-he is going to be put it together thursday, so friday my mom just has to cook it, which is essentially easy just throw it in till it's done

as for the cooking noodles, chris bought me those big, camping style looking deep pots, so heck i can cook all the spagetti at once, then all the fetuccini(sp?), and do it friday, and just keep it in the freezer style bags in the fridge...then my mom said we can just put them into a strainer, run hot water and a little bit of oil through them, and it'd wash off the "gross" stuff that settles on cold noodles.....