5 best ahead Recipes

potatoes (for serving), potatoes (extra boiled and mashed if needed (boxed work too), bacon bits (not simulated), garlic, butter (more or less depending on your taste), milk, shredded cheese , of your choice, chives (to garnish ) or 8 tbsp green onions (to garnish)

olive oil, onion, minced, garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tbsps), meatloaf mix, salt , plus more to taste, black pepper , plus more to taste, heavy cream, tomato puree (or tomato sauce), diced tomatoes, drained, whole milk ricotta cheese (about 3 cups), parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup), fresh basil leaf, chopped, egg, lightly beaten, salt, ground black pepper, no-boil flat lasagna noodles , preferably barilla (there are 16 noodles per box), whole milk mozzarella, shredded (about 4 cups), parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)

russet potatoes , scrubbed and poked several times with a fork, heavy cream, hot, unsalted butter, melted, salt , add more to taste, black pepper , to taste (optional)

boneless pork loin chops (3/4 oz thick and 6 oz each), canola oil, onions, sliced, green pepper , cut into strips, yellow sweet pepper , cut into strips, condensed tomato soup, undiluted, water, creole seasoning (tony chachere s is the best or see note at bottom of recipe if you don tsp have any on hand), pepper, salt, hot cooked rice , for serving