Apocalypse Dinners

Whether the world is really ending—or whether you're just having a busy week—these six make-ahead meals from cookbook author Lidia Bastianich freeze well and feed many.

By Lynn Andriani

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The Baked Pasta Dish That's Not Mac 'n' Cheese

Italian-American cookbook author Lidia Bastianich, whose latest book is Lidia's Favorite Recipes, says a bubbling casserole of shell-shaped pasta stuffed with ricotta is something everyone in her family, from kids to grandmothers, loves. If you're going to make the dish ahead of time, place four to six shells in each container, ladle sauce over them and seal. They'll keep in the freezer for up to two months.

Get the recipe: Baked Stuffed Shells

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Published on December 08, 2012

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This soup freezes well, but keep in mind that you should cook and add the pasta just before serving. I usually make a big batch, sometimes even double, and once they are cooled I pack them in a plastic quart container, label them and date them and they are good for 2 months.

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Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe

The whole family loves this recipe, and it is a great dish to make when you have lots of guests coming for dinner. Once you've stuffed the shells and set them in the baking dish, the rest is easy. The delicious aroma will fill the house while your guests are having drinks, and the shells will arrive bubbling hot to the table.