Start the Day with Friends

Inviting friends over for brunch isn't only a great way to start the day, it's also generally easier to prepare and less expensive than a nighttime get-together.

We've organized these make-ahead dishes by how far in advance they can be prepared--leaving you plenty of time to visit with family and friends. Mix-and-match to create your menu. So, sit back and enjoy the afternoon.

Up to 1 day aheadRemove these dishes from refrigerator and let stand 30 minutes at room temperature before serving:

• Vegetable-and-Cheese Strata
• Cheddar, Bacon, and Tomato Strata
• Spinach, Rice, and Feta Pie

For these salads, add fruit to lettuce mixture and pour dressing over salad just before serving:

• Avocado-and-Grapefruit Salad With Pomegranate Seeds
• Strawberry Spring Salad

Up to 1 month in your freezer

• Carmelized Espresso Frappe
• Brandied Pumpkin Ice-cream Pie With Malted Pecans
• Apple Cider-Caramel Cake
• Cinnamon Streusel Coffeecake (Cover with heavy-duty foil after cooling on a wire rack; seal and freeze. Thaw at room temperature and serve as directed.)

Up to 2 months in your freezer

• Freezer Cinnamon-Fruit Rolls