These make-ahead recipes are for times when you come home late and don't feel like cooking. Just bake and serve—and no messy cleanup. Although the recipes in this chapter require baking, they conform to the less than 30 minutes of active time rule and are designed to be quickly assembled ahead of time. That way, you can either bake them immediately or refrigerate them for later use. Of course, it's also fun to prepare ovenbaked meals on cold days so the heat of the oven can warm you up while the fragrance of dinner baking fills the house.

Enjoy global flavors with recipes such as Sicilian Stuffed Shells, Cajun-Spiced Dirty Rice, and Moroccan Vegetable Packets. With three different sauce options, the Snowballs in Hell are as delicious as they are whimsical. Kids of all ages will love the Mac and Cheezeburger Bake, and the two sensational pizza recipes will turn your kitchen into a gourmet pizzeria. Many of these dishes, such as the Indian Shepherd's Pie or Tuscan Kale Lasagne, make great company fare as well.

NOTE: These recipes lend themselves to assembling in advance, then refrigerating and baking when ready to use. When baking a dish that has been refrigerated, let it come to room temperature before baking. Otherwise, allow an additional 15 to 20 minutes of baking to be sure the center is hot.