One of the keys to successful party throwing is having a prep list and schedule for your cooking. The cooking schedule and prep list below is for my Texas Style Party buffet for 15-25 people.

For Menu, see No Chicken Salad Texas Party Buffet
Cooking Schedule and Prep List

Spiced Pecans
day or two ahead: make and store airtight

Watermelon Salad
day ahead: cut melon into 1-inch chunks or use a melon baller to scoop; refrigerate
day of: finely chop or chiffonade mint and toss with melon; add berries

Cornbread
morning of: bake and cool; wrap in foil
just before: reheat in a 300-degree oven until warm; cut into serving pieces

Brisket
day ahead: make the rub; grill the brisket; cool and refrigerate
day ahead or morning of: bake the brisket (to do ahead, bake until final 30 minutes, then finish just before party OR serve cold)

Baked Beans
day ahead: make the beans; cool and refrigerate
day of: reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until bubbling

Cucumber Salad
day ahead or morning of: toss cucumbers with vinegar mixture and onions; refrigerate
just before: sprinkle with cheese

Fruit Crisp
day ahead or morning of: make crisp and cool; wrap and refrigerate
just before: reheat in a 300-degree oven for 15 minutes, or until warm through

Lemonade and Beer
day ahead: make the lemonade and refrigerate
morning of: ice down the beer

Chilling by the pool this weekend? Running scared from the heat and want to settle into an air-conditioned Rock Band tour all weekend long? Chef Ann’s menu is the casual yet festive weekend fare that features Summer’s classic recipes. Enjoy this menu and print out the Step by Step Cooking Schedule so you can start prepping and nibbling mid week.

The No-Chicken-Salad Texas Party Buffet Menu

* items marked with * are suggested store-bought, prepared substitutions for the homemade dish

Spiced Pecans (tossed with oil, cumin, salt, brown sugar, cayenne and toasted in 350-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes)

Watermelon with Mint
*Store bought Fruit Salad

Mason-Dixon Cornbread (Hands-Off Cooking, pg. 149)
*Corn muffins

Texas Style Failsafe Beef Brisket

Baked Beans with Apples and Jalapenos (Hands-Off Cooking, pg.