Our close friends, Tory and Dave, just moved back to NYC from San Francisco with their 1 1/2 year-old. Thrilled to have them back, we immediately set up a family dinner date. Given that we wanted to have the kids join, we were looking at an early dinner. I had a particularly busy week at work, working late every night with no time for advance prep, so I had to pick a menu that only required a few hours to prepare. I also wanted a completely make-ahead menu so I could relax and enjoy our time together. I decided on a Mediterranean menu, using store-bought hummus, tzatziki, nuts and olives, and made a few simple homemade dishes to round out the menu. Marinated Armenian string cheese, spiced caramelized roasted cauliflower along with lamb and zucchini kabobs were all easy to make in advance and made for a filling mezze (or tapas) style meal. The weather cooperated so we were able to sit outside, sip lambrusco, and enjoy the reunion. This make-ahead mezze menu would be great for book club or weeknight entertaining since it’s so simple to put together.
Ingredients
- Mixed olives (I used pitted so the kids could pick at them)
- Marcona almonds
- Store-bought hummus (top with a drizzle of olive oil and sweet paprika)
- Salumi
- Marinated Armenian string cheese
- Spiced roasted cauliflower
- Lamb kabobs with zucchini and tzatziki
- Dried fruit (Medjool dates, figs & Turkish apricots)
- Dark chocolate-covered almonds
