Tapas for Dinner

What do you make for dinner when you are having company but you are not going to be home when they arrive? Easy. You make tapas for dinner. Make something easy to prepare ahead of time and have them ready when your guests arrive.

I just started coaching for the summer again (I am hoping it will turn into a full time gig, but for now it is just for the summer), and our friends Leslie and Tim were coming in from out of town, but they were only going to be here for one night before they were on the road again. Leslie and I have known each other since 7th grade, and have been life long friends/family. Larry was home when they arrived, but I would not be home until later that evening. So I prepared a charcuterie tray and a some antipasto. Originally they were going to just be appetizers, but I kind of over prepared, hmmmm, imagine that, so it became a quick and easy Mediterranean tapas dinner instead.

It was all very simple, but a delicious tapas dinner that got rave reviews. I love mixing my olives, so I combined 4 different types of olives and Peruvian peppers. Then I made a charcuterie tray with a bunch of different cheeses, breads and sausage and a couple of zesty spreads. I also made a simple little antipasto tray with dolmas, marinated mushrooms and artichoke hearts and a roasted red pepper salad with a rosemary vinaigrette. And since we were with friends, who are really family, of course we had a couple of bottles of good wine as well. These were all just supposed to be starters, but they turned out to be dinner instead. What we eat is only part of the fun. What really mattered was sharing fun times with each other.

After a tapas dinner, we all enjoyed each other’s company over a few fun games of Farkle. The next morning, we all enjoyed an early breakfast, at one of our favorite breakfast spots, EAT! Video #16 – Eat at EAT! Food & Drink before Tim and Leslie were on the road again, off to their next set of adventures.

Life is short and unpredictable. Make the most of it while you can and enjoy it with friends and family. Even when time is limited, make the most of it. And of course, good food and good wine shared with good friends and family always makes it much more fun too.

Stay safe, stay well and carry on. ‘Til next time.