Friday Night Dinner Plans?

We've got your totally covered! Here's the plan...!

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BenGingi & Zikki
November 07, 2024

Yalla, let’s take the thinking out of making Friday dinner! Zikki and I love to host friends at our home, and nothing makes things easier than having a PLAN. Sometimes we just text our friends…”Pizza and Tiramisu Thursday Night!” And you know what? It is the best. Someone brings the wine. Someone else offers to do the dishes and before you know it, you’ve got a quick, casual and life giving evening ahead.

So, today we’ve built a fabulous menu for you and your family/ gang for tomorrow night. So all you gotta do is send a text and buy the groceries. (FYI, you can order your groceries from Instacart directly from the recipe links!)

We’ve got a starter, a pasta, a chicken-based main, and a seasonal fall dessert! But Ben and Zikki, wait! This seems like a lot of work…DON’T WORRY. We made a game plan for you. You got this!

Day before your dinner party…

  • Make sure to go and purchase all the groceries you need OR get them delivered first thing in the morning!

  • Include something to drink for your guests: sparkling water, kombucha, wine, or a nice IPA!

The morning of your dinner party….

  • Start by making the base of the Herby Harissa Chicken w. Artichokes and Olives. Follow steps 1-7, and stop right before you have to bake the dish. Instead, cover and place into the fridge until two hours before your meal.

  • Now, preheat the oven for your Pear Cider Donuts. Make the batter, bake, butter-up, and sugar coat.

  • While your donuts bake, prep your carrots for your Carrot Harissa Miso Pasta sauce. The sauce & all the add ins can be made ahead of time! (Btw. You don’t have to make your own pasta. Your favorite high quality pasta will be just as excellent.)

Two hours before your dinner…

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Remove the chicken from the fridge and bring to room temp (about 30 minutes). Place a layer of parchment paper and then aluminum foil over the chicken. Seal with the top of the oven proof pot. Place into the oven until your guests are ready to eat.

1 Hour before Dinner…

  • Set the table.

  • Blanche the Broccoli for Zikki’s Quick Broccoli Salad. Make the salad. (Just wait to grate the cheese until your guests are sitting.)

  • Boil pasta water and get your pasta making station ready. (1 pan for the sauce, 1 pot to boil the pasta).

  • Arrange dessert, so it is quick to serve after dinner.

Dinner…