I first made this tapenade using only green olives, but it was just way too salty. Flavorful, but overwhelmingly salty. So I decided to use half black olives the next time I made it because black olives have about half the amount of sodium as their unripe counterparts. And I was ever so pleased with the result. The wonderful green olive flavor was still there, and although it was still salty, it wasn’t so inordinately salty that it demanded a water chaser every time you took a bite!

Now, if you are like me and firmly believe that every dinner party, be it for 2 or 60 must start with at least 3 little nibbles that are ready when guests arrive, this is going to make your job as hostess very easy. First of all, this spread is delicious. It is also easy to prepare, should be made at least a day ahead, and very pretty to look at. Surround a small bowl of this spread with plain crackers or baguette slices, set out a small dish of grapes, and a small plate of something with high protein content like sliced pepperoni, cheese, and cornichons (for color and crunch), hand your guests their beverage of choice, and your dinner party is well on its way to becoming a hit.

I know I have stated this obvious fact before, but people who have been invited to your home for dinner arrive hungry and expect to be fed. Sounds reasonable, right? So not ever wanting my guests to worry that maybe I was just kidding about the “dinner aka food” part, like I said before, I have a little something waiting for them when they arrive. This way it sets their mind at ease immediately. They know from the get-go that I plan to stave off any imminent chance of starvation happening while they are under my roof. And that most likely, if I have fed them a little something already, there will probably be more goodies to follow. Like I said, it sets their mind at ease. I figure it’s the least I can do for my friends.

Of course, there is also the practical side to getting food into your guest’s tummies immediately. Especially a food containing protein. Having food in your stomach helps slow the processing of alcohol. FYI: Parmesan cheese has the highest protein content of all cheeses, followed by other low moisture cheeses such as Swiss, cheddar, Gouda, and blue cheese.

So next time you have guests over for dinner, even if it’s just a spontaneous get-together with your neighbors, have a little something for them to munch on while they crack open a beer or pour themselves a glass of wine. It can be as simple as munchies that you pour out of a box. Or it can be some of this spread you prepared earlier in the week in case there was a spontaneous occasion when a nice nibble would be appreciated. (This spread travels well too. So even if you are the invited, you can quickly put together a little something to contribute to the cause.) Being prepared isn’t just for boy scouts any more. It should be our new aphorism for life!

• 1 (2-oz.) can anchovy fillets, well drained
• 2 garlic cloves, rough chopped
• 1½ tsp. fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
• pinch cayenne pepper
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 c. pimento stuffed green olives, well drained
• 1 c. pitted black olives, well drained
• 1 tsp. drained capers
• pinch dried thyme
• 5 T. extra virgin olive oil

Whirl the anchovy, garlic, lemon, cayenne, and black pepper until well blended. Add the olives, capers, thyme, and olive oil. Pulse until all the olive pieces are roughly the same size. Do not let the mixture become a paste. Store in an airtight container. Serve over plain, not too salty, crackers or toasted baguette slices. Best made at least a day ahead.