Moroccan Style Shabbat Menu Fit For Royalty?

I'm taking a break from my Shabbat preparations in the kitchen to share with you what I've been doing today—cooking up a storm! We have a childhood friend of my husband's coming with his wife and five children for the Shabbat meals, and since I've never met them and my husband hasn't seen his friend for at least 15 years or so, I wanted to make it extra special. Not to mention that these guests actually live in Amsterdam and are here in the North of Israel on vacation, so I'm working extra hard to give them a taste of "home." 

Here's the menu, and I realized that almost everything I'm cooking (with the exception of some of the salads) I've already shared here with you on the blog:

• Egg-Free White Flour Challah
• Whole Wheat Pitas (actually this time they're 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 rye, a little experiment)

• Moroccan Roasted Eggplant Salad
• Moroccan Roasted Red Pepper Salad
• Moroccan Beet Salad
• Moroccan Cabbage Salad
• Egg Salad With Stir Fried Onions
• Kohlrabi,Red Pepper and Carrot Pickled Salad
• Roasted Hot Green Pepper Salad
• Schug made from dried red peppers
• Radishes pickled in brine
• Quick Moroccan Pickled Lemon Relish
• Techina

• Moroccan Chickpeas in Red Sauce
• Moroccan Fish (Nile Perch) in Red Sauce

• Moroccan Yellow chicken with carrots
• Whole Wheat Couscous

• Chocolate Cake With Mocha Glaze
• Ice Cream (store bought)

Now I have to add a disclaimer to this long list! If I had toddlers or babies I would certainly not be able to cook up such a storm, so please don't feel intimidated! I love to present my guests with a feast, and everything that I put into preparing for Shabbat comes back to me in my enjoyment of the special day. So when I said a menu fit for royalty I was referring to the guests, but also to myself! When all the preparations are finished, and I light the Shabbat candles I really do feel like royalty when I reflect upon all the good that we have in our lives! The ones who wear the real crowns are those that are fortunate to be able to assume the role of givers. So even if it means a little hard work or losing a little sleep, it's certainly worth it. And that's what it all comes down to at the end of the day—using our time to bring good into the world.