Yom Kippur is upon us, and that means it’s time to break out all of the dishes that can be made ahead of time.

In the Jewish faith, Yom Kippur is a day of atonement when no work must be done and no food or drink can be consumed from sundown to sundown. This time is meant to be purely for reflection upon the last year, atoning for all sins.

This also means that the best you can count on is a deli platter with cold sandwich meats and potato salad at the end of a long fast.

Unfortunately, after fasting for 24 hours, the last thing you may want to eat is a fatty, heavy, meaty sandwich. Your stomach has likely shrunken, and you are going to need something more delicate. That’s the perfect time to treat yourself and your loved ones to an elegant appetizer party. Think smoked salmon sandwiches on soft crustless white bread, a frittata with sliced potatoes, gruyere cheese, and scallions, and spiced nuts. Have a pasta salad made with just lemon, olive oil, and the last of summer’s basil. The important thing here is to have carbohydrates and other easily digestible things. Make these treats the night before, stick them in the fridge, and take them out when ready to serve. It is easy to make the mini frittatas, portion out the pasta salad ahead of time, and have a baguette and some cheese ready to go on a platter. Light enough for your stomach, elegant enough for your taste buds, hearty enough for your appetite.

You can order pizza for dessert if you are still up to it.