Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer, and what better way to celebrate than with a picnic lunch. Our menu includes make-ahead dishes that are easy to transport to your favorite outdoor spot.

Sandwiches are always popular picnic fare; our recipe features slices of focaccia bread with Havarti cheese, roasted eggplant spread, sun-dried tomatoes and peppery arugula tucked inside. A Mediterranean-inspired potato salad combines red-skinned potatoes with green beans, chickpeas, olives, capers and lots of fresh herbs. For a refreshing dessert, serve the adults a fruit salad prepared in the Italian style, with strawberries, nectarines, blackberries and other summer fruits marinated in an anise-flavored liqueur. And for the kids, chocolate cupcakes are sure to please.