Sunday Cooking

When I was growing up, Sunday cooking had its own personality. We had a small family, so it was usually a quiet, restful, family day. We went to church, and then came home to eat a mid-day dinner. I remember it being chicken a lot, or pot roast with roasted vegetables. This was the only day of the week when we ate our main meal at noon. We spent the afternoon reading the paper and just sort of hanging out. Our only TV was downstairs in the basement rec room, and I don’t remember any of us spending much time watching it on Sunday afternoons.

On Sunday evening we ate a light dinner on TV trays, usually homemade pizza, while we watched The Wonderful World of Disney. This was a special treat because it was the only time we were allowed to eat in front of the TV.

I have my own ideas about what Sunday should be, heavily influenced by my childhood experience. For starters, it should be a Family Day, although with teenage children that really only means that everyone is expected home for dinner. I like to set out coffee, juice, a tray of fruit, and a basket of breakfast breads or muffins right away. That way everyone can wander in whenever they feel like getting up. I make the fruit tray as beautiful and lush as I can so there is something gorgeous and satisfying for the soul as well as for the stomach.

Around noon, brunch is the most popular at our house. It could be pancakes, French toast, eggs, grits or home fries, bacon or sausage, homemade hash, or my personal favorite, Eggs Benedict.

I have always thought Sunday afternoon tea would be wonderful, but with a house full of boys I need to be realistic, so I lay in a good supply of chips and salsa for watching games on TV.

Sunday Night at Charlotte’s, my home version of a bistro, came about because I needed a regular occasion to flex my creative muscle. The bistro style of eating is just right for a Sunday night home-style cooking that is beautifully prepared and presented. The menus are international in scope, and usually follow a bistro-style plan: amuse-bouche with aperitif, first course, main course, cheese or dessert, and coffee. The table is set with linen napkins, china, flowers and candles. My husband is a jazz fan, so he is usually in charge of finding some soft, relaxing music. Everyone lingers at the table over coffee. It is the perfect way to enjoy each other, recharge and be ready for the week ahead.