Sunday Dinner: A Family Feast

Sunday dinners are one of those traditions that we all look forward to! It’s the perfect excuse to get the family together, share some laughs, and of course, enjoy good food! From homemade tomato cream sauce (vodka sauce without the vodka!) to Caprese salad, a big charcuterie spread, and Jeff’s famous grilled tri-tip, it always turns out to be a super fun evening with family and sets us up for a great week ahead.

white plates (exact / similar) // bread bowl (similar) // small cheese tray // large tray

I love to kick things off with a little spread to welcome everyone as they arrive! I like to place a small plate on the bar that guests walk past as they enter. This can be something as simple as nuts-- I love to have pistachios here! This time, I had time to swing by a local Italian deli and pick up a few of our absolute favorites- hard jack cheese, cambazola cheese with a red pepper pesto (my favorite) and the best marinated assortment of olives.

// small cheese tray //

As for appetizers, a charcuterie board is always a win in our house-- and I like to make mine pretty! Queue a silver platter and the addition of fresh rosemary from my garden. We added some crunchy bread and crackers, too, so guests could munch while catching up. Right next to it, we had a fresh Caprese salad—nothing fancy, just ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, drizzled with a little balsamic glaze. It’s simple, but so full of flavor and also one of our faves! My sister actually put this one together for us, she loves making them just as pretty as they are delicious!

Then, for the main event, we served a rich, creamy tomato sauce. It’s based on the classic vodka sauce, but I actually skip the vodka! I've tried time and time again with the addition of vodka, but we all agree that it's better without! This recipe calls for diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic and onion and then of course the addition of heavy cream and parmesan! If you want to try it- you can find my full recipe at the bottom of this post. It's so quick and easy and only takes about 20 minutes start to finish. I love heading to World Market or the small Italian food section of Home Goods to pick out a fun pasta! This time I used paccheri but bucatini or casareccia are two of my personal favorites to make. I served this with some garlic bread and a Caesar salad.

And, of course, no Sunday dinner is complete without Jeff grilling up some kind of mean. He’s the grill master in our house, mostly because I don't even know how to turn the thing on. This night, he went with tri-tip and it was the perfect match for the creamy tomato sauce.

We paired everything with a good red wine—we actually opened a bottle of Jeff's favorite red blend, Berrichon from the nearby Aaron Hill Winery.

When you want. to host your own Sunday dinner, here are five tips to make it all come together with ease:

1. Prep in Advance: Make your tomato cream sauce ahead of time. Prep anything you can before so that you can focus on spending time with your family and the few tasks that can't be done early and you don’t have to worry about cooking everything at the last minute!

2. Keep It Simple: The key is using good ingredients. Fresh tomatoes, great cheese, and a perfectly grilled piece of meat will always shine, so don’t overcomplicate things! Use store bought things where you can, for this night I ended up with store bought garlic bread that I just had to pop in the oven for a couple of minutes!

3. Wine Pairing: A full-bodied red wine is a great match for this meal. Something like Cabernet Sauvignon or Chianti, will complement both the pasta and the grilled meat-- but keep it simple, any red will work!

4. Set the Mood: The atmosphere makes a big difference. Light a few candles, play some soft background music (Frank Sinatra for us!), and set a welcoming table. It doesn’t have to be fancy!

5. Let Your Guests Mingle: A charcuterie board is a great way to get people talking and snacking while you finish up the main course. It’s also a nice way to give everyone a little something to nibble on while you’re putting the finishing touches on dinner.

   
   

At the end of the day, hosting a Sunday dinner doesn’t need to be stressful. With a little prep, a few great dishes, and some good company, you’ve got everything you need for a perfect evening. Hope this tomato-themed meal gives you some inspiration for your next family gathering!