Tasty Sunday Suppers

One of the best times to sit down to  a meal is Sunday night. The hustle and bustle of the weekend is over and it's a time to relax and catch up.It's a time when families can gather over a good meal and chat about their lives. Now there's a new cookbook that has a whole slew of  great Sunday night suppers and desserts.

  Southern Living  contributor and James Beard Award winner Cynthia Graubert wrote this interesting cookbook Sunday Suppers: simple DeliciousmMenus For Family Gatherings (Oxmoor House Press) about a southern tradition, the Sunday supper. This is usually a light repast, followed by a luscious dessert. Hers is just that along with tips and "Southern advice"  about guests and invites. The suppers shouldn't be relegated to just Sunday night. I can see making these for a Friday or most definitely a Saturday night with a small cadre of friends. Another plus is that she sprinkled interviews with famed southern chefs (including one of my Facebook friends, the great cook, Damon Lee Fowler) and their memories of Sunday suppers and what they do to carry on the tradition. I love her little advice paragraphs that are also sprinkled throughout the book. There's one on being tardy - being fashionably late is not acceptable. along with the day after thank you note - do write out one and mail - not email it. She even addresses the overnight guest and what gifts they should bring to thank the hosts.

What of the recipes themselves? First of all, they 're not all Southern.Yes, there are some Low Country and grits recipes but it's a good mix of Mexican and Italian. She has slotted into seasons along with the fun breakfast for dinner. As Ms. Graubert states the menu plans aren't set in stone. A recipe for one meal can easily be the main one for another.It's kind of  like a mix and match. Again, many of these would make fine Saturday night dinners such as the slow cooker pork and baked mac and cheese, followed by the yummy white chocolate chip cookies. Some of the breakfast for dinner recipes would be perfect for a Sunday brunch. Imagine making Spring vegetable frittata and cheese grits casserole on a cozy Sunday morning and finishing with breakfast cookies and coffee. The recipes can also be adapted for tailgate parties too such as the mini muffulettas and apple cole slaw. Finish with any of of the cookie or many brownie recipes.

Nothing beats a Sunday supper shared with family. Luckily Cynthia Graubert has written a fantastic cookbook that offers some tasty dishes , sides and desserts. This is the perfect cookbook for those that treasure lazy Sunday suppers with friends and family.