Sunday Suppers Around the Table

In the fast paced world in which we live, family gatherings are a lost art among the majority of us. I don’t need to sit here and remind any one of you how busy we all are. Between soccer practice, homework, dance class, doctor’s appointments and ‘Oh yeah mom, I have to have a green shirt for school tomorrow…’ at 9:00pm, it’s a wonder we even have time to feed our families 3 meals a day, much less in the same room at the same time.
Things just aren’t like they used to be, not even 20 years ago. Family dinners are few and far between, and there isn’t a whole lot most of us can do about that right now. However, there is a nationwide movement that is gaining ground. People far and wide are embracing the ‘Sunday Supper’. It may be the only day that we slow down enough to gather around the table and sit and enjoy a home cooked meal together as a family. No rush, no cell phones, no eating in front of the television or while doing homework.
[sws_pullquote_right]The point is, it doesn’t have to be on Sunday, and it doesn’t even have to be supper. The only necessary part of the equation is family, blood or chosen. [/sws_pullquote_right]Even more special if we can include grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and coworkers. How wonderful will it be to get the kids involved in the cooking? Passing down family recipes that would otherwise be lost. Most of us don’t have time to do that on a busy weeknight.
A few years back, our one night a week ‘Supper’ with extended family was scheduled on Tuesday nights, because that was the only night everyone could make it. This became our family night. We looked forward to that night all week and the many delicious recipes that got passed around. Our kiddos even tried a new vegetable or two. I am reasonably sure more than a few diets got blown, and boy did we laugh so hard we hurt every time we talked the dads and uncles into playing Just Dance on the Wii.
The point is, it doesn’t have to be on Sunday, and it doesn’t even have to be supper. The only necessary part of the equation is family, blood or chosen.
I hope this post series can help inspire those of you who are struggling with dinner time, and feeling guilty about all the fast food so many of us end up having to feed our kids in between ball games. We tend to be an ‘all or nothing’ society. One meal a week DOES make a difference. That’s 52 meals a year! Can you even imagine all the memories that can be made?
I challenge each and every one of us to give Sunday Suppers a try! Let’s make sure we are nourishing our bodies and souls on good old fashioned home cooked meals and family time, one day a week… One Sunday Supper at a time. Who knows where it might lead?
I am going to be sharing some of our favorite Sunday Supper recipes with you here. I would love to hear some of your favorite Sunday Supper recipes, and how you celebrate Sunday Supper with your families!

Brandi Burgess A.K.A. 'Aunt Bee' has been married to the love of her life for 10 years. A Birmingham native, she and her husband helped run her parents successful business for 8 years before finally spreading their wings and setting out to make it on their own. They moved to Huntsville in 2012 where she is a stay at home mom to their 2 kids, ages 9 and 4. She has a passion for cooking for her family and trying new recipes, and she blogs her family's dinners and weekly meal plans over at Aunt Bees Recipes.
G’day! I think spaghetti and meatballs is a universal fave and appeals to kids of all ages Brandi!
Cheers! Joanne
I agree! One of our kiddos favorites!
Sunday is the day I love to really go to town with a fun and delicious meal that I take time to prepare. One of our favorites is spaghetti with homemade sauce and meatballs, too!
Wonderful post Aunt Bee!
Thank you Kecia! I love to try new recipes on Sunday when I have a little extra time! <3
great post brandi! In my house, we eat dinner together every night. during that time we ignore all phone calls and leave electronics away from the table. This is obviously hard w/ kids ages 17 (yikes), 5 and 2 but we figure it out. Because we are, all so busy, it’s the only time we get to hear about each other’s day and that is important to me.
Christine, that is such a wonderful habit!
This looks like the perfect Sunday Super recipe Brandi! I love your idea of getting the family together. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!
Awesome article Brandi!
Thank you Cynthia!
That photo makes me drool! As part of a very busy family myself, it is definitely a struggle to get everyone around the table at the same time these days. It’s so much easier NOT to. I love the concept of this series and hope it will help reconnect/strengthen local families around their tables a little bit more. Thanks Aunt Bee!
Thank you so much, Stephenie! I am so excited about this series! I can’t thank you enough!
I am in agreement with this beautifully written piece. As a child we always gathered with our city relatives on the weekend. Friday night was the drive into West Haven to my grandparents and aunts home and on Sunday the city folk came to the country. It was a day spent doing outdoor activities with our cousins and uncles and ended with a late afternoon meal. I miss those days. Thank you for a well written and important piece.
Thank you so much Patty!
One of my husband’s favorite meals! I wish more of my extended family lived near so we could have meals together more often, not just during the holidays or special celebrations. I really cherish the memories during the time my kids were living at home and we chatted around the table…before cell phones ruled our lives 😉
I totally understand that Sandra! Thank you for your comment!
I think this is the perfect family meal! I love it!
Thank you so much Katerina!
This is such a wonderful reminder we need to hear and reinforce in our day-to-day hectic lives. Our family eats together and find the time enjoyable and enlightening. I miss extended family and wish that could be a part of our meals as well. Thank you for the delicious Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe…it’s a favorite at our house! I am looking forward to your next article and recipe! 🙂
Awww Thank you Debi! We live a couple of hours away from extended family now and we REALLY cherish the times we are able to enjoy a good meal together!
What a wonderfully done article, Brandi! It pretty much sums up why spaghetti and meat balls is still my favorite meal, it all started many years ago around our family table. Great piece!
Thank you so much Dan! It is one of our favorite meals too!
I’m so proud of you, Brandi! This is so beautifully written. At this stage in our little family’s life, we have ample opportunity to have family meals, but as the kids get older, I know it will be so hard to keep them as frequent. Thanks for the reminder of how important it truly is.
I can almost taste that picture by the way. haha yummy!
Thank you! Love you! <3
Looks delicious! Will definitely have to make it for my sweet hubby. Also, I really love the idea of choosing one night a week for family dinner. I’ll definitely have to take that idea and run with it with my own family. Great post!! 🙂
I know where you can find some really great recipes to try! 😉
HAHA! Love you AND your hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
Brandi, Beautifully written!! This was something that my husband and I promised each other before we got married that we would do, and to this day, we do. With 4 kids aged 11-19 it may not be ALL of us, every night, but it’s most of us most nights. 🙂 We have a no electronics rule. We enjoy a homemade meal and each others company. In this day and age, it’s too easy to lose sight of what’s really important. I look forward to this series… and trying that spaghetti! 😉
Michaela,
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! I think the no electronics rule at dinner is such a good idea! My kids are still a little young for cell phones, but it is definitely something I will do in our home as well! <3
I have actually had the wonderful pleasure of experiencing Aunt Bee’s delicious home cooked meals. Recommend your meals to anyone 🙂 Yummy!!!!!
Thank you so much Cristy! I miss trying out my new recipes on y’all lol! Love you! <3
I have tried several of your recipes and they are amazing! Thank you so much for this one and the great article!
Thank you so much Amy!
Amazing Recipe s!! Thank U!!