Introduction

In our family, Sundays revolve around the kitchen, where the hum of activity begins early in the afternoon. The centerpiece of this tradition is our cherished family dinner, a ritual that brings everyone together around the table. Due to the craziness of the summer months, we take a break from late spring until the end of autumn. But once winter starts to chill the air, the family gathers every Sunday night at mama’s house for dinner.

The secret ingredient to our Sunday dinners isn’t just the food, it’s Mama’s collection of cookbooks. “The older the better,” as she says. Stacked high on shelves and spilling onto countertops, these cookbooks are more than just pages filled with recipes; they’re a treasure trove of memories, stories, and flavors that have shaped our family’s life.

From the well worn pages of her first cookbook to the glossy covers of modern culinary guides, each book tells a story. Some are hand-me-down recipes with a pinch of this, and a dash of that. Others are gifts from friends, inscribed with heartfelt messages. There are even a few she picked up on a whim during travels, with recipes that carry the essence of far-off places. My personal favorite is a 1920s cookbook with margins full of handwritten notes that Brian and I found at our local library lawn sale.

On Sundays, Mom has her Julie & Julia moment, cooking her way through her beloved collection. Sometimes it’s a classic roast with all the trimmings; other times, it’s an adventurous foray into international cuisine. While the current recipe is being prepared, a new person browses the collection and picks out the cookbook for the following weeks dinner. In order to make sure each meal is unique; the rules are as follows:

Rule 1) Judge a book by its cover.

A striking cover might promise more than the book delivers, while a plain or worn exterior could hide a recipe that’s truly extraordinary, but here we judge them none the less. No peeking beyond the cover until the book is already chosen.

Rule 2) Any book counts. 

Cookbooks, Cooking Magazines, the stack of printed recipes long forgotten in the cabinet, any written word counts. As long as there is at least 1 recipe within the pages, it can be chosen.

Rule 3) Stand by your choice.

Once you pick a book, the recipe must come out of that book whether it is a full meal, side dish or dessert. We can supplement any recipe to create a full meal but the chosen recipe must come from the book chosen.

Rule 4) Make it as it reads.

No substitutions, no changes. In order to try the recipe, you must try it the way the authors intended for you to. If the recipe is not a full meal, you can add onto the side of it but not into the meal itself.

Through this blog, I hope to share some of the recipes, stories, and lessons from our Sunday dinners and Mom’s cookbook collection. Whether you’re looking for meal inspiration, a peek into our family life, or a way to start your own tradition, I invite you to join us on this flavorful journey. Written in is an exact copy of the recipe we used as well as the book it came from. If you decide to try a recipe and enjoy it, please purchase the book, and support those who created the recipes.

Here’s to Sundays, family, and the meals that make life a little sweeter.