This post is brought to you by Bertolli. Don’t just eat, Mangia!
The weekend is creeping to a close, and you’re already wishing Monday wasn’t a mere 24 hours away. Wouldn’t it be great if the slow steadiness of Sunday didn’t have to be eclipsed by a looming workday? If we could have something to savor on this special day, something that we could look forward to, relish in and that — beyond all — was easy to implement?
We’ve got you. Bertolli does too. We’re making a case for bringing back the “Sunday Supper,” a dedicated stretch of time where you gather ’round good food and good people and Mangia! like the Italians do. By using Bertolli’s super-simple skillet meals combined with a few finishing touches, we’re walking you through the art of curating your own Sunday supper and revealing why we think this ritual deserves a comeback, below.
Step One: Keep it small.
The key to a successful Sunday supper begins with the guest list. This isn’t a massive dinner party, a fancy affair or a five-course meal. A Sunday Supper is about slowing down and taking the time to intentionally connect with those quality people you may not get to see during the week as much as you’d want to. It’s a time to kick off the shoes, show up in stylish sweats and let yourself be you for a minute.
And, of course, eat.
So, at most, keep between four to six chairs around the table. This isn’t to be exclusive, but to make sure that everyone there gets ample attention and ample time for story-telling. It also works better to think of this as a late lunch versus a dinner. Aim for eating around 2pm. You won’t feel rushed, and you’ll still have the evening to clean up and take care of business before work in the morning.
It’s a time to kick off the shoes, show up in stylish sweats and let yourself be you for a minute.
Step Two: Keep it simple.
What’s great about Bertolli skillet meals is that they’re no fuss and allow for easy menu inspiration.
Tear open a bag (or maybe three, each bag serves about two people, so you’ll want a few to nosh on slowly) and toss in a heated skillet for about ten minutes. Two great parings are the Shrimp Scampi and the Chicken Florentine. Your kitchen will instantly get that garlic and onion smell going — putting anyone in an eating mood right away — and while you give the pan an occasional stir, you’ll have time to also whip up a simple salad to balance the pasta and an appetizer.
Here’s what we suggest:
Bruschetta with Sautéed Peppers (Inspiration from Ina Garten’s bruschetta)
What You Will Need:
- 1 baguette (French bread or ciabatta style)
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
- 6 ounces goat cheese
- salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- Olive oil cooking spray
What You Will Do:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Slice baguette loaf, on the diagonal, into about 1/4 inch slices. Arrange slices on a baking pan, and spray them lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Bake for around 10-15 minutes, flipping your slices halfway through baking to make sure they are toasted on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add peppers and sauté until the peppers have softened and are lightly charred on the outside, about 12-15 minutes. Take off heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Spread a generous amount goat cheese over the baguette slices and top with sautéed peppers and freshly chopped basil.
Don’t forget a few little bowls of olives for the table, either. It’s a small detail that goes a long way to add a bit of that European charm we all know and love. Another Euro-inspired idea? Swap out traditional wine glasses for regular juice glasses. We can’t prove it, but we think drinking vino this way brings the Tuscan hills a little bit closer with every sip.
And don’t forget dessert!
Affogato Floats
What You Will Need:
- 1 quart natural vanilla bean ice cream
- 1/2 cup cold brew coffee concentrate (a vanilla version would work great too)
- Italian dark chocolate wafer cookies
What You Will Do:
1. Place a generous scoop of ice cream into a glass. Pour cold brew coffee concentrate over, then top with Italian wafer cookie. Enjoy!
Step Three: Keep it scheduled.
We have so few reasons to show up anymore. Having a weekly meal with friends or family, and being routine about it, is one of the best ways to stay grounded in life. We don’t have to be the nonna who spends all day in the kitchen stirring her sauce pot, (Bertolli did that for us!) however, we do have a role to play in our communities — in our little villages of influence — wherever they may be.
Let a Sunday supper remind you just how much you have to be grateful for. Life really is beautiful, right?
It is when Monday can wait just a little bit longer.
How do you Mangia?
Images via Nicole Ziza Bauer; Recipes and Food Styling via Callie Blount
