Hi Reader,

There’s something almost spiritual about dinner on a Sunday. Not in a raise-the-rafter, devil-come-out kind of way. More like a watching-butter-slump-in-the-pan-when-heated way. No rush, no craziness.

When I was a kid, Sundays were all about pumping the brakes. Reading, watching a movie on TV, ambling around the backyard, and eating. Always eating. Mama Leite and VoVo Costa were high priestesses of the Church of the Low Simmer.
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Slowing down and being still is something I have to force myself to do. (My old shrink said it's fear of death. Go figure.) But The One? It's imprinted on his chromosomes, especially when he's cooking. No matter what he's making, it always starts the same. He ducks into his apron and ties it in back. He turns on music (thankfully not his beloved Kenny G), and starts chopping.

Pretty soon, a handful of onions and a scattering of garlic are surrendering to olive oil. And then it happens. The kitchen slows down. I wander in about this time (usually under the pretense of making sure he's not screwing up). But, really, I love watching him. He's everything I'm not: calm, methodical, centered. In that moment, time stops being a nuisance and starts being an ingredient.

And THAT'S why I worship at the altar of Sunday Supper.
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5 Commandments of Sunday Suppers

1. Thou Shalt Brown Thy Meat. Whether it’s sausage, ribs, or meatballs, the flavor’s in the fond. Don’t rush the sear.
2. Honor the Simmer. Once everything’s in the pot, back away. Sauce rewards patience, not meddling.
3. Confess Thy Seasoning. Taste often, forgive generously. A little salt and acid can redeem even the blandest batch.
4. Breaketh Bread and Shareth the Butter. A hunk of crusty bread isn’t optional—it’s a sacrament.
5. Purposely Make Leftovers. Because nothing humbles a Tuesday quite like reheated perfection over pasta.

🎬 Video Break

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We interrupt this ode to Sunday for this new side dish video. It highlights the decadent Broccoli & Blue Cheese Gratin. I wanted to get this in front of you, just in case you're beginning to gather recipe ideas for Easter.

Our Next Live

WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​Homemade Pasta Dough​
• ​Marcella Hazan's Bolognese Sauce​
• ​Spaghetti Carbonara​
• ​Mama Leite's Carne Assada​
• ​Lasagne Bolognese​
• ​The One's Beloved Lemon Chicken with Shallots​
• ​Baked Ricotta​
• ​Roman-Style Chicken Cacciatore​
• ​Homemade Tomato Paste​

​Homemade Pasta Dough​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.83 from 81 votes

This is homemade pasta dough I make all the time. It's foolproof and easy to make by hand or with your stand mixer with just eggs, flour, olive oil, and salt. Italian through and through.

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Marcella Hazan's Bolognese Sauce​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.80 from 309 votes

And you can't have pasta without an excellent Bolognese sauce. This is Marcella's recipe that I fiddled with. I added veal and pork, and it has a real depth of flavor. Plus, I doubled it so you'll have some to freeze!

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

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​Spaghetti Carbonara​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.92 from 25 votes

Spaghetti carbonara, a pasta and sauce rich with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and guanciale, pancetta, or bacon, is a quick and easy dinner that takes just 25 minutes from stove to table.

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Mama Leite's Carne Assada​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.82 from 33 votes

This Portuguese carne assada from my VERY Portuguese Mama Leite, is a traditional Azorean braised beef dish made with meltingly tender meat, small red potatoes, chouriço, and onions.

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Lasagne Bolognese​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.91 from 20 votes

This lasagne Bolognese from Giuliano Hazan is as authentic as it gets. Giuliano writes that you can make it over two days, but if you’re organized (which I’m not), you can make it in an afternoon—which I did.

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​The One's Beloved Lemon Chicken with Shallots​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 from 20 votes

This Dutch oven-roast chicken is nestled on a bed of shallots and garlic and roasted until golden and crisp-skinned. It's an easy, hands-off meal that's perfect for entertaining. Six ingredients and one pot. Couldn't be simpler!

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Baked Ricotta​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.77 from 34 votes

This rich and indulgent baked ricotta is easy to make and supremely satisfying, making it perfect for entertaining.

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Roman-Style Chicken Cacciatore​

You know chicken cacciatore—chicken made with vegetables, herbs, and tons of tomatoes—right? In Rome, however, "alla cacciatora" implies meat stewed with rosemary, vinegar, and anchovies, with not one tomato in sight. Instead, the bird is simmered with garlic, rosemary, white wine, and anchovies.

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Homemade Tomato Paste​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.73 from 48 votes

Sure, it's not tomato-glut season. That's all the more reason to make this now. You can take those cottony supermarket tomatoes and turn them into a superb tomato paste. I use mine on all sorts of dishes. Buh-bye, tomato paste in a tube!

​☞ ​Try This Recipe​