Sunday Supper That Writes Its Own Story 📚


Hi Reader,

Some people spend Sundays reading stories. I spend them weaving one—with onions, garlic, and a pot that’s been on the stove so long it deserves royalties.

Growing up, Sunday Supper was less meal, more epic saga. Think Tolstoy's "War and Peace." By the time I woke, the kitchen was already buzzing: Mama Leite browning meat with the ferocity of a Russian peasant, my grandmother muttering prayers over the stockpot, not unlike one of Macbeth's witches. By noon, the whole house smelled rich, savory, irresistible.

I remember once sulking in my room, trying to read "The House of the Seven Gables" for Mrs. Hopf's seventh grade English class. I read the shenanigans of Hepzibah Pyncheon again and again, but the aroma of Mama Leite's braised beef lured me down the hall like one of those Looney Tunes animated aroma fingers. Dinner trumped Hawthorne every time.

So, humor me here. The next time you stand facing the stove, think of it as creating an incredible story. What's the plot? What characters do you want to introduce? Which characters do you want to kill off!? What's the conflict? What's the rising action of flavor? And most importantly, make it so good, no one can put it down.

My Storyteller's Guide
to Roasts & Braises

  1. Set the Scene: Start by browning meat well—it’s the exposition that sets the whole story in motion.
  2. Introduce Characters: Onions, garlic, herbs, and wine aren’t filler—they create layers of flavor that make the meat shine.
  3. Add Transformation: A true braise needs patience. Low and slow cooking turns tough, stubborn cuts into something supple and compliant. Everyone loves a redemption arc.
  4. Edit, Edit, Edit: Skim fat, reduce sauce, adjust seasoning—this honing down makes all the difference.
  5. Savor the Conclusion: Don’t just plop it on the table. Ladle with ceremony, pair with mashed potatoes or bread, and watch your audience swoon.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

Food + Memories

Remember a few weeks back, I wrote about the power of food to anchor memories? I asked if any of you wanted to share your food memories, and I got lots of responses. Here's one. Keep them coming!

🍏 🔥🍎

"Apple butter was a fall project for churches and 4-H Clubs where I grew up in West Virginia. I remember all the girls, moms, and grandmas around the table on a Saturday, peeling and chopping. Then, on Sunday, the long process of slowly cooking those apples down would begin. For the big batches, this meant that the dads and grampas made a wood fire outside, and set a huge cast-iron vat over it (think witch’s cauldron!). In my city condo, I can't replicate the very site-specific smells of the wood fire, the apples simmering, the dried leaves. But when I pull out the Dutch oven to make a much smaller batch of apple butter, I can still get back a little part of my childhood."
Ilana H.
Watertown, MA

Nach Waxman's Beef Brisket

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.86 from 41 votes

The brisket is partially cooked, removed from the oven, and sliced. It's then returned to the oven to cook completely. Juicy, deeply flavorful, and amazingly tender. Genius.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 from 18 votes

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.92 from 25 votes

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Jamie Oliver’s Beef Bourguignon

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.62 from 39 votes

My sumptuous beef bourguignon is cozy and indulgent. If you can find beef cheeks, they are ideal for this tender beef stew that braises all afternoon.
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Braised Brisket With Red Wine & Honey

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.86 from 14 votes

This braised brisket with red wine and honey is sweet and tangy and fall-apart tender and so perfect it makes us go weak in the knees. And it's a hunk of beef large enough to feed a crowd so it has that going for it, too.
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Roast Pork Loin With Apples & Onions

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.86 from 47 votes

This roast pork loin with apples and onions boasts a rustic loveliness from a garlic, thyme, and fennel seed rub and a caramelized sweetness from the side that's roasted at the same time. And it's about to become your new favorite one-pan dinner.
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Tuscan Style Roast Leg of Lamb

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.92 from 24 votes

This Tuscan style roast leg of lamb is made in traditional Italian fashion with a garlic, rosemary, lemon, and olive oil marinade before being roasted until perfectly tender. Easy and elegant.
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Braised Pork Loin With Rosemary

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.87 from 15 votes

This braised pork loin with rosemary is a simple Sunday supper. Pork loin is studded with rosemary, seared with onion and garlic, and braised in wine until tender. A pan sauce of pork drippings, vinegar, olive oil, and mustard lends a nice acidity to the dish.
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Braised Chicken With Tomatillos

This braised chicken with tomatillos has a slightly tart green sauce made from tomatillos, onions, peppers, garlic, lime, and cilantro that's perfect with chicken cooked until falling apart tender, whether on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.
☞ ​Try this recipe

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