Sunday Supper

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." Genesis 2:2

Sundays in the south mean going to church, taking naps in hammocks, relaxing outdoors, gathering with family friends, swimming in the lake, reading in the sunshine, and cooking a big delicious dinner.  
For our Sunday Supper, I like to stick to my southern roots with some down home cookin'.  Chicken and Dumplins’, biscuits, mashed potatoes, Chicken and rice, pot roast, green beans, sweet carrots, corn bread, sliced tomatoes, peach cobbler, and strawberry shortcake are some country comfort classics you may see on our table.  And of course us southerns couldn't enjoy a bite of it without our sweet iced tea. 
I love Sundays.  They feed my spirit, my soul, and my tummy.  They are always sweet, simple and refreshing.  

So my goal is to share a delicious recipe every Sunday.  Perhaps it will inspire you to start a Sunday dinner tradition in your home.  You can keep it in the family, or invite some friends.  You can keep it simple, or go all out.  Or if you already share this wonderful southern tradition, maybe some of these recipes can make it to your family table tonight! 

Since we are in the dead of summer I wanted to share some summer-y recipes.  Although they may not be the "country classic" dinner in the south, they are sure to hit the spot! 

                   

Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta  

Ingredients:

4 whole Grilled Chicken Breasts, Sliced

1 pound Penne Pasta, Cooked Until Al Dente

½ sticks Butter

3 whole Lemons, Juiced

¾ cups Heavy Cream

¼ cups Half-and-half

1-½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (or Romano)

Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste

20 whole Basil Leaves, Chopped

Preparation Instructions

Cook pasta, reserving 1 cup of hot pasta water when you drain. Set pasta aside in a colander.

In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Squeeze in the juice of 3 to 4 lemons. Whisk together. Pour in cream and half-and-heat. Whisk until hot. Dump in cheese and whisk until melted. Add salt and pepper. Check consistency, adding some of the hot pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.

Pour pasta and sauce into a large serving bowl. Sprinkle remaining basil all over the top, then add sliced chicken breasts. Serve immediately!

I found this recipe on:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

I like to accompany the pasta dish with either steamed green beans, or a salad.  Of course my husband would be completely content without the veggies, but I what kind of a mom (or wife) would I be if I didn't serve veggies?!  
Of course on Sundays there is always room for dessert.  But after a heavy pasta dish, perhaps something a little lighter is the best bet.  So whip up your favorite fruit filled dessert, or try one of my summer favorites!  

Grilled Peaches and Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 peach per person

1 warm grill (your grill should still be warm after grilling the chicken)

Vanilla Ice Cream (In our house we prefer Bluebell Homemade Vanilla)

Preparation:

(Always wash your fruit thoroughly before you eat them!)

Cut your peaches in half and remove the pits. Place them cut side down on to the warm grill for about 1-2 minutes, depending on the temperature of the grill.  You want them hot, with grill marks across but not burned.  Turn them over to make sure they are heated all the way

Once they are grilled to your liking, place them in your bowl and top with a scoop of ice cream. 

It is such a simple, light and delicious dessert.

(This recipe is something that I most likely saw on the food network, ate at a restaurant, or saw in a recipe book.  It isn't an original but I have been making it so long, I don't even know who to give credit to!)

Happy Sunday, and in the words of my favorite southern chef, Paula Deen...

Best Dishes, Ya'll! 

Whitney