All this week we’re going to talk about a subject dear to my heart – the Supper table.  From the why’s to the who, and the how – we’re going to discuss it all!  If you have any questions or comments about things you’d like to hear about, please let me know in a comment here!  Let’s get started today with the why of supper!

My husband was gone for a few days last week and I missed him greatly!  On the day of his return, I wanted to make a nice supper for him, even though it would be a little later than we normally eat.  I knew he wouldn’t have stopped for anything, and he’d be hungry!  

I could have just warmed up soup or made sandwiches, but I wanted the meal to communicate something to him – I missed him.  I was thinking of him.  He was worth the effort it took to prepare a nice meal.  Supper is more than just filling our family’s bellies.  It’s about letting them know that we care for them.  It’s about taking the time to sit at the table and chat.  It involves reaching across the table for their heart – not just the bowl of mashed potatoes!  So this is why it was important to me to make a nice supper for my husband’s homecoming!  I had a message to share!

Here was my menu:

Short Ribs
Wild Rice Mushroom Bake
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Parkerhouse Rolls
Ginger Cookies

I wanted the ribs to be really tender, so I did them in my pressure cooker.  It only took 15 minutes – which is incredible!  Because I was using my oven for the rice dish, it made it easier for me to cook them this way.  I followed these instructions.

We love broccoli, and though I usually just steam it, I thought I’d try roasting it.  I used Ina Garten’s recipe with Parmesan Cheese and garlic.  Roasting it  gives it a different kind of texture – a little crispier than steamed, but it was good!

Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

4 to 5 pounds broccoli
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
Good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves (about 12 leaves)
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.

Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot.

The Rice & Mushroom Bake was a nice change from potatoes.  This is an old recipe my mom shared with me years ago.  It makes a lot – so I have some in my freezer for another day.  It’s creamy and delicious.  

Wild Rice Mushroom Bake

Saute one onion and cup of celery in a half stick of butter.  Add 2 cups of beef broth, one cup of sliced fresh mushrooms and a box of Uncle Ben’s Rice.  Bake 45 minutes @ 350 degrees in covered dish.  Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer.

We don’t often have dessert on a weeknight, but you have to make something special for a homecoming meal!  The Ginger cookies are his favorite and I’ve shared them here.  I bake the large size for 11 minutes and it makes them just soft enough to be perfect with a glass of milk or cup of coffee!

I encourage you to think about what your meals are communicating to your family.  No matter if it’s you and your children, you and your husband, or a whole table full of people.  Make your supper meal an occasion – not just food.  You’re making memories around that table, so make them delicious and special!

With love from my country kitchen,