Host a simple & fuss free Tuscan Inspired Sunday Dinner at home with my quick and easy tips.
Post Sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are 100% my own.
Growing up, I fondly remember big family dinners at my grandparents' on a Sunday afternoon. Aunts, uncles, and cousins would fill their plates with my grandma's homemade lasagna or slices of her ham, and then clamor to the various tables, chairs, and couches around her house to sit down and enjoy a meal with the family. It wasn't fancy, and it wasn't perfect. But it was a fun family dinner that I always looked forward to. :)
The years have passed and now big family dinners only happen at my grandparents' home for special occasions and holidays. Sunday family dinners have become a fond memory of my childhood. But this past Sunday I decided to change that. This past Sunday I hosted a traditional Italian dinner for some of family at my home. I wanted to channel the laid back, casual Sunday dinners I remembered from my childhood and keep things as fuss free and simple as possible. But I also wanted to channel a little modern Italian elegance as well...
I started by creating a super simple fall centerpiece that took me mere minutes to put together. You just need a few small pumpkins in various colors, a pretty fall inspired napkin, a cupcake stand, and a whole head of fresh garlic. Casually drape the napkin, and then arrange the pumpkins at various heights using the cupcake stand and the head of garlic to elevate a couple of the pumpkins. Simple, yet elegant! :)
I always love to set out a simple cheese board for dinner guests to nibble on while the main course is baking. I offered my guests two types of cheese with crackers and a bowl of Italian marinated olives. This took me maybe 10 minutes to throw together.
I kept the side dishes for this Tuscan inspired Sunday dinner simple and fresh. I tossed chopped romaine lettuce with grape tomatoes, cucumber slices, and a little shredded mozzarella cheese. Garnish your salad with a few pepperoncinis for instant Italian creed. ;) I served this salad with an Italian dressing & a blue cheese dressing on the side.
If you really want to wow your Sunday dinner guests, serve fresh baked Italian bread from your grocery store bakery with a simple homemade dipping oil. Saute 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, and a 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano with a little olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Let cool and then add 1/2- 2/3 cup more of olive oil and give a quick stir. Serve in a small bowl and let guests spoon out oil onto their plates or into smaller ramekins for individual dipping.
But the star of Sunday dinner was the Bertolli Luscious Rosa Lasagna I served as the main course. Though the recipe called for the Bertolli Alfredo Sauce, I decided to kick up the robust Italian flavors a bit and used their Garlic Alfredo sauce instead...
This lasagna turned out so creamy and cheesy! :) And thanks to the Tuscan inspired flavors in the Bertolli Tomato & Basil sauce and the Garlic Alfredo sauce, I was able to serve a delicious, authentically Italian Sunday dinner to my family without being stuck in the kitchen all afternoon. Be sure to snag the recipe for their Luscious Rosa Lasagna by CLICKING HERE.
Get the family back to the dinner table on Sundays, and host a Tuscan Inspired Sunday Dinner yourself this coming weekend. Create memories and family traditions without the fuss. :)
Want to host your own Italian Sunday dinner? From October 9th to November 5th, you can save on Bertolli pasta sauces at Ahold stores including Stop & Shop, Giant and Martin’s. Look for Bertolli in the pasta sauce aisle and on display in the meat department!
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