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The coziness and comfort of a Sunday at home is the perfect antidote to a stressful week.  Being home is great, but sharing a casual lunch there with friends is even better.  The key to keeping it relaxed is to choose a low-labor menu. Weekend cooking and entertaining is all about speediness and ease along with a huge dose of practicality.

Sunday Lunch at Home

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I don’t mind spending precious weekend time over the stove, but only if it will make my life easier later in the week, meaning I can enjoy two meals from one cooking session. I often use leftovers of those grand Sunday lunches to last me a few days during the week. If I am cooking, I must as well make the best of it and double recipes that can freeze well or last for a few days in the refrigerator.

Inviting friends for Sunday lunch forces me to cook (something I adore to do in any case) and makes me have a mental plan for that day and a few ideas of meals and recipes of the following ones.

Setting the table in the kitchen can be as sophisticated and elegant as you like, or as casual as you want to be. I like to incorporate a bit of both: the buffet is arrayed on the kitchen table and guests sit in the living room by the fire with plates on their laps. The entertainment is the mesmerizing fire.

Victoria Amory at Home

I adore winter lunches that can feed ten or twenty people. Especially on days like New Year’s, the day after Thanksgiving,  Boxing Day or Super Bowl Sunday when I never know how many people will trickle in for a warm meal. The comfort of sitting by the fire with a plate of delicious food on my lap, surrounded by family and friends is to me what the art of entertaining is meant to be.

Use large plates and large napkins when serving food buffet-style. This is not because you want to encouraging piling on the food but to avoid spillage; the larger the plate the less chance of a ruined rug. Large napkins cover your lap and part of your knees is always a good idea when sitting on a low chair or the floor. At home I do serve red wine though I know that most people don’t.  My philosophy: It’s Sunday, a day to relax and indulge. Place decanters filled with white and red wine and pitchers with Bullshots or Bloody Marys on the buffet table or sideboard to make self-service easy on you and comfortable for your guests.

Make your life easier, especially on those spur-of-the-moment weekend extravaganzas, by enlisting the help of a single male friend. I know they are hard to come by but they are eternally grateful for a home cooked meal and will do almost anything to get invited back. Asking for their help in setting up the bar, lighting the fire and mixing drinks is a brilliant way to get it all done.

Menu: (clockwise)

Mashed Potatoes en Creute

Smashed Peas with Mint

Good Old-Fashion Meatloaf

Eggplant Bundles with Goat Cheese

Bread & Butter Pudding with Pedro Ximenez  (not shown)

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Bull Shot Recipe

Makes 6 drinks

4 cups of Beef Stock

1 Tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper

the juice of 1 lemon

2 cups of Vodka

In a 2 quart pitcher, combine the broth, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and lemon juice.  Stir until incorporated.   Add the Vodka and stir again.   Fill 6 double old-fashioned glasses with ice and pour the Bull Shot mixture into each one.

To find out more about Victoria and to order her books, www.victoriaamory.com

About Victoria

Mom, Wife, Homemaker, Culinary and Entertaining Writer

Victoria grew up between Madrid and Sevilla in Spain, and attended school in England.  True to her Spanish roots, entertaining is in her blood and  comes naturally to her.  When her three sons were born, she decided to work from home and write about what she knew best… the art of good food and gracious entertaining.

All Photography by Eric Striffler