Sunday dinner - Research Paper Example

Sunday Dinner According to Sedari 2007, most families all over the world have set aside a special day, either once a week or once a month (n.pag). In our family, this special day is usually on a Sunday where every member of the family is expected to show up for the Sunday dinner. The first thought that usually triggers in my mind every other Sunday morning when I think of the family dinner later in the evening is unity. This is because the main aim of gathering all family members is not generally to share a meal but to bring together all the members as well as getting to know each other’s welfare. Our parents get an opportunity to ask on our well being at school, in the work place for those of us working, relationships, both spiritual and casual as well as health welfare. To achieve all that, everyone is expected to contribute in the preparations of the dinner. Each one of us has to carry out a duty which is specifically expected from him or her. This makes the dinner livelier as well as creating more time for interaction. Also, one feels free to ask questions that you may not feel free to ask in presence of everybody at the dining table. There are a number of duties that are carried out in preparation of our family’s Sunday dinner. The first one is coming up with the recipe to be used which is usually done by my mother and my two sisters. The second one is shopping for all the required raw food and ingredients which is also done by our mother. The third one is cleaning the raw foods and prepares them for cooking. The fourth is setting up the table and serving the food one it is on the dining table. Finally, clearing the used plate from the table and washing them once the dinner is over. This is the step that the males in our family come in. Traditionally, the men are not expected to set their foot in the kitchen whatever. However, that is not the case today, in our family and especially during a Sunday dinner. The contribution of males in the kitchen expresses a lot of coordination, respect and togetherness in the family (Berman 2012 n.pag). In the kitchen, while my mother and my sisters are busy cooking, my father and I are watching a football match, playing video game or chatting on politics and the past week’s experiences (Calhoun 2011, n.pag). My other usually tries to listen to our stories and contribute now and then or laugh at a joke. In case my young sister and I are not through with our homework our father helps us out so that we can be ready by the time the dinner is ready. Sometimes I lose my patient waiting or out of anxiousness I join my mother in the kitchen to enquire if the food will take long before it is ready. Other times, the cooking food aroma sprinkling in the air makes me want to be in the kitchen expecting to be asked to taste. This gives everyone a sense of warmth and assurance that the dinner will be amazing. The sizzling sound of the cooking meat and vegetables as they turn golden brown pulls everybody into the kitchen would think they were dogs whose master is calling. It has been the family’s tradition on Sunday dinners to have: chicken, beef, pork, sauces, all type of vegetables, gravy and backed cakes and biscuits. The desserts include the fruits, ice cream and chocolate pudding pie. Other meals would include, fat free gravy, pre-made pie crust, instant potatoes, frozen pies, stove top stuffing and refrigerator rolls (Calhoun 2011, n.pag). Our dinner table is usually like a buffet, with so many dishes full of different food one after another. You can see the anxiety in everyone eyes to dig into their favourite dish. I also love the chocolate pudding; it is so smooth and soothing. The delightful taste of Chocolate always cheers me up. This always makes me yearn for Sundays to have a piece. We never start eating without praying for the meal and thanking God for his mercies upon each and every member of our family. Therefore, every member must be present for my father to conduct the prayer. I remember one Sunday my young sister and older brother were not in good terms and my sister decided not to join, we were all waiting for dad to pray but he refused until my sister joined us. It was the most devastating moment every since we never thought dad would say something of the sort. Everybody turned to my brother and from the look on everyone’s face you could tell they all wanted him to do something. My brother begged my sister to join us and after the long wait she agreed and we prayed and started eating. From that day hence forth none of my family members wrong each other and in case it happens it becomes everyone’s business to make sure everyone is in good terms with each other. Below is an example of Sunday dinner table setting. Figure 1http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?imgurl=http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/08/03/LocalLiving/Advance/Images/09bigFamily_1312340400.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dinnersetsonline.blogspot.com/2011/10/dinner-sets-at-big-w.html&u On the dining table we usually compliment on how the food is good and how the long wait is completely worth the reward. Also, during this time is when more talks on our plans for the week as a family are discussed and deliberated upon. My father is the one that asks the questions and also gives the how about in case there need be. In most cases, the major discussions that take place on the dining table are family business well about, family finances, our education and health care. After the dinner the males including my father take up the duty of clearing all the dishes. After cleaning, we all get ready for the bed in good terms with each other (Dinner love story 2013, n.pag). In conclusion, this paper gives a clear picture of my family’s special dinner that is usually on every Sunday throughout the year. It also illustrates most of the events that go on before, during and after the dinner as well as the talks that are discussed. From these, the main lesson communicated is family unity. Family unity is a very vital principle in any family. This is because every member will have his or her own family one day and without this principle it will collapse. For instance, my father used the Sunday dinner to bring in terms my small sister and my big brother by making sure nobody had a piece of anything until they had forgiven each other. Therefore, it is clear just like a bare land that a Sunday dinner is not only about the meals shared but more about bring together the participants of the dinner. Works Cited Sedari David. Family Dinner. 2007, 1st April 2013 Berman Karen. A Few Of 2012’s Most Important Cookbooks. 2012, 1st April 2013 Calhoun Megan. Share Your Family Dinner Table Etiquette Advice. 2011, 1st April 2013 Dinner love story. Do As We Say, Not As We Eat. 2013,< http://www.dinneralovestory.com/ > 1st April 2013 Read More