Planning a family dinner can sometimes feel like a chore, but it’s truly about spending quality time together and enjoying good food. When my brother requested an “easy” Italian dinner for his birthday, we took it as a fun challenge! What unfolded was a delicious and memorable family feast, proving that even “easy” can be extraordinary.
It all started with the birthday dinner request. “Brother, what do you want for your birthday family dinner?” we asked. His response? “Um…I don’t know. Let me get back to you.” Typical brotherly indecision!
Two weeks and several nudges later, the big reveal: “Um….how about something simple and easy, like Italian?” Italian, simple and easy? For a birthday feast? Challenge accepted! And so began our journey to create a memorable, albeit slightly ambitious, “Easy Family Dinner.”
With the theme set, we dove headfirst into planning an Italian culinary adventure. The day of the dinner, the aroma of rosemary filled the kitchen as we started with Rosemary Focaccia. Because who can resist freshly baked bread, especially when dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil?
While the focaccia was rising, we whipped up Blood Orange Spritzers using Italian sodas. These refreshing cocktails were dangerously smooth and the perfect way to kick off our Italian family dinner.
Of course, no family gathering of ours is complete without a Cheese and Charcuterie Board. It’s an easy crowd-pleaser and offers something for everyone to nibble on while the main dishes are being prepared.
Classic cheese and charcuterie elements are always a hit, and they require minimal preparation, making it a genuinely easy appetizer option for any family dinner.
The Rosemary Focaccia emerged from the oven, golden brown and fragrant. We sliced it up and served it with balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping. The flaky Maldon salt on top added a perfect touch of texture and flavor. If you don’t have Maldon salt, sea salt works beautifully too.
These rosemary focaccia bites were the perfect start to our appetizer course, but we weren’t stopping there!
Our family dinner appetizer spread continued with Meatballs with Marinara Sauce and Zuppa Toscana. These additions brought warmth and heartiness to our growing feast.
The Meatballs with Marinara Sauce were tender, bite-sized perfection, swimming in a rich tomato sauce. A true comfort food classic that’s always a hit with the family.
Zuppa Toscana, a creamy and flavorful soup packed with bacon, sausage, potatoes, kale, and chicken stock, was a welcome addition. It had been a while since we included soup in our family dinner menu, and it was a resounding success. This soup is surprisingly easy to make and incredibly satisfying, ideal for a family-friendly meal.
By this point, we had four appetizers! Perhaps “easy” was evolving into “abundant.” But we love leftovers, so we embraced the gluttony and moved on to the main courses.
Believe it or not, after devouring the appetizers, we were ready for dinner! Okay, maybe “gluttons” is accurate, but we were excited for the main event.
For the pasta course, we opted for Seafood Stuffed Shells. My brother requested seafood, and we were happy to oblige with a truly decadent dish.
The stuffing was a luxurious blend of lump crab, shrimp, and scallops, with the latter two blanched in lobster stock for extra richness. Aromatic herbs, seasonings, and mayo completed this heavenly filling. These stuffed shells were undeniably rich and utterly delicious.
Adding another entree to the mix, we prepared crispy Pork Milanese. Why not, right? Variety is the spice of life, and we wanted to offer a balance of flavors and textures.
Realizing we needed a touch of freshness amidst the richness, we quickly assembled an Arugula Salad with Citrus and Parmesan Shavings.
This simple salad, with its bright citrus notes and peppery arugula, provided a welcome counterpoint to the heavier dishes.
We were thoroughly stuffed, but there was still birthday dessert to come! To make room, we sent the kids and dogs out for a walk to burn off some energy. Even Bella the dog looked like she needed a break from all the food talk!
Back home, the finishing touches were being put on the birthday dessert: Tiramisu. Known for beautiful desserts, my sister truly outdid herself with this one.
And it was Molto Delizioso! The perfect sweet ending to our “easy” Italian family dinner.
Happy Birthday, Brother! We hope you enjoyed your “simple and easy” Italian feast.
Looking back, we laughed about the irony of a multi-course Italian feast being considered “easy.” But regardless of the effort, it was a fantastic family dinner filled with laughter, love, and incredible food. Sometimes, “easy” is just a state of mind when you’re surrounded by family and delicious Italian flavors!
This Month’s Family Dinner Menu
Cocktails: Blood Orange Spritzers, Various Wines
Appetizers: Rosemary Focaccia, Cheese & Charcuterie, Meatballs with Marinara Sauce, Zuppa Toscana
Entree: Seafood Stuffed Pasta Shells, Pork Milanese
Sides: Arugula with Citrus and Parmesan Shavings
Dessert: Tiramisu
