I got the nicest email from a reader this week. His name is Marc and he just discovered DALS. This is what he wrote:
So much happens at the Dinner Table. I came out to my parents at the dinner table, my brother and his girlfriend told our family they were engaged at our dinner table. Normally I eat in front of the TV, but last night I decided to have a proper dinner at the table with my boyfriend, which I am going to try to do at least twice a week, because your blog inspired me. So thank you for that.
My favorite thing about this note...well I have a lot of favorite things about this note. I love that he capitalized Dinner Table. Like it's a proper noun, a destination, an official movement. And obviously, I love how he remembers the Dinner Table as the place where the big moments happen. But mostly, I love that he got inspired, figured out a realistic game plan (twice a week!) and then got started on that game plan immediately. I don't have any idea what he cooked that night, but since it was a Monday, my guess is that it wasn't Osso Bucco or ricotta gnocchi with a quail egg cooked sous vide. It doesn't have to be gourmet to be special. And it doesn't have to be every night to be family dinner.
Want to launch the ritual tonight? This is a good recipe to start with.
Roast Chicken with Baby Brussels Sprouts
Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss baby brussels sprouts in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add to a baking dish. Coat drumsticks with mustard and then coat them in breadcrumbs. Add chicken to another lightly oiled baking dish. Bake both dishes for 25 minutes, turning chicken once and tossing brussels once halfway.
We served it with a salad made from butter lettuce, grape tomatoes, snipped chives, and the buttermilk dressing from our favorite soybean and cherry tomato salad.