I used to write a four week menu and repeat it ad nauseum. The kids started to rebel. They actually started hating the food. Nobody was looking forward to anything on the menu anymore. And I was stuck, because if I had to think of what to make and make it, dinner wouldn’t be until after 7 every day.

But I caved, and started trying to make up things on the fly. And dinner was chronically late.

Sunday night is the worst night to wing it, because that’s the night of our feast. My oldest daughter and I dance all over the kitchen together, trying to make each dish a work of art, because Sunday is the day of our Sabbath feast. We’ve been having a weekly feast since 2001, and it is really something the whole family looks forward to.

But walking into the kitchen at 4 pm (the time I start dinner on any other night), to prepare a big meal just doesn’t get the food on the table before 8.

It’s been harder to pull together lately for a number of reasons, but mainly because my daughter and I are the only cooks. We used to share the burden of cooking with my mother and sister in law, but one quit coming, and the other died. So, we had to get our act together.

First, we have formalized the menu. Instead of major changes, we make basically the same meal, and just change up the dessert and the bread every week. We alternate three vegetable dishes, like green bean casserole, tomato pie or corn pudding, and that is enough variety to keep it interesting, and enough structure to make it doable. Then we divide up the cooking duties, and we’re on a roll.

Speaking of rolls, I usually let the little children help with the bread. You should see how proud they are to say they helped.

Starting cooking 2 hours earlier doesn’t hurt, either. Neither does delegating even more. My 8 year old daughter can mash the potatoes, make green beans, or lemonade, or I can give any or all of those duties to her 13 year old brother.

My husband and I hope to continue this Sunday feast tradition to the next generation. If I play my cards right now, I can hope to have everyone contributing part of the meal when they’re grown up.